Oklahoma CPA Requirements

Becoming an accountant in Oklahoma, but becoming a certified public accountant (CPA) can boost your income even more, according to the Oklahoma Society of CPAs. But how do you become a CPA in Oklahoma? What are the Oklahoma state requirements?

Oklahoma's CPA requirements changed in November 2023, so accounting majors and prospective CPAs must ensure they understand the new rules set by the Oklahoma Accountancy Board (OAB). While becoming a CPA takes several years, the career opportunities can be worth the investment.

Education Requirements for Becoming a CPA in Oklahoma

Earning a bachelor's degree meets the requirement to take the CPA exam. You need a minimum of 120 credits to finish a bachelor's degree, which typically takes about four years. Oklahoma does not require a bachelor's in accounting, but applicants do need 30 credits of accounting classes to receive a CPA license.

Licensure requires 150 credits. Many candidates meet this requirement with a master's degree or a graduate certificate. You can also consider an accelerated bachelor's-to-master's accounting program to earn enough credits.

Concentrations, Courses, and Credits

You'll need 150 college-level credits to become a CPA in Oklahoma. And the state also sets requirements for the courses you'll need to take.

Course requirements before sitting for the CPA exam include:

• At least 24 credits in accounting, including a course in auditing or assurance
• At least nine upper-level credits in economics, statistics, finance, business management, marketing, business law, business communication, risk management, insurance, financial information systems, or computer science

Course requirements for CPA licensure include:

• At least 30 credits in accounting, including a course in auditing or assurance

You do not need to major in accounting to become a CPA. However, accounting majors meet the CPA accounting credit requirements, which include coursework in business and finance.

You also don't need a master's degree to become a CPA in Oklahoma. While Oklahoma state requirements include a bachelor's degree for CPA licensure, you can meet the 150-credit licensure requirement in several ways. For example, you can earn a master's in accounting, an MBA, or a master's in a related field, such as finance. You may also complete a graduate certificate in accounting or take undergraduate accounting and business courses.

Oklahoma Experience Requirements

Once you've met the educational requirements to become a CPA in Oklahoma, you still must gain experience in public accounting.

Like many other states, Oklahoma requires prospective CPAs to work in the field before licensure. However, Oklahoma operates differently because it's a two-tier state. While most other states issue a single CPA license, Oklahoma offers a CPA certificate to applicants who pass the CPA exam and a permit to practice public accounting when candidates meet all the licensure requirements.

What does that mean for the CPA licensure process? After you pass all four parts of the Uniform CPA exam and complete the experience requirement, you will receive a CPA certificate. Then, you must meet continuing education requirements to receive a permit to practice public accounting.

Anyone working at a public accounting firm or providing accounting services to the public as a CPA needs a permit to practice public accounting in Oklahoma.

Once certified, you must meet the experience requirement. Oklahoma requires one year or 1,800 hours of work experience in accounting. You must complete this experience within the four years prior to applying to become a CPA. A current CPA or a board-approved individual must verify your experience.

CPA Exam Requirements

If you want to become a CPA, you need to pass the Uniform CPA Examination. While the exam is the same in every state, eligibility to apply and take the exam depends on where you pursue licensure. This section explores the Oklahoma process. Check out our CPA exam guide for info on the test.

Eligibility to Take the Exam

Once you have completed a bachelor's degree, you can apply to take the CPA exam in Oklahoma. The state's eligibility requirements for the exam include a bachelor's degree with at least 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours, with the required coursework listed above.

Oklahoma recommends courses in financial accounting, accounting theory, cost or managerial accounting, federal income tax, governmental or nonprofit accounting, and accounting information systems. You can also meet the 24-credit requirement with other accounting courses.

Finally, you need to be a resident of Oklahoma prior to applying to take the CPA exam.

Applying for and Scheduling the Exam

When you are eligible to take the CPA exam, submit a qualification application for eligibility to the Oklahoma Accountancy Board (OAB). You can apply online or by mail.

As part of your application, you must provide official transcripts showing you have met the 120-credit requirement to take the exam. The application also requires a passport photo and an affidavit of lawful presence in the U.S. signed by a notary.

The application fee is $90, which includes the cost of a background check.

The OAB processes applications within 5-7 business days. If you meet the requirements, you can become an established candidate and receive an approval letter by email with information on scheduling your exam.

Next, you will set up an account with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). From that account, you can access your NASBA payment coupon. After paying, you receive a Notice to Schedule that allows you to sign up for one or more parts of the CPA exam. You have six months to complete the sections listed on your payment coupon.

Prepare to take each part of the CPA exam at a Prometric testing center. The two testing centers in Oklahoma are in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

After Passing the Exam

In Oklahoma, you have 18 months to complete the four sections of the CPA exam. Once you have passed every section, you must apply for certification through your OAB online account. At this stage, you will submit your experience verification form. You must also pass the American Institute of Public Accountants (AICPA) ethics exam with a 90% or higher.

You can complete your experience and pass the ethics exam before passing your final section of the CPA exam. Regardless of when you meet these requirements, you must include documentation as part of your application for certification.

If you also need a permit to practice public accounting, complete one additional requirement. Oklahoma requires 40 continuing professional education (CPE) hours earned within the past 365 days to receive the permit to practice.

Maintaining Licensure

As a licensed Oklahoma CPA, you must complete CPE to maintain your license. Oklahoma uses a three-year rolling period, starting the year of your initial certification.

You need at least 120 CPE hours during each three-year period, with a minimum of 20 CPE hours by December 31 each year, including the first year of certification.

For all CPAs, at least four CPE hours must focus on ethics. If you hold a permit to practice public accounting, at least 72 hours of the 120-hour requirement must relate to public accounting, including at least 8 hours in taxation, accounting, or assurance each year.

You can earn CPE credits from webinars, self-study, and other activities. Oklahoma does not limit self-study activities.

Other qualifying activities include:

• Taking an accounting or business-related college course
• Teaching an accounting or business-related college course
• Employee-sponsored continuing education programs
• Publishing articles, books, or CPE programs

Oklahoma awards one CPE credit for 50 minutes of learning. You must keep copies of your CPE certificates for five years.

Questions About CPAs in Oklahoma