Exam Tips

How to Become a Licensed CPA in Georgia

Like many states, Georgia allows candidates to take the exam before they reach the 150 credit hour limit. GA only requires that you complete a bachelor’s degree including the applicable accounting and business classes in order to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam. Unlike a lot of states, you don’t have to take an ethics exam to get a CPA license in GA.

Let’s take a look at what you need to do to take the exam and get licensed.

Georgia CPA Exam Requirements

In order to be eligible to sit for the exam in Georgia, candidates must meet the following personal qualifications and educational requirements.

  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Not required to be a US citizen
  • Not required to be a GA resident
  • Valid Social Security Number required
  • GA does participate in the International Examination Program

Educational Requirements to Sit

In order to be eligible to sit for the GA CPA exam, you will have to have graduated from an accredited university or college with these minimum qualifications.

 

Bachelor’s Degree (120 credit hours) including the following:

  • 20 credit hours in upper-level Accounting classes including financial accounting, auditing, and taxation.

Keep in mind, that these must be upper level classes. Lower level 100 and 200 level courses will not meet these qualifications. Additional requirements to meet the 150 hours can be fulfilled after you have taken and passed the exam.

Exam Fees

The total cost to take the CPA exam in Georgia is $874.08 including an initial one-time $145 application fee. The cost for each section is listed below.

 

AUD – Audit $192.03
FAR – Financial Accounting and Reporting $192.03
BEC – Business Environment and Concepts $172.51
REG – Regulation $172.51

 

The fees are typically based on the duration of the exam. That’s why the FAR and AUD exams cost the most.

IMPORTANT – Don’t go all out and register for all the sections at once. Your NIT or notice to sit is only valid for six months. After that, it will expire and you will have to re-register. Re-registration application fees are $65 for one section and vary depending on how many your sign up for at once, so only sign up for the exams that you are ready to sit for in the next 6 months.

Registration Fees

Here is the breakdown for the registration fees you will have to pay. As you can see, registering more exams at once will save you some money.

  • 1 section $65.00
  • 2 sections $80.00
  • 3 sections $95.00
  • 4 sections $110.00

CPA License Requirements

Taking the exam is only the first step in becoming a CPA in the state of Georgia. After you sit for the big test, there are a few administrative things you must do before you can truly call yourself a Certified Public Accountant. Here is the basic process.

Pass the Exam

You’ll have to pass all four sections of the exam with a score of at least 75 in an 18-month period.

Paperwork

Submit all the required paperwork to the state board usually includes transcripts, license application, and proof of work experience.

Fees

Pay the applicable license fees with your application.

Ethics Exam

No Ethics Exam requirement

Additional Education

150 credit hours must be completed including:

  • 30 credit hours of upper level Accounting courses
  • 24 credit hours of General Business courses

Work Experience Requirements

Georgia has two different ways that you can get your work experience. You can either go out and get a job in accounting or take another year’s worth of classes. The general requirements are as follows:

1-year of experience in Public Accounting supervised by a current CPA

OR

24 additional college credit hours that must be taken 1 to 3 years after you pass the exam.

Either one of these options is acceptable to get your license.

More Exam Resources and Information

The entire process of applying, taking the exam, and sending your paperwork can be quite an involved, especially if you attended more than one college. Since you have to show proof of your education, you’ll have to send in transcripts from every college you’ve attended. This can be a pain.

This entire process can be kind of confusing, especially because you rarely get feedback from the state board. I think it’s important to contact the state board directly to see what they already have on file and more importantly what they need to complete your application. For example, sometimes your test scores aren’t received by the state even if you requested a copy be sent to them in your exam application process. They will rarely contact you and say something is missing. It’s a good idea to contact them directly to confirm they have everything they need.

Here is the contact info for the state board.

Georgia State Board of Accountancy

Georgia CPA Application Forms

    • 237 Coliseum Drive
    • Macon, GA 31217-3858

 

  • Phone: 478-207-2440
  • Fax: 478-207-1363