Arizona CPA requirements
This information is here to help you take the next step in your career. While we strive to keep this up-to-date and accurate, we also recommending that you check the Arizona Board of Accountancy for the most current information.
Taking the CPA Exam is one of the biggest challenges to obtaining your CPA license in Arizona. In order to sit for the exam, you must meet the following requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution, college or university
- At least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in accounting, 12 (18 quarter hours) of which must be upper-level coursework.
- At least 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) of related coursework that may include business administration, statistics, economics, finance, advanced mathematics, advanced communications, management, ethics and business law
- Submitting an application form, including your college transcripts plus the application fee
Taking the CPA Exam is one of the biggest challenges to obtaining your CPA license in Arizona. In order to sit for the exam, you must meet the following requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution, college or university
- At least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in accounting, 12 (18 quarter hours) of which must be upper-level coursework.
- At least 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) of related coursework that may include business administration, statistics, economics, finance, advanced mathematics, advanced communications, management, ethics and business law
- Submitting an application form, including your college transcripts plus the application fee
Taking the CPA Exam is one of the biggest challenges to obtaining your CPA license in Arizona. In order to sit for the exam, you must meet the following requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution, college or university
- At least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in accounting, 12 (18 quarter hours) of which must be upper-level coursework.
- At least 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) of related coursework that may include business administration, statistics, economics, finance, advanced mathematics, advanced communications, management, ethics and business law
- Submitting an application form, including your college transcripts plus the application fee
CPA Requirements in Arizona
In addition to passing all four sections of the CPA Exam (3 Core sections and 1 Discipline of your choosing), you must also complete additional education and experience requirements. The following combined education and experience requirements are effective December 31, 2026.
Education Requirements
CPA candidates must meet one of the following education requirements:
- Bachelor's degree
- Bachelor's degree + 30 additional semester hours (150 total hours)
- Post-baccalaureate degree
Experience Requirements
- Candidates with a bachelor's degree must complete two years of qualifying experience
- Candidates with a bachelor's degree and 30 additional semester hours must complete one year of qualifying experience
- Candidates with a post-baccalaureate degree must complete one year of qualifying experience
Additional Arizona CPA Requirements
All CPA candidates must provide proof that they completed the Professional Ethics for CPAs Exam with a minimum score of 90 percent. You can take the ethics exam through the AICPA.
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Arizona CPA license renewals
Arizona CPA license renewals are given on a biennial basis based on birth year. Even-number birth years will register during the month of their birth every even-numbered year. Odd-number birth years will register during the month of their birth every odd-numbered year.
To meet the Arizona CPA CPE requirements, you will need to complete 80 hours of continued professional education (CPE) every renewal period (two years). Those 80 hours must include:
- Four hours in ethics. Of those, one hour must be ethics related to the practice of accounting. This can include the AICPA Professional Code of Conduct. One hour must also be related to the Arizona State Board of Accountancy statutes and administrative rules.
- 16 hours of classroom or via a live webcast or webinar
- 40 hours must be in accounting, auditing, taxation, business law or consulting services. Of those, 16 hours must be focused on accounting, auditing or taxation.
To meet the Arizona CPA CPE requirements, you will need to complete 80 hours of continued professional education (CPE) every renewal period (two years). Those 80 hours must include:
- Four hours in ethics. Of those, one hour must be ethics related to the practice of accounting. This can include the AICPA Professional Code of Conduct. One hour must also be related to the Arizona State Board of Accountancy statutes and administrative rules.
- 16 hours of classroom or via a live webcast or webinar
- 40 hours must be in accounting, auditing, taxation, business law or consulting services. Of those, 16 hours must be focused on accounting, auditing or taxation.
To meet the Arizona CPA CPE requirements, you will need to complete 80 hours of continued professional education (CPE) every renewal period (two years). Those 80 hours must include:
- Four hours in ethics. Of those, one hour must be ethics related to the practice of accounting. This can include the AICPA Professional Code of Conduct. One hour must also be related to the Arizona State Board of Accountancy statutes and administrative rules.
- 16 hours of classroom or via a live webcast or webinar
- 40 hours must be in accounting, auditing, taxation, business law or consulting services. Of those, 16 hours must be focused on accounting, auditing or taxation.
