New York CPA Requirements

Certified public accountants (CPAs) and recent accounting graduates can find many professional opportunities in New York. The state boasts the third largest economy in the country with a gross domestic product of $1.78 trillion and is home to New York City, the most populous U.S. city.

Major industries like finance, communications, manufacturing, and technology all need skilled accountants to help them with their financial records. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the state employs 119,150 accountants and auditors, more than any other state in the U.S. besides California.

To become a CPA in New York, you must have a bachelor's degree, earn at least 150 credits, gain a year of experience, and pass the CPA exam that qualifies you for licensure in the state. Students can earn a degree at accounting schools in New York or another state.

Use our guide to learn more details about New York CPA requirements and what it takes to earn professional licensure in the state.

Education Requirements for Becoming a CPA in New York

Before you can take the CPA exam and get licensed, you must meet education requirements that vary by state.

In New York, prospective CPAs must earn a bachelor's degree and 150 credit hours. Most bachelor's programs require 120 credits, so many students earn a graduate certificate or master's degree afterward to meet credit requirements.

An accelerated bachelor's-to-master's in accounting can help you meet the 150-credit requirement in less time and without the need to apply to two separate programs.

Alternatively, candidates with 15 years of eligible accounting experience can substitute the education requirement for experience.

Concentrations, Credits, and Course Acceptance

Prospective CPAs in New York can choose from various concentrations, like auditing, forensic accounting, management accounting, and taxation. Other options include financial accounting, financial reporting, and governmental accounting.

New York requires CPAs to complete specific credits and coursework. You need either a bachelor's or master's degree in accounting from a school accredited in accounting and business by the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business.

The state lets candidates sit for the CPA exam once they complete a 120-credit bachelor's degree program that includes the following classes, which must be upper-division or graduate-level:

• Financial accounting and reporting
• Cost or management accounting
• Taxation
• Auditing

Additionally, candidates need 24 credits in accounting including courses like fraud examination, taxation, accounting information systems, and internal controls and risk assessment. You'll also need 22 credits in general business electives in areas like business statistics, organizational behavior, marketing, and information technology and systems.

Although you can take the test when you earn 120 credits or a bachelor's degree, you won't receive your CPA license until you complete 150 credits.

New York Experience Requirements

To become a CPA in New York you need at least one year of professional experience working at a public accounting firm, educational institution, government agency, or private business. The work must take place under the supervision of a CPA who is licensed to work in their jurisdiction. It must cover one of the following areas:

• Accounting
• Taxation
• Financial advisory
• Management advisory
• Attest
• Compilation
• Consulting skills

Candidates must submit Form 4B when applying for their CPA license in New York. Prospective CPAs must get a separate form from each supervisor they have worked under, and there's no limit on the number of Form 4Bs that can be submitted.

Candidates can complete full-time or part-time supervised work experience, but it must add up to one year of full-time work. Full-time is considered 35 hours per week; two part-time weeks add up to one full-time week. You must complete the experience requirement before you apply for licensure in New York.

CPA Exam Requirements

Prospective CPAs in all states take the Uniform CPA Examination to qualify for licensure. The CPA exam consists of four sections: three core sections and one of three discipline sections.

The three core sections cover auditing and attestation, financial accounting and reporting, and taxation and regulation. Candidates choose one of three discipline sections to complete, with options in business analysis and reporting, information systems and control, and tax compliance and planning.

Eligibility to Take the Exam

Eligibility requirements for applying to take the CPA exam vary by state. In New York, applicants can take the exam once they earn 120 credits, but they won't receive the license until they complete all 150 required credits.

New York offers an alternative path to CPA licensure for professionals with 15 years of eligibility experience that doesn't require applicants to meet the education requirements.

New York requires CPA candidates to demonstrate good moral character and be at least 21 years old. The state doesn't require CPAs to be U.S. citizens or have Social Security numbers, nor does it require the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' professional ethics exam.

CPAs with international licenses or licenses from other states that have a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the National Association of State Boards for Accountancy (NASBA) should apply for an initial CPA license in New York.

Applying for and Scheduling the Exam

Each state has its own rules and requirements for applying for and scheduling the Uniform CPA exam. In New York, the exam is offered by the CPA Examination Services (CPAES), a division of NASBA.

To apply, candidates must submit academic transcripts demonstrating they meet the education requirements. Send transcripts directly from the university where they were earned to CPAES. The CPA exam requires a $126 application fee, and fees for the each of the four sections of the test are $344.80.

Once applicants submit their materials, NASBA will send a Notice to Schedule (NTS). Once the test-taker receives the NTS, it is valid for one testing event or six months, whichever comes first. The applicant must then schedule the exam at Prometric.

Test-takers have four hours to finish each of the exam's four sections and can take up to 18 months to complete them all. Candidates can sit for each section of the exam once per calendar quarter.

After Passing the Exam

After you successfully complete all exam sections you can obtain CPA licensure in New York. Applying for CPA licensure and first-time registration in New York costs $427.

Applicants who did not already meet the 150-credit education requirement or the required year of professional experience when they took the test will need to complete these requirements before they can get their CPA license. Once you submit all required materials for the license, it can take up to six weeks for you to receive your credential.

You can verify your CPA license to an employer by searching for it online on the New York State Education Department's Office of Professions verification search website.

Maintaining Licensure

In New York, CPAs must renew their licenses every three years. New York CPA requirements include an expectation that CPAs will complete continuing professional education (CPE). CPAs must complete four contact hours of professional ethics every three years. They also must complete either 24 contact hours in one of the recognized subject areas or 40 contact hours in a mix of recognized subject areas.

The state doesn't require CPAs to submit proof of CPE every year. However, CPAs must note that they met CPE requirements when they renew their license. The State Board of Public Accountancy conducts random audits of CPE records of CPAs.

CPAs can move from another state to New York and transfer their same CPA license through state reciprocity. However, every state has its own rules about reciprocity for CPA licenses, so check your state's Board of Public Accountancy to find out about state-specific rules for bringing your New York CPA license to another state. In addition, you need to be a CPA to own an accounting firm in New York.

Questions About CPAs in New York