You’ve earned your CPA license! Congratulations! But once you’ve obtained your CPA license, the hard work isn’t over. Your license will eventually expire, and you’ll need to renew it. While your exact CPA license renewal requirements and the timeline for expiration are dependent upon your state’s board of accountancy, we'll help you learn more about the basic requirements to earn your CPA license, CPA renewal requirements, and guidelines to help you smoothly renew your CPA license.
Summary
To maintain professional standing and ensure compliance with evolving industry regulations, CPAs must navigate jurisdictional requirements for regular CPA license renewal, which typically involve completing ongoing continuing professional education (CPE).
What Are the Requirements to Get a CPA License?
Who issues a CPA license, and what are the basic CPA license renewal requirements for earning one? Each state’s board of accountancy is responsible for granting CPA licenses.
Each of the 55 license-granting jurisdictions (the 50 states plus Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Mariana Islands) maintains its own CPA license and CPA license renewal requirements. You’ll need to meet your jurisdiction’s requirements for taking the CPA Exam and ultimately earning CPA licensure. Be sure to look up your jurisdiction’s specific requirements as you begin planning to fulfill them.
All jurisdictions require that you pass four sections of the CPA Exam, each with a minimum score of 75. Other CPA license renewal requirements can generally be grouped into three categories: education, experience, and ethics. Sometimes, states will also implement age or residency requirements. For certain states, the minimum age to earn a CPA license is 18, 19, or 21 - although, some states don’t have a minimum age requirement at all.
Why Do CPAs Need to Renew Their Licenses?
You may be wondering, does your CPA license expire? The answer is, yes! CPA license renewals are incredibly important. Here’s why.
Businesses and individuals hire licensed CPAs because they need assurance that their finances are being handled by a trustworthy person. They need to know that they are working with someone who will help them stay in compliance with all regulations and who will use the correct processes to manage their money.
But regulations and processes change. To maintain a high level of trust between CPAs and their clients, and to ensure that CPAs have up-to-date skills and education, every jurisdiction requires each CPA to renew their expired CPA license and complete a designated number of continuing professional education (CPE) hours. In short, CPA license renewal ensures that practicing public accountants are educated on the most recent best practices and regulations. In fact, you are not allowed to claim that you are CPA in professional practice or on your resume if you possess an expired license.
What Are the Requirements for CPA License Renewal?
Your next question might be, how long does a CPA license last and how do I renew it? As with the initial CPA license requirements, CPA license renewal requirements vary by jurisdiction. Most states require renewal every one to two years. When you apply to renew your license, you’ll typically need to pay a renewal fee (around $50-150 for most states) and provide proof that you’ve completed the minimum CPE requirements per year or per reporting period.
Some states have more detailed CPE requirements. For example, the California CPA license renewal process requires you to complete at least 80 hours of CPE every two years—a specified number of these hours must include certain courses depending on your accounting specialty. In addition to taking CPE, California requires licensed CPAs to pay a $120 biennial license renewal fee.
It's important to check with your state board of accountancy to ensure that you're compliant with your CPA renewal and CPE requirements.
How Can I Keep My CPA License Up-to-Date?
Maintaining your CPA license requires planning and work. Mark your calendar with all appropriate CPA license renewal dates and create a detailed plan to ensure you fulfill all CPE and application requirements before those dates.
Above all, don’t wait until the last minute to complete your CPE learning! Take your CPE courses throughout the year and work with an educational partner like Becker to help you learn and retain knowledge.
Becker’s CPE courses are taught by industry experts from the public and private accounting, consulting and education sectors, and help to expand your expertise that you can apply to your everyday work as a CPA. Our Prime CPE packages also include a compliance tracker that tells you the credits you've earned, what you still need to complete, and when you're approaching your deadline.
Earn Your CPA License—and Keep It
Becker provides everything you need to become a successful CPA. Our exam prep resources can help you get ready for the CPA Exam. And once you're a CPA, our CPE courses keep you up-to-date and compliant with a constantly growing catalog of podcasts, on-demand, and live webcast courses—all written and taught by industry veterans.
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CPA License Renewal FAQs
Who issues my CPA license?
CPA licenses are issued and administered by your state board of accountancy.
Does your CPA expire?
Yes, your CPA license does expire and needs to be renewed.
How often do you need to renew a CPA license?
The frequency in which you need to renew your CPA license depends on your board of accountancy's established rules and regulations. For example, California’s CPA licenses are in good standing for two years. Alabama CPA licenses need to be renewed each year.
Where can I find guidance on CPA license renewal?
First, check with your state board of accountancy for its specific CPA license renewal requirements, because these requirements vary by jurisdiction. At a minimum, all states require a specific number of CPE credits for CPA license renewal, but some states also require that you pay fees, take CPE courses in certain subjects, and fill out a CPA license renewal application.
What's the best way to meet my CPA renewal requirements?
The best way to earn your CPA renewal is with Becker CPE courses. Our courses provide convenient and applicable learning to meet CPA renewal requirements and stay up to date with accounting best practices.
