Florida CPA requirements

If you want to get your CPA license in Florida, we’re walking you through the CPA requirements, including the education and experience you’ll need as well as how to maintain your license. While this guide acts as an overview of what you need to do, always check with the Florida Board of Accountancy for the most up-to-date information. 

florida cpa
Florida CPA Exam requirements

The CPA Exam proves that you have the in-depth knowledge and expertise necessary to work in public accounting. The exam consists of four sections: three Core exams everyone takes plus a Discipline of your choosing.  

To sit for the CPA Exam in Florida, there is no age, citizenship or residency requirement. Nor do you need your Bachelor’s degree, so you can work on the exam while you finish college. You must have 120 semester (180 quarter hours) consisting of:

  • 24 semester (36 quarter hours) in upper division accounting, including: 
    • Taxation 
    • Auditing
    • Cost accouting
    • Financial accounting
  • 24 semester (36 quarter hours) in upper division business courses, including:
    • 3 hours of business law 
    • Upper division accounting courses in excess of the accounting requirement can fulfill the business requirement
    • Introductory courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, statistics and business law can also go toward the 24 hours.

The CPA Exam proves that you have the in-depth knowledge and expertise necessary to work in public accounting. The exam consists of four sections: three Core exams everyone takes plus a Discipline of your choosing.  

To sit for the CPA Exam in Florida, there is no age, citizenship or residency requirement. Nor do you need your Bachelor’s degree, so you can work on the exam while you finish college. You must have 120 semester (180 quarter hours) consisting of:

  • 24 semester (36 quarter hours) in upper division accounting, including: 
    • Taxation 
    • Auditing
    • Cost accouting
    • Financial accounting
  • 24 semester (36 quarter hours) in upper division business courses, including:
    • 3 hours of business law 
    • Upper division accounting courses in excess of the accounting requirement can fulfill the business requirement
    • Introductory courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, statistics and business law can also go toward the 24 hours.

The CPA Exam proves that you have the in-depth knowledge and expertise necessary to work in public accounting. The exam consists of four sections: three Core exams everyone takes plus a Discipline of your choosing.  

To sit for the CPA Exam in Florida, there is no age, citizenship or residency requirement. Nor do you need your Bachelor’s degree, so you can work on the exam while you finish college. You must have 120 semester (180 quarter hours) consisting of:

  • 24 semester (36 quarter hours) in upper division accounting, including: 
    • Taxation 
    • Auditing
    • Cost accouting
    • Financial accounting
  • 24 semester (36 quarter hours) in upper division business courses, including:
    • 3 hours of business law 
    • Upper division accounting courses in excess of the accounting requirement can fulfill the business requirement
    • Introductory courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, statistics and business law can also go toward the 24 hours.

CPA requirements in Florida

While the CPA requirements below are an outline of what you need to earn your license, we always recommend verifying with the Florida Board of Accountancy.

Education requirements

To earn your CPA license, you must meet the following education requirements:

  • A passing score on all four sections of the CPA Exam within a rolling 18-month period
  • 150 semester hours (225 quarter hours) including:
    • 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of upper division accounting courses
    • 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours) of business courses, 21 (31.5 quarter hours) of which at the upper level

While you need more hours to earn your CPA license than you needed to sit for the CPA Exam, it’s important to note that the education required for licensure includes the 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) that was required to sit for the CPA Exam.

Experience requirements

After completing at least 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours), you will need to have one year of relevant work experience. This experience must include:

  • Verification by a licensed CPA in the United States
  • Any service or advice using accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax or consulting skills.
  • An average of 20 hours of work a week over 104 weeks OR an average of 40 hours a week over 52 weeks
  • Work in government, industry, academia or public practice are all acceptable.

Applying for your Florida CPA License

Once you meet the above CPA requirements in education and experience, you can apply for your CPA license.

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Florida CPA License renewal requirements

The Florida CPA license must be renewed every other year by December 31 beginning with the year of issue.

Florida CPA CPE requirements

Florida requires all CPAs to maintain their professional knowledge and competence through continued professional education (CPE). Florida CPA CPE requirements state that all CPAs must complete 80 CPE hours every two years. CPE credits are divided into four accepted classifications and there are minimum requirements and limits on what you need to obtain:

  • Accounting and auditing (A minimum of eight hours)
  • Technical business (No minimum or maximum)
  • Behavioral (No more than 20 hours)
  • Florida Ethics (A minimum of four hours)

Florida requires all CPAs to maintain their professional knowledge and competence through continued professional education (CPE). Florida CPA CPE requirements state that all CPAs must complete 80 CPE hours every two years. CPE credits are divided into four accepted classifications and there are minimum requirements and limits on what you need to obtain:

  • Accounting and auditing (A minimum of eight hours)
  • Technical business (No minimum or maximum)
  • Behavioral (No more than 20 hours)
  • Florida Ethics (A minimum of four hours)

Florida requires all CPAs to maintain their professional knowledge and competence through continued professional education (CPE). Florida CPA CPE requirements state that all CPAs must complete 80 CPE hours every two years. CPE credits are divided into four accepted classifications and there are minimum requirements and limits on what you need to obtain:

  • Accounting and auditing (A minimum of eight hours)
  • Technical business (No minimum or maximum)
  • Behavioral (No more than 20 hours)
  • Florida Ethics (A minimum of four hours)
florida cpe

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Ethics and professional conduct for CPAs in Florida (approval 0020313)
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This course will be an overview of: This course has been approved to meet the Ethics requirement in the state of Florida. It is in an organization's best interest to demonstrate a public commitment to integrity and ethical decision making. This course will introduce participants to the foundations of ethical behavior and provide the opportunity to examine ethical dilemmas, offering behavioral insight and guidance into critical real-world situations. This course also covers the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and specific requirements for CPAs licensed in the state of Florida.  All it takes is a look at news headlines to see a business world littered with victims of unethical behavior.  See not only how unethical behavior can ruin careers, bring debilitating expenses and fines to any company, and lead to prison terms for executives and others, but how individuals and companies that act with integrity can drive employee and customer satisfaction while improving company performance.
10 Habits of highly successful careers
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This course will be an overview of: Habits you can work on to advance in your career. Tasks you should be working on. Questions you should ask yourself in taking ownership for your career. When to ask others for help to ensure you are getting the guidance and advice you need.
Independence – Historical Insights and Today’s Rules
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Well-developed accounting standards and independent audits have helped make the U.S. capital markets a national asset. Because auditor objectivity is crucial to investor confidence, regulators and others become concerned when they perceive actions that may impair or appear to impair independence. That's why accounting compliance in today's business world demands a solid understanding of the most current ethics rules relating to independence, no matter the regulatory body.
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