The requirements to become a CPA in Ohio 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 OH 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 Ohio
- 2 Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
- 3 Fulfill the OH CPA Education Requirements
- 4 Requirements to sit for the CPA Exam:
- 5 Requirements to obtain your CPA license:
- 6 Apply to Sit for the CPA Exam and Pay the Exam Fees
- 7 Study for, and PASS the CPA Exam!
- 8 OH CPA Work Experience Requirements
- 9 Pass a Board Approved Professional Standards and Responsibilities (PSR) Course
- 10 Obtain Your CPA License!
- 11 Additional Resources and Information
- 12 Contact Information
- 13 Additional Organizations
- 14 Bottom Line
7 Simple Steps to Becoming a CPA in Ohio
Meet the Eligibility Requirements for the CPA Exam
Here are the basic age and citizenship requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Ohio.
- Minimum age requirement?: 18
- US citizenship required?: No
- Ohio residency required?: Yes (for licensure)
- 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 OH CPA Education Requirements
In Ohio you generally need at least 150 semester hours to sit for the CPA exam and obtain your CPA license, but there’s also a path to the CPA that let’s you sit for the exam and get your license without having to meet the 150 hour requirement.
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 150 semester college credits (i.e. bachelor’s degree or higher) from an accredited college, university or foreign equivalent
Alternatively, Ohio allows you to bypass the 150 hour requirement if you’ve achieved a score of 620 or higher on the GMAT
- 30 semester (45 quarter) college credits in accounting courses OR 24 semester (36 quarter) college credits accounting courses above the introductory level
Accounting courses typically cover the areas of:
- Financial accounting,
- Cost/managerial accounting,
- CPA auditing, and
- Taxation
24 semester (36 quarter) college credits in business courses
Business courses typically cover the areas of:
- Finance,
- Management,
- Economics, and
- Marketing,
- Other “Business” courses designated as such by a college or university (business law, business communications, business statistics, etc.)
Requirements to obtain your CPA license:
- Same as above
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 Ohio are as follows:
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*Ohio’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 re-examination fee plus the associated exam section fees above will apply.
The re-examination fee is tiered based on the number of sections you apply for: $80 for one section, $85 for two sections, $90 for three sections, and $95 for four sections.
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!
OH CPA Work Experience Requirements
In addition to the education requirements discussed above, the Accountancy Board of Ohio requires that you have a certain amount of work experience before you can obtain your CPA license. The requirements are fairly straightforward but do vary based on whether you met the 150 semester hour education requirement or used the GMAT exemption:
- If you met the 150 semester-hour requirement:
- You must have at least 1 year of accounting experience under a licensed CPA.
- If you qualified for the GMAT exemption:
- You must have at least 4 years of accounting experience under a licensed CPA.
Experience can be obtained in public accounting, a private or public company, academia, or government.
Pass a Board Approved Professional Standards and Responsibilities (PSR) Course
All applicants must complete and pass a PSR course that emphasizes Ohio Accountancy law and Board rules within 1 year of submitting an application.
There are a variety of vendors that offer these courses, so be sure to check the Ohio Board’s approved PSR sponsor page to see which ones qualify for credit.
Obtain Your CPA License!
Finally! After passing all four sections of the CPA exam, meeting the education and work experience requirements, and passing the PSR course, you’ll finally be ready to apply for your CPA license!
Ohio’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
- Criminal records check
- Record of Experience Form
- Statement of Verifying CPA (if your supervisor is not a CPA)
- Results of your PSR course
- Application fees
Once you’ve met each of the above requirements, you’ll be well on your way to getting your CPA license!
In case there’s anything you need more information on, be sure to check out the resources I’ve included below to help you during the application and licensing process.
Additional Resources and Information
More info on Ohio’s Licensing Application Requirements
Contact Information
77 South High Street, Suite 1820
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6128
Email: ACCBd-Ohio@acc.state.oh.us
Phone: (614) 466-4135
Fax: (614) 466-2628
Additional Organizations
Bottom Line
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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:
