Key Requirements at a Glance
Education Hours
150
Accounting Coursework
30 accounting + 24 business
Work Experience
1 year (2,000 hrs)
Ethics Exam
AICPA Ethics Exam
Rhode Island-Specific Notes
Standard requirements. Small state but full reciprocity with other jurisdictions.
Official State Board
The Rhode Island State Board of Accountancy is the authoritative source for licensure requirements, application forms, and status updates.
Visit Rhode Island State Board →Opens dbr.ri.gov/divisions/accountancy in a new window.
Becoming a CPA in Rhode Island: The Three E's
Every U.S. jurisdiction, including Rhode Island, requires candidates to satisfy three core requirements — Education, Examination, and Experience — plus an ethics component in most states.
Education
Rhode Island requires 150 of education, including 30 accounting + 24 business. Many candidates complete this with a bachelor's degree plus additional accounting coursework or a master's program.
Examination
All candidates must pass the Uniform CPA Examination: three Core sections (FAR, REG, AUD) plus one Discipline (BAR, ISC, or TCP). The exam is identical in all 55 U.S. jurisdictions. Prepare with PassTheCPANow for $79 →
Experience
Rhode Island requires 1 year (2,000 hrs) of qualifying work experience. Most jurisdictions accept experience in public accounting, industry, government, or academia.
Ethics
Ethics requirement: AICPA Ethics Exam. Most states use the AICPA Professional Ethics course, but several (New York, Texas, California, Washington, Louisiana) require state-specific ethics education.
Now That You Know the Requirements...
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