Arizona CPA Exam Requirements

Arizona CPA Exam RequirementsArizona allows CPA candidates to take the exam before they graduate. Specifically, students are required to complete 2/3 of accounting courses and 60% of related courses to sit for the exam.

In order to get the CPA license 150 semester units have to be earned (within 18 semester hours of graduation).

After passing the exam, you will need (1) the 150 semester credit hours; (2) 1 year of general accounting experience; and (3) passage of the AICPA ethics exam to get certified.

Special note: AZ State Board allows non-CPA supervisor to endorse a CPA licensing application. Please check the link below for details.

Arizona CPA Exam Requirements

1. Education Requirements To Sit For The Exam:

  • Bachelor degree or above
  • Accounting courses: 24 semester units (12 hours in intermediate/advanced level)
  • Other required courses: 18 semester units of “related” courses

2. Earliest Time To Sit For The Exam:

  • Completion of the 150 semester units of accounting subject

3. Additional Requirements To Get CPA License:

Education:

  • 150 semester units from an accredited university or educational institution
  • Accounting courses: 36 semester units (30 hours in intermediate/advanced level)
  • Other required courses: 30 semester units of “related” courses

Experience:

  • 1 year in the office of a CPA, private industry, or government that has exposed the applicant to and provided the applicant with experience in the practice of accounting.
  • Typically, the experience should be supervised and verified by an active CPA licensee
  • Arizona State Board accepts non-CPA supervisors to verify your experience but the person(s) ”must attach a resume and a job description to verify they have the education and experience to oversee a potential CPA candidate”. For details, please check out the AZ state Board FAQ.

Ethics Qualifications:

  • Pass the CPA ethics exam by AICPA within 2 years of certification application.

4. Residency & Age Requirements:

  • US citizenship not required
  • Arizona residency not required
  • Minimum age: 18

5. Fees:

  • First-timers: $823 (4 CPA exam fees) + $100 (initial application fee) = $923
  • Repeaters: exam fees + $50 repeat application fees
  • $100 certification fee

6. Other Useful Information

7. Contact:

Arizona State Board of Accountancy
100 N. 15th Avenue, Room 165
Phoenix, AZ 85007

  • Email: kls@azaccountancy.gov
  • Phone: 602-364-0804
  • Fax: 602-364-0903

Can’t Get Qualified In Arizona?

Don’t give up, as you may well be qualified to register through other states and sit for the same CPA exam. With the recent Substantial Equivalency (CPA reciprocity) rule CPAs from most states can practice across the country.

Your Next Step

Now that you have begun the process of applying for the CPA exam, it’s time to compare the CPA Exam review courses. The earlier you start, the better you can get prepared and pass the exam. You can also drop me a note on Facebook here if you have specific questions regarding CPA exam requirements. Good luck!

* 1 semester = 1.5 quarters

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