The requirements to become a CPA in Alabama can be a bit confusing so I put this guide together to help you navigate the process! If you’re just starting to research getting your CPA license in AL then I suggest starting from the top. Otherwise, feel free to skip ahead to any section you’d like to know a little more about!
Contents
- 1 7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in Alabama
- 2 Additional Resources and Information
7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in Alabama
Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
Here are the basic age and citizenship requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Alabama.
- Minimum age requirement?: 19
- US citizenship required?: Yes
- Alabama residency required?: No
- Minimum level of education required: See next section
- Valid Social Security Number (SSN)* required?: Yes
*An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) may also be provided
Fulfill the AL CPA Education Requirements
In Alabama you need at least 150 semester hours to get your CPA license but only 120 semester hours to sit for the CPA Exam, which means you can sit for the exam while you’re still in college!
Here’s a detailed breakdown of exactly what’s needed to sit for the CPA Exam and for licensure:
Requirements to sit for the CPA Exam:
- Have at least 120 hours AND a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a U.S. accredited college, university or foreign equivalent
- At least 24 semester (36 quarter) hours in accounting at the upper division undergrad and/or grad level
- This excludes introductory level courses
- At least 24 semester (36 quarter) hours in business courses at the undergrad and/or grad level from among the following areas:
- Business ethics
- Business law
- Communication skills
- Economics
- Finance
- Legal and social environment of business
- Marketing
- Organization, group and individual behavior
- Quantitative applications in business
Requirements to obtain your CPA license:
- Have at least 150 hours AND a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from a U.S. accredited college, university or foreign equivalent
- At least 33 semester (or equivalent quarter) hours in accounting at the upper division undergrad and/or grad level
- Excluding introductory level courses
- At least 24 semester (or equivalent quarter) hours in business courses at the undergrad and/or grad level from among the following areas:
- Business ethics
- Business law
- Communication skills
- Economics
- Finance
- Legal and social environment of business
- Marketing
- Organization, group and individual behavior
- Quantitative applications in business
- All education requirements must be met within 3 years of passing the CPA exam, otherwise all of your exam sections will expire. (DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!)
Apply to Sit for the CPA Exam and Pay the Exam Fees
Be sure to check out this post where I break down the entire CPA Exam application process for you, step-by-step.
The cost to apply and register for all four parts of the CPA Exam in Alabama are as follows:
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*Alabama‘s Notice to Schedule (NTS) window is 6 months, so you should only register and pay for the exam section(s) you intend to take within that time. If you need to schedule or re-take any sections beyond your initial NTS window, a $75 re-examination fee plus the associated exam section fees above will apply.
Study for, and PASS the CPA Exam!
Studying for the CPA Exam is definitely the most challenging and time consuming part of the whole process, so you might as well get a jump start on studying as soon as your fees are submitted.
Not sure which exam section to take first? Check out my post where I break down the pros and cons of each route you can go so you can make the best possible decision: Which section of the CPA Exam should I take first?
By far the most important factor to success on the CPA Exam is sticking to a consistent study schedule and not letting too much time lapse between study sessions.
The CPA Exam is not a test you can just cram for so you’ll want to make sure you space out the material into manageable chunks in a way that fits your schedule.
As long as you schedule things out properly, you won’t have to sacrifice your entire social life for the CPA Exam like some folks say!
You’ll also need to purchase a CPA review course that’s best suited for your study style and budget. I’ve personally tested and examined all of the top review courses out there so you can find the best one for you.
If you still can’t decide which course is best, send me an email and I’ll personally help you!
AL CPA Work Experience Requirements
In addition to the education requirements discussed above, the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy requires that you have a certain amount of work experience before you can obtain your CPA license. The requirements are fairly straightforward but vary depending on the type of work you’ll be performing:
- You must have at least 1 year of experience in public accounting (or equivalent experience) under a licensed CPA.
- Qualifying accounting experience is defined as “full-time employment by a public accounting firm as a staff accountant and supervised by a practicing CPA or registered public accountant holding a valid permit to practice in this or any other state.”
In addition, the following experience may be obtained in place of the 1 year in public accounting noted above:
- Two years full-time employment as an accountant in industry, business, government, or college teaching (or any combination)
- Experience must be properly supervised, have sufficient quality and depth, and meet one of the following criteria:
- For experience in industry or business, experience must generally involve the use of financial accounting and auditing skills; the installation of internal control systems; the use of management advisory, financial advisory, or consulting skills; or compliance with accounting aspects of tax or regulatory laws.
- For experience in government, experience must be with a government agency recognized by the Board as having the responsibility and organizational structure for performing auditing and accounting functions.
- For teaching experience, you must have taught courses primarily in the accounting discipline.
Pass the AICPA Ethics Exam
The AICPA Ethics Exam is a self-study course that may be completed any time before, during, or after you sit for the CPA exam so long as it’s completed within 2 years of submitting your CPA license application. The exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions that must be answered with a score of 90% or higher. To prepare for it, you’ll receive a 100-page textbook from the AICPA upon registration.
You can take the exam online or via a paper form that you’ll submit through the mail. You’ll have three attempts to pass the exam if you take the online version. After that, you’ll need to complete the exam via the paper / snail-mail route.
The exam and related materials can cost anywhere from $149 – $209, depending on whether you register as an AICPA member ($40 savings) or choose the online course text vs. the paper-based text ($20 savings).
Pro-tip: When ordering the AICPA exam, be sure to let them know you’re taking the exam for your Alabama State Board certification. That way when you pass, the AICPA will notify the Alabama State Board of your passing score.
Get Your CPA License!
Finally! After passing the CPA exam and meeting all of the education and work experience requirements above, you’ll finally be able to apply for your CPA license!
Alabama’s application process is fairly straightforward. In order to receive your CPA license, you’ll need to complete and submit the following:
- Your CPA license application
- College transcripts (if necessary*)
- Verification of Experience
- Application fee ($100)
*Your college transcripts provided as part of your CPA exam application will already be on file. You’ll only need to provide additional transcripts if you did not meet the educational requirements for licensure when applying to sit for the CPA Exam (e.g. did not meet the 150 rule).
Once you’ve submitted everything noted above, then congratulations! You should be well on your way to getting your CPA license! In case you need any more info about the exam or licensing process, be sure to check out the additional resources I’ve included down below.
Additional Resources and Information
More info on the Application Process
More info on the Licensing Process
More info on the Exam and Licensing Fees
More info on the Work Experience Requirements
Contact Information
Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy
Office Address
Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy
770 Washington Ave, Ste 226
Montgomery, AL 36104-3807
Mailing Address
Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy
PO Box 300375
Montgomery, AL 36130-0375
Email: anna.baker@asbpa.alabama.gov
Phone: (334) 242-5700; In-State WATS (800) 435-9743
Fax: (334) 242-2711
Additional Organizations
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To learn more about some of the things you’ll need to prepare for the CPA Exam, be sure to check out my detailed reviews of each of the top courses on the market:
