Florida CPA Exam

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It follows the one-tier licensing approach. So, candidates don’t receive a certificate after passing the CPA ExamCPA ExamA Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a US state board-issued license to practice the accounting professionread more. Instead, they get the license only after meeting all the state-specific CPA licensing requirementsCPA Licensing RequirementsA Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a US State Board-issued license that assures exceptional service standards in the accounting profession. The license can be awarded by any of the 55 US jurisdictions on passing the Uniform CPA Exam and fulfilling the state-specific education and experience requirements.read more. 

Note that the Florida Board of Accountancy (FBA) is responsible for issuing the CPA license. Also, the state participates in the International Examination Program. Here are the primary requirements to pass the CPA Exam and obtain the license in Florida.

Let’s discuss further details of the Florida CPA exam and license requirements. 

Contents

Florida CPA Exam Requirements

  • Eligibility RequirementsFeesRequired Documents

Florida CPA License Requirements

  • Education RequirementsExam RequirementsExperience Requirements

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

Florida Exam Information & Resources

Florida CPA Exam Requirements

The Uniform CPA Exam is a computer-aided set of tests including four sections (each being 4-hour long). It evaluates the intelligence and versatility of entry-level CPAs to practice public accountancy. 

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) coordinates with the state boards, Prometric test centers, and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) to administer the exam.  

You must pass all sections within the rolling 18-month testing period. This timeline begins from the score release date of your first passed section. Furthermore, ensure to score at least 75 on a scale of 0-99 in each section.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants from accredited schools:

  • Proof of good moral character120 semester (180 quarter) hours of education in accounting and business-related courses.

Moreover, you may use the excess upper-division accounting courses to fulfill the business-related course requirement. 

  • Auditing

  • 3 semester hours of taxation (based on U.S. accounting standards)

  • 3 semester hours of financial accounting

  • Cost/managerial and accounting information systems

  • General business courses

  • 3 semester (4 quarter) hours of business law

Applicants graduated from non-accredited schools:

  • Proof of good moral character120 semester hours with15 hours of graduate classes from an accredited institute (with minimum 9 hours of graduate-level accounting courses, including 3 hours of graduate tax)

  • 15 hours of graduate classes from an accredited institute (with minimum 9 hours of graduate-level accounting courses, including 3 hours of graduate tax)

All first-time exam candidates must submit an initial application to FBA. Once it gets approved, they receive a jurisdiction ID number. Then, they may proceed to apply online through CPA Examination Services (CPAES). To know the complete process, kindly visit the FBA website. 

Candidates with foreign transcripts must request an evaluation through one of the board-approved evaluation service providers. 

Fees

First-time applicants: Pay up the application fee to FBA and examination fees to CPAES. 

Re-exam candidates: Pay up both the registration fees and exam fees to CPAES.

Please note that you can neither withdraw from the exam nor request a Notice-to-Schedule (NTS) extension. However, a partial exam fee refund and an NTS extension are possible in an exceptional situation. 

Both exam and application fees are non-refundable. Hence, apply for the exam section(s) only if you can take it within the NTS window (6 months). 

Required Documents

Submit the below-mentioned documents to CPAES:

Florida CPA License Requirements

Here are the pre-requisites to attain Florida CPA License:

  • Be at least 18 years of ageHave a valid SSNComplete 150 semester hours of educationPass the CPA Exam with a minimum of 75 pointsObtain one year of acceptable work experience

Note that you are not required to be a U.S. citizen or resident for successful licensure. 

Apply for the CPA license through Florida State Board with the required fee ($50) and documents. Please check out the official portal for the detailed application process. 

Ensure to complete the application procedure within three years of receiving NASBA notification of passing the last CPA exam section. Or else, your exam grades will expire, and you may have to reapply for licensure by endorsement. 

Education Requirements

Florida CPA licensure applicants must earn 150 semester (225 quarter) hours with a baccalaureate degree from an authorized college/university. This includes combined experience in upper-division accounting and business-related courses. 

Please note that 120 out of the 150 semester hours are required to sit for the CPA exam. So, you must complete the remaining 30 semester (45 quarter) hours  to earn the license. 

  • Financial accounting

  • Taxation (based on U.S. accounting standards)

  • Business law (based on U.S. law)

Exam Requirements

CPA Exam constitutes four sections to be passed within the rolling 18-month period. Candidates must score at least 75 points on a scale of 0-99 in each section. For further information, check the Florida Exam Requirements section. 

Experience Requirements

Florida CPA aspirants must obtain one year (at least 2000 hours) of relevant work experience within 52-104 weeks. You may gain the required experience in any sequence, before or after taking the exam. A licensed CPA must verify your experience. Remember to submit the Verification of Work Experience Form to FBA along with other documents.  

Let’s check out all the details. 

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

Florida CPA license holders must gain 80 CPE credit hours every two years to sustain their professional capability. They can obtain the necessary credits through either group or self-study.

  • Minimum 20 hours weekly over no more than 104 weeks, or
  • Maximum 40 hours weekly over no more than 52 weeks.

If you opt for a group study course from an unapproved sponsor, make sure that the content qualifies the Board’s CPE guidelines. At the same time, ensure to take all the self-study courses from CPE sponsors approved by NASBA’s Quality Assurance Service (QAS) program.

Here is an in-depth look at the Florida CPA CPECPA CPEAs a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you need to acquire Continuing Professional Education or CPE credits for sustaining your license. This ensures that you are actively involved in improving your know-how of the profession by engaging in learning activities.read more requirements:

Florida has more than 5687 CPA firms and 35,883 currently licensed CPAs with an average annual salary of $78,210. So, if you live in Florida and want to earn handsomely, understand the exam and license requirements before you venture out to earn the coveted CPA title. Remember that this credential has the potential to catapult your accounting career to astounding success.

  • Review of Chapters 455 & 473
  • Florida Statutes
  • Related administrative rules

Moreover, the CPA exam is considered among the most challenging professional examinations across the globe. Hence, start gearing up for it from the beginning of your freshman year. Always remember that the sooner you start, the better it will be for you!

Florida Exam Information & Resources

  1. Florida Board of Accountancy

240 NW 76th Drive, Suite AGainesville, FL 32607Phone: (850) 487-1395 Fax: (352) 333-2508

  1. Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/)

2601 Blair Stone Road

Tallahassee, FL 32399

Phone: (850) 487-1395

  1. Florida Institute of CPAs (https://www.ficpa.org/)

3800 Esplanade Way, Suite 210,

Tallahassee, FL 32311

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: (850) 224-2727 or (800) 342-3197

  1. Florida Department of State (https://dos.myflorida.com/)

R.A. Gray Building

500 South Bronough St.

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250

Phone: 850-245-6500

This has been a guide to Florida CPA Exam & License Requirements. Here we discuss the CPA exam and license requirements in the U.S. state of Florida along with its CPE requirements. You may consider the following CPA Review providers to prepare for your exams –

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