Colorado CPA requirements
If you want to earn your CPA license, knowing the requirements before you start your journey can help you plan your strategy and timeline. To help you get started, we’re walking you through the Colorado CPA requirements, though it’s always a good idea to check with the Colorado Board of Accountancy for any updates or changes.
One of the biggest steps to obtaining your CPA license is passing all four sections of the CPA Exam. To sit for the CPA Exam, candidates need to have 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) and a bachelor’s degree. Of those hours:
- 27 total semester hours (40.5 quarter hours) of accounting coursework. Of those, 21 hours (31.5 quarter hours) must be above the introductory level and three semester hours (4.5 quarter hours) must be an audit course that concentrates on U.S. GAAS.
- 21 total semester hours (40.5 quarter hours) of non-duplicative business administration coursework. Of those, no more than six semester hours (nine quarter hours) can be in any single subject area. However, any hours over the six-hour maximum will still count toward your 120 (180 quarter hour) total hour minimum.
One of the biggest steps to obtaining your CPA license is passing all four sections of the CPA Exam. To sit for the CPA Exam, candidates need to have 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) and a bachelor’s degree. Of those hours:
- 27 total semester hours (40.5 quarter hours) of accounting coursework. Of those, 21 hours (31.5 quarter hours) must be above the introductory level and three semester hours (4.5 quarter hours) must be an audit course that concentrates on U.S. GAAS.
- 21 total semester hours (40.5 quarter hours) of non-duplicative business administration coursework. Of those, no more than six semester hours (nine quarter hours) can be in any single subject area. However, any hours over the six-hour maximum will still count toward your 120 (180 quarter hour) total hour minimum.
One of the biggest steps to obtaining your CPA license is passing all four sections of the CPA Exam. To sit for the CPA Exam, candidates need to have 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) and a bachelor’s degree. Of those hours:
- 27 total semester hours (40.5 quarter hours) of accounting coursework. Of those, 21 hours (31.5 quarter hours) must be above the introductory level and three semester hours (4.5 quarter hours) must be an audit course that concentrates on U.S. GAAS.
- 21 total semester hours (40.5 quarter hours) of non-duplicative business administration coursework. Of those, no more than six semester hours (nine quarter hours) can be in any single subject area. However, any hours over the six-hour maximum will still count toward your 120 (180 quarter hour) total hour minimum.
CPA requirements in Colorado
Education requirements
Starting January 1, 2027, CPA candidates in Colorado have to meet one of the following education requirements after passing the CPA Exam, which will also determine their required experience:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with an accounting concentration
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with an accounting concentration, plus 30 additional semester hours (total 150 hours)
- Post-baccalaureate degree with an accounting concentration
Experience requirements
Starting January 1, 2027, you must complete one of the following experience requirements, dependent upon your level of education:
- If you have a bachelor's degree (120 total hours), you must complete two years of qualifying experience.
- If you have a bachelor's degree, plus 30 additional semester hours (150 total hours), you must complete one year of qualifying experience.
- If you have a post-baccalaureate degree, you must complete one year of qualifying experience.
This work must be completed under the supervision of an active CPA in good standing.
Ethics requirements
Colorado CPA requirements state that all candidates must take the AICPA Professional Ethics exam.
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Colorado CPA license renewals
Colorado requires CPA license renewals every two years. CPA licenses expire every other year at midnight on the last day of the licensees’ birth month.
Colorado requires all CPAs to complete 80 hours of continued professional education (CPE) every licensing period, which is every two years. CPAs must report their CPE by December 31 on odd-numbered years. Of the 80 hours,
- No more than 20 percent (16 hours) can be personal development courses
- Up to 50 percent (40 hours) can come from preparing published articles and books or instruction activities that improve professional competence as a CPA
- A minimum of four hours of CPE must be in ethics, two of which may be in Colorado Rules and Regulation.
Colorado requires all CPAs to complete 80 hours of continued professional education (CPE) every licensing period, which is every two years. CPAs must report their CPE by December 31 on odd-numbered years. Of the 80 hours,
- No more than 20 percent (16 hours) can be personal development courses
- Up to 50 percent (40 hours) can come from preparing published articles and books or instruction activities that improve professional competence as a CPA
- A minimum of four hours of CPE must be in ethics, two of which may be in Colorado Rules and Regulation.
Colorado requires all CPAs to complete 80 hours of continued professional education (CPE) every licensing period, which is every two years. CPAs must report their CPE by December 31 on odd-numbered years. Of the 80 hours,
- No more than 20 percent (16 hours) can be personal development courses
- Up to 50 percent (40 hours) can come from preparing published articles and books or instruction activities that improve professional competence as a CPA
- A minimum of four hours of CPE must be in ethics, two of which may be in Colorado Rules and Regulation.
