Iowa CPA Requirements

In 2025, Iowa introduced new rules for certified public accountants (CPAs), creating new pathways to CPA licensure. The changes have significant implications for aspiring Iowa CPAs, as they offer an alternative to the traditionally required 150 semester credits of college coursework.

Iowa enacted the changes to draw more young people into the accounting profession. Like many other U.S. locales, Iowa continues to see a shortage of accountants as CPA retirement rates outpace the number of people entering the profession.

This guide explores Iowa’s licensing requirements for CPAs. Use it to inform your search for the right Iowa accounting program and to plot your pathway to CPA licensure in the Hawkeye State.

In 2025, Iowa updated its CPA qualification standards, adding a pathway to licensure with 120 semester credits instead of the usual 150. In so doing, it joined a fast-growing group of states introducing alternatives that reduce educational barriers to licensure.

Effective July 1, 2026, CPAs in Iowa will have three licensing options with differing educational requirements. They include:

The 120-credit option follows the model used in other states that have adopted similar standards. This pathway trades off the 30 additional credits needed to reach the traditional 150-credit total for one additional year of work experience.

Additional specifics apply regarding business and accounting coursework. Explore these details in the following section.

Iowa maintains two sets of CPA education requirements. First, you must possess one of the following to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination in Iowa:

You must earn your qualifying degree(s) at an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the Iowa Accountancy Board. Also, the 24 semester credits of accounting coursework you use to qualify for the CPA exam must include at least one course in each of the following:

Furthermore, you cannot count introductory, elementary, or principles-level coursework toward the 24 required accounting credits. Additionally, you cannot use internship credits or credits earned for life experience toward any academic requirements for taking the CPA exam.

The second set of educational requirements relates to CPA license eligibility. To satisfy these requirements, you must meet at least one of the conditions above and have a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree and 150 credits.

As of July 1, 2026, you can also qualify with a 120-credit bachelor’s degree that includes at least 24 accounting credits that satisfy the conditions listed above.

CPAs in Iowa must have at least one year of qualifying professional experience to become eligible for licensure. For tracking purposes, one year of experience amounts to 2,000 hours of employment.

Further details apply:

As of July 1, 2026, CPAs in Iowa can qualify for licensure with 120 credits instead of the usual 150.

If you pursue this path, you will need two years or 4,000 hours of experience instead of one year or 2,000 hours.

To become a CPA in Iowa, you must pass the CPA exam. All states require CPA candidates to pass this standardized exam, which is the same no matter where you take it.

The following CPA exam information is specific to the state of Iowa:

You must have at least a bachelor’s degree and 24 semester credits of qualifying accounting coursework to sit for the exam as an Iowa candidate. If you did not major in accounting or business, you also need 24 semester credits of business coursework in addition to the accounting credits.

Iowa allows you to apply to take the CPA exam before you have completed your degree, provided you are on track to graduate within 120 days of taking your first exam section. To do this, your school must authorize an Iowa Certificate of Enrollment form.

In addition to the CPA exam, you must also pass the Professional Ethics Exam issued by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).

Iowa does not require you to hold residency status in the state to sit for the CPA exam. However, applicants educated outside the United States must have their academic credentials reviewed and approved by NASBA International Evaluation Services.

You can apply to sit for the exam as an Iowa candidate through the Iowa portal on the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) website. Your application package must include official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions you have attended.

Transcripts must be delivered in an envelope bearing the official seal of each institution’s registrar’s office. If any of the schools you have attended issue official transcripts electronically, you can submit these instead of hard copies. In this case, the school must forward your transcripts to NASBA on your behalf.

After NASBA reviews your credentials and approves your application, you will become eligible to register for the exam. Once you register, you will receive an electronic notice to schedule (NTS) through your online NASBA account. You can then select an examination date, time, and location.

The CPA exam has four sections. You can take the sections individually and in any order. The fourth part, known as the Discipline section, prompts you to choose one of three accounting subtopics. You can indicate your choice when you schedule your Discipline section.

As of July 2025, the following fees apply:

In Iowa, your sectional exam scores remain valid for 30 months. Thus, you must pass all four CPA exam sections within a rolling 30-month period, beginning on the date your first passing score was officially released.

Get more CPA exam resources:

Your CPA exam credits will not expire if you pass all four exam sections within a rolling 30-month period. Scores for any sections you passed outside of these 30 months will expire, and you will need to retake those sections.

Iowa does not require minimum scores on any sections that you do not pass. You can retake failed sections as many times as necessary.

You can apply for your CPA license, known in Iowa as a CPA certificate, through the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board. To receive your license, you must meet all education, examination, and experience requirements in full. A $100 fee applies to your initial certificate application.

To verify your license to a client or employer, use the Iowa state government’s license verification service.

CPAs in Iowa must renew their certificates annually by June 30. The renewal window opens on or around May 15. If you do not renew by the deadline, you will enter a 30-day grace period, and a penalty fee will apply.

Should you neglect to renew your certificate by the end of the grace period, it will lapse and require you to apply for reinstatement. You cannot work under the CPA title or present yourself professionally as a CPA while your certificate has lapsed. If you operate without a certificate, you could face disciplinary actions and/or denial of your reinstatement application.

Continuing professional education (CPE) requirements apply in Iowa. You must complete at least 120 hours of CPE credit every three years. For example, if you received your initial license on Sept. 1, 2024, your first renewal would fall on June 30, 2025, and your first CPA requirements would apply to the June 30, 2028, renewal cycle.

Iowa offers CPA licensing by reciprocity. If you hold a valid CPA license issued by another U.S. jurisdiction, you can use it as the basis of your application for an Iowa CPA certificate. You must hold an Iowa CPA certificate to work as a CPA in Iowa (in other words, you cannot practice as a CPA in Iowa if you were licensed in another state).

You do not need to be a licensed CPA to hold an ownership stake in an Iowa-based CPA firm. However, at least half of the firm’s controlling ownership must include licensed CPAs.