CPA requirements

Ohio is a great place to start a career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). It has many major population centers, and is home to Fortune 500 companies such as Procter & Gamble or Nationwide.

Many accountants choose to become CPAs. Although it isn’t required that you have a CPA in order to practice accounting, this credential shows knowledge, expertise, and experience. Some employers won’t hire accountants if they aren’t CPAs.

Candidates must meet the education, experience and exam requirements to become an Ohio CPA. This guide will help you learn more about earning licensure as an Ohio CPA.

The Education Requirements to Become a CPA In Ohio

Accountants who wish to become CPAs must take the Uniform CPA Examination, offered by CPA Examination Services. Before taking the exam, candidates must meet certain educational requirements set forth by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.

The Ohio CPA requirement is either 120 credits earned from an accredited school or a GMAT score of 670. Although the GMAT alternative may appear desirable, candidates may not be eligible to apply for CPA recognition in other states if they choose this option.

These requirements apply to simply taking the exam — accountants <a href="https://acc.ohio.gov/becoming-licensed#:~:text=Note%3A%20Four%20(4)%20years,were%20approved%20under%20the%20GMAT." To become a CPA in Ohio, you must complete 150 credits. You will also need to earn a bachelor's degree. Since the typical bachelor's degree program is only 120 credits, some aspiring CPAs take bachelor’s-to-master’s programs to complete their education requirements and prepare for the CPA exam.

Concentrations, credits, and course acceptance

Candidates must complete certain courses within the 120 credits needed to take the Uniform CPA Examination. These include 24 credits of business subjects.

• Financial Services
• Marketers
• Management
• Business law
• Business Communication
• Business Statistics
• The college or university may also offer additional courses with the designation “business”.

Students who wish to become CPAs will also need to complete 24 additional undergraduate credits in Accounting. Students must complete at least one course in accounting within these 24 credits.

• Financial accounting
• Management Accounting
• Auditing that covers generally accepted auditing standards
• Taxation.

The Ohio CPA requirements can be met by 18 accounting graduate credits, but coursework in internal auditing only counts towards general accounting credit hours. Commercial CPA review classes do not count towards the academic requirement. However, they can be accepted as accounting electives at accredited institutions.

As part of the education requirements, students may be able submit College Level Examination Programs and online courses. Students who have completed a professional course may be eligible for an educational credit towards the exam if it has an academic component, or if NASBA has approved the course.

Ohio Experience Requirements

Before applying for certification, Ohio accountants are required to have at least one internship or work experience that has been verified by a CPA. The Accountancy board of Ohio establishes the following experience requirements.

• For accountants who have completed 150 college credits before the exam but have not yet gained 2,000 hours of experience, they will need to be approved.
• If the candidate has less than 150 credits, they will need to complete 150 credit hours and two years experience before they can apply for CPA certification.
• Before applying for the GMAT exam, an accountant who has earned a minimum GMAT score of 670 must have four years’ worth of experience.

Before submitting an application for licensure, CPAs are required to take professional standard and responsibilities credit, also known as ethics. Ohio is a state that only requires CPAs to have experience once they are certified.

CPA Exam Requirements

The Uniform CPA Exam is required for all aspiring CPAs across the nation. The test is divided into four sections. However, some states may have added sections. Ohio doesn’t have an extra section.

To pass, candidates must score at least 75% on each of four sections. These sections include:

• Auditing and Attestation
• Business Environment and Concepts
• Financial Accounting and Reporting
• Regulation (REG).

Exam Eligibility

To take the CPA test, Ohio CPAs need to be 18 years of age and have a state residency. Accountants must have at least 120 college credits before they can apply to the Uniform CPA Exam.

They must also have completed the required accounting and business courses before applying for eligibility. To qualify for the test, candidates must also have completed at least 2,000 hours of work or internship in a calendar year.

You must have at least four years experience (or 8 000 hours) if you want to use GMAT to take the Uniform CPA Exam. Individuals who meet the requirements must submit a transcript and an application to NASBA.

The credentials of students who have completed their education in the United States outside the United States need to be evaluated by an approved agency. CPAs in Ohio do not have to take CPAES’s ethics exam, but they must complete three hours of course work before certification.

Exam Schedule and Application

Accountants should decide which sections of the exam they will take. Only apply for sections that they plan to complete in the next six month.

The next step is to request their schools send them transcripts that list the courses they have completed. The Ohio CPA application should be approved or rejected in 2-4 weeks after completion. Students can submit a Testing Accommodations Request Form for modifications under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Applicants may take the exam in any order or individually, once they have been approved to do so. To become an Ohio CPA each candidate must pass all four sections (75% or more correct) within 18 months. If a test-taker fails to pass one or more sections, the exam credit expires in 18 months.

Individuals who fail to pass one or more sections can request a re-examination. They must submit registration and examination fees. If they were in college when they first applied for the exam, then they might not be eligible to retake it.

After passing the Exam

After passing the exam, a candidate can apply for CPA licensing. They must present the following materials at the Board in order to do this:

• Approval
• A vendor approved by the Board has sent a criminal record check to the Board.
• CPAES reports a passing grade
• CPAES has provided proof of 150 college credits.
• Record of Experience (on the Application Form)
• Statement of Verifying Certified Public Accountant (on the Application Form)
• Taken within the past year, a course on professional standards and responsibilities focusing on Ohio accounting law and rules.

After the Board has approved the application, the new CPAs will receive information regarding the reporting period of two years and the continuing education requirements.

Maintaining your Licence

After approval, each new CPA is required to complete 40 credits of continuing educational during the first two years. The reporting period begins on January 1st of the year that they receive certification and ends December 31st of the next year. The new CPAs are not required to take a specific number of continuing education credits or complete a set number of credits each year during this period.

Ohio CPAs are required to complete 120 credits of continuing education every three years. At least 20 credits must be completed each year before the 31st December. CPAs who do not complete their continuing education each year will be fined $10 per credit.

Question about CPAs in Ohio

What are the requirements to become a CPA?

Aspiring CPAs are required to qualify for the Uniform CPA Examination by taking certain college courses and achieving a GMAT minimum score. The Accountancy Board of Ohio requires that each candidate submits an application, background checks, and proof of taking a course on professional standards and responsibilities.

How can I transfer my CPA in Ohio?

CPAs licensed in other states who wish to obtain CPA licensure from the Accountancy Board of Ohio must submit a CPA application, a background investigation, the Authorization for Interstate Exchange of Examination and Licensure Information Form, proof of professional standards and responsibility course and an application feed.

How long does it usually take to become a CPA in Ohio?

A CPA candidate must typically earn a Bachelor’s Degree (normally four years), complete at least 2,000 hours of work experience (usually around one year), pass the four sections of Uniform CPA Exam and submit a CPA application to the Accountancy Board of Ohio. Ohio CPA licensing stipulates 150 credits total, which means students must earn approximately 30 credits more than the 120 credits they would normally receive in a bachelor’s degree program.

How difficult is it to get a CPA’s license in Ohio?

Candidates for the Ohio CPA must meet several requirements. These include many years of education, including graduate studies, along with experience. They also have to pass four sections of an extensive examination.

How many credits are required to take the CPA examination in Ohio?

To sit for the test, applicants must have completed a minimum 120 college credits. They can also submit a minimum GMAT score of 670 instead.

The article Ohio CPA requirements first appeared on Accounting.com.

Author: Emily Kelso