Vermont CPA requirements
Wondering how to become a CPA in Vermont? Your first step should be to check the Vermont CPA requirements, because Vermont will ultimately license you. This page serves as a resource for Vermont's CPA and CPE requirements, but always consult with Vermont's Board of Accountancy for the most current information.
Vermont CPA Exam requirements
Getting a CPA in each state mandates different requirements for the CPA Exam. In order to be eligible for the CPA Exam, the state requires candidates to meet certain Vermont CPA Exam requirements.
Minimum education requirement
As a first-time or re-examination applicant, you must:
- Be of good moral character; and
Have earned a minimum of 120 semester hours of general college level education at an accredited college or university with 30 semester hours in accounting and business including:
- 6 semester (9 quarter) hours of financial and/or managerial accounting (excluding Introductory Accounting)
- 3 semester (4.5 quarter) hours of auditing,
- 3 semester (4.5 quarter) hours of U.S. taxation,
- 3 semester (4.5 quarter) hours of U.S. business law
- 3 semester hours in Ethics: business ethics, philosophical ethics or accounting ethics
When you are within 60 days of completing your bachelor's degree, you may apply to sit for the CPA exam.
Vermont CPA license requirements
In addition to the CPA Exam, you must also complete more college credits and gain experience.
Academic Standards
Vermont requires all CPAs to have 150 semester hours (225 quarter hours). credit hours for full licensure. Your college must have been accredited by an agency recognized by the Board. The board will accept accreditation by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation.
Foreign credits are also accepted. If you attended university in Canada, your credit will be accepted from schools who are part of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. For schools from any other country, your transcripts and credits must be evaluated by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or by NASBA International Evaluation Services.
Experience
Vermont also requires candidates to complete one year of public or non-public accounting work under the supervision of a Vermont-licensed CPA. Keep diligent records of your time and the duties you perform. At a minimum, the board needs to see 500 hours of attest and 200 hours of auditing work.
Upon completion of the year, your supervisor will need to fill out a Report of Supervised Experience Form and submit it to the Vermont Board.
Ethics exam
All candidates must complete a course of study in professional ethics for accountants equivalent to eight hours of continuing professional education that shall include the AICPA Code of Conduct or Vermont accountancy statutes and rules.
Vermont CPA license renewals
Vermont CPAs must renew their license every two years.
As a condition of renewal of a license as a public accountant, the Board may require that the licensee establish that he or she has satisfied continuing education requirements established by Board rule.
If a licensee fails to renew within 10 years of the license lapsing, the licensee must file a new application for licensure and satisfy the initial licensure requirements of the Board in order to obtain a license.
Vermont CPA CPE requirements
The CPA license renew cycle is two years and runs from August 1 to July 30 two years later (ie: August 1, 2026 to July 30, 2028). During this time, all CPAs must complete 80 hours of CPE, including four hours of ethics CPE, which may include the AICPA Code of Conduct or Vermont accountancy statutes and rules.
General Accounting Office (GAO) CPE Requirements
Earn a minimum of 20 hours annually, 80 hours biannually with 24 hours in governmental subjects for certain staff members. Must be licensed to practice in order to perform governmental audits. Consult the Yellow Book for reporting requirements.
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