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.
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.
- Submit the Department of Business and Professional Regulation CPA 2 CPA Licensure Application and the required fee.
- Provide evidence of one year of acceptable work experience
- Submit your official transcripts proving your completion of the education requirements.
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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 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)
