Georgia CPA Exam

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The Georgia State Board of Accountancy (GSBA) is the professional licensing and regulatory body for CPAs.  The state pursues a one-tier licensing mechanism. As a result, you don’t have to receive a CPA certificate before applying for the license. Instead, you directly get the license or permit to practice on fulfilling all licensure pre-conditions. Also, the Peach State organizes the CPA ExamCPA ExamA Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a US state board-issued license to practice the accounting professionread more at international locations.  

Georgia maintains a liberal business climate that promotes diverse industries. It has many Fortune 500 companies actively seeking accounting and auditing services. With quality jobs, great pay, sound infrastructure, and safe communities, it is an ideal place to kickstart your accounting career. Moreover, the CPA license will assure you get a head start.

So, here’s how to meet the Georgia CPA exam and license requirements. 

Contents

Georgia CPA Exam Requirements

  • Eligibility RequirementsFeesRequired Documents

Georgia CPA License Requirements

  • Education RequirementsExam RequirementsExperience Requirements

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

Georgia Exam Information & Resources

Georgia CPA Exam Requirements

The Uniform CPA Examination is a computer-aided test consisting of four sections. It is developed to assess the candidate’s understanding and dexterity with different accounting concepts.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), and Prometric govern the CPA exam process.

Candidates must pass each four-hour-long section with at least 75 points on a scale of 0-99. Besides, they must finish the test within the rolling 18-month duration, which begins from when you take the first passed exam section. Here are the details related to each CPA exam sectionCPA Exam SectionThe Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam comprises four sections, namely, Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG). The unique content, structure, format, and scoring of the CPA exam earn it the title of one of the most challenging professional exams. read more.

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must fulfill the following pre-conditions:

  • Prove good moral characterHold at least a baccalaureate degree from a four-year accredited college or universityComplete 20 semester (30 quarter) hours in non-introductory level accounting subjects

Credit hours for each of the first two courses in accounting subjects are regarded as introductory-level. Hence, they won’t be included in the required coursework. Maximum three internship credit hours are acceptable toward the accounting requirement. The additional semester hours may apply to the educational requirements for CPA licensure. 

Candidates must apply for the licensure test through NASBA’s CPA Examination Services (CPAES). Georgia also offers NASBA Advisory Evaluation Service to identify any inadequacies in the documents to be submitted along with the application. Please go through the NASBA portal for more details on the licensure process. 

Fees

Initial candidates:

Re-examination candidates:

Please note that only candidates in extraordinary situations may appeal for a Notice-to-Schedule (NTS) extension or a partial exam fee reimbursement. Otherwise, Georgia does not allow them to withdraw from the exam or request an NTS extension.

Both application and examination fees are non-refundable. Therefore, CPA aspirants must apply only for the exam section(s) that they can manage to take within the NTS validity period, i.e., six months.

Required Documents

CPAES requires the submission of the following documents.

Candidates may submit the official transcript(s) or foreign evaluations separately or along with the application. Moreover, photocopies of transcripts are unofficial and, thus, unacceptable. 

Georgia CPA License Requirements

Here is a quick checklist for Georgia CPA licensure applicants.

On satisfying all the conditions, candidates are required to submit the licensure application, fees, and documents to NASBA’s Licensing Service. Refer to the NASBA portal for the complete process.

Note that applicants must be U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or qualified aliens or non-immigrants under the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act. 

Let’s view the applicable licensure fees. 

  • Initial license – $140Transfer of grades – $220Reciprocal license – $220Firm license – $225

Education Requirements

CPA aspirants must possess at least a bachelor’s degree with 150 semester (225 quarter) hours comprising, 

  • 30 semester (45 quarter) hours in non-introductory accounting subjects24 semester (35 quarter) hours in business-related subjects

Credit hours completed for each of the first two courses in accounting subjects are acknowledged as elementary-level. Therefore, they won’t be counted toward the educational prerequisite. Moreover, foreign candidates must get their education credentials evaluated by NIES.

Exam Requirements

Candidates must successfully pass the Uniform CPA Examination or International Qualification Examination (IQEX). This article especially briefs about the CPA Exam. For more information, please check the Georgia Exam Requirements section. 

Experience Requirements

Here lie the experience requirements. 

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

Georgia CPA License renewals are offered biennially after meeting the 80 CPE credit hours requisite. The state sanctions CPE hours for programs provided by NASBA National Registry of CPE Sponsors. 

Let’s check out the Georgia CPE Requirements. 

Many CPA aspirants choose Georgia to gain the prestigious title every year. That is because it offers a welcoming, growth-oriented, and opportunistic environment for licensed professionals. Besides, with the Big 4 accounting firms in the state, Georgia CPA License holders can rest assured of securing high-paying jobs.

So, buck up, and start preparing for the CPA Exam and satisfying the Georgia-specific license requirements. Check the Georgia state board, NASBA, AICPA, or the Georgia Society of CPAs websites for assistance. 

We hope this guide helps you claim the Georgia CPA title with ease. When all is said and done, ensure to renew the license biennially and keep up the good work! Learn more about CPE Credits for CPACPE Credits For CPAAs 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

Georgia Exam Information & Resources

  1. Georgia State Board of Accountancy (https://gsba.georgia.gov/)

200 Piedmont Avenue SE

Suite 1604, West Tower

ATLANTA, GA 30334

Ph: (404) 463-0365

Email: [email protected]

  1. The Georgia Society of CPA (https://www.gscpa.org/Content/Home.aspx)

Six Concourse Parkway, Suite 800Atlanta, GA 30328Ph: 404-231-8676 or 800-330-8889Fax: 404-237-1291

  1. Georgia Secretary of State (https://sos.ga.gov/)

214 State CapitolAtlanta, Georgia 30334Ph: 404.656.2881

  1. AICPA (https://www.aicpa.org/)

220 Leigh Farm Road

Durham, NC 27707-8110

Ph: +1.919.402.4500Fax: +1.919.402.4505

  1. NASBA (https://nasba.org/)

150 Fourth Ave. North

Suite 700

Nashville, TN 37219-2417

Ph: 615-880-4200

Fax: 615-880-4290

A Guide to Georgia CPA Exam & License Requirements. Here we discuss all the prerequisites to the Georgia CPA exam and license. You may also have a look at the below articles to compare CPA with other examinations –

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