Alabama CPA Exam

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Alabama is a two-tier state. Therefore, candidates must obtain a CPA certificate after successfully passing the CPA ExamCPA ExamA Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a US state board-issued license to practice the accounting professionread more and meeting the 150-semester hour requisite. However, they must report the required experience to attain the license. Note that only the CPA license grants all rights and privileges to practice the profession legally.

CPAs in Alabama are certified through the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy (ASBPA). The board puts in place the professional licensing requirements and regulations to be observed by the license seekers and holders. The jurisdiction does not allow applicants to take the exam at international locations. 

Let’s dive deeper into the Alabama CPA exam and license requirements. 

Contents

Alabama CPA Exam Requirements

  • Eligibility RequirementsFeesRequired Documents

Alabama CPA License Requirements

  • Education RequirementsExam RequirementsExperience Requirements

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

Alabama Exam Information & Resources

Alabama CPA Exam Requirements

The Uniform CPA Exam is a digital licensure examination comprising of four parts that can be taken in any order. Each one is four-hour long with a passing grade of 75 points on a scale of 0-99. It examines your general accounting knowledge and prowess to ensure your eligibility for the certification. 

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) develops and scores the licensure test in co-operation with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the state boards of accountancy. 

You must clear all the sections of the examination within the rolling 18-month term. It begins from the date when you sit for the first qualified section. 

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Eligibility Requirements

Here is the prerequisite checklist for the CPA Exam.

  • Economics
  • Legal & social environment of business
  • Business law
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Organization, group, and individual behavior
  • Quantitative applications in business
  • Communication skills
  • Business ethics

Submit the application, related fees, and documents to ASBPA. Kindly visit the official website for the complete process.

Fees

Let’s view the fee structure for first-time and re-exam candidates.

Candidates must pay the examination fee by money order, cashier’s check, or personal check in U.S. dollars payable to the Alabama State Board. Moreover, they can’t withdraw from the CPA exam. 

All fees are non-refundable. So, only apply for the section(s) you aim to take in the next six months. Your Notice-to-Schedule (NTS) will expire after that, leading to examination fees forfeiture. 

Required Documents

Kindly submit the following documents at the time of application. 

Applicants may send the official transcripts electronically.

Alabama CPA License Requirements

Alabama CPA Licensure applicants must meet the following conditions:

  • Minimum 19 years of ageU.S. citizenship/residencyGood moral characterSSN150 semester hours of education (with a bachelor’s degree)Pass all exam sections with 75 points in each1 or 2 years of work experience

Alabama candidates must apply for the CPA certificate after passing the exam and fulfilling other requirements except for the experience condition. After acquiring the certificate, they must submit the licensure application through ASBPA along with the associated fees ($100) and documents. For more details on the application process, please refer to the ASBPA portal. 

Education Requirements

You must earn 150 semester hours accompanied by at least a bachelor’s degree with:

  • Minimum 33 semester hours in upper-division accounting (minimum 300 level)Minimum 27 semester hours in business-related courses.

Ensure to complete the pre-requisite within 36 months after passing the last exam section. Also, you may earn the additional semester hours through any authorized institute (not necessarily a degree program). 

Exam Requirements

Alabama CPA aspirants must pass all four exam sections with a minimum of 75 points in each. They have a rolling 18-month window to complete the examination. Further details are specified in the Alabama Exam Requirements section. 

Experience Requirements

Candidates must complete one year of work experience in public accounting or two years of employment in the accounting domain in government, industry, business, or academia. The experience must be supervised by an active CPA or PA holding a valid license.

Qualifying services include:

  • AttestationAccountingConsultationCompilationManagement AdvisoryFinancial AdvisoryTaxation

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

Alabama CPA titleholders must renew their accounting license annually with 40 CPE credit hours. Ensure to obtain the required credits from programs provided by board-approved CPE sponsors. 

Here lie all the details.

Alabama CPA aspirants must ensure to acquire U.S. citizenship or residency before applying for licensure. It will help them keep focus on the preparation and avoid any last-minute hassle. 

With an annual mean wage of $71,940 for accountants and a robust economy, Alabama opens several windows of opportunities for the CPAs. So, take a leap of faith and start prepping up for this incredible journey as an Alabama candidate. However, don’t forget to keep a tab on the AICPA, NASBA, and Alabama state board websites for changes in the CPA examChanges In The CPA ExamEvery time the accounting profession undergoes a change, the CPA Exam responds by changing its testing content. This is to keep the newly licensed CPAs aligned with the professional needs of changing times. The Uniform CPA Exam has undergone significant changes in 2021 with regards to its content, testing policies, and credit extensions.read more and license requirements.

You may also subscribe to the ASBPA newsletter for instant updates. Also, check out important dates for the fiscal year 2021-22 at the ASBPA website. You may also learn more about CPEs for CPACPEs For CPAAs a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you need to acquire Continuing Professional Education or CPE credits for sustaining your license. This ensures that you are actively involved in improving your know-how of the profession by engaging in learning activities.read more

Alabama Exam Information & Resources

  1. Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy (https://www.asbpa.alabama.gov/)

770 Washington Ave, Ste 226Montgomery, AL 36104-3807

OFFICE MAILING ADDRESS:Alabama State Board of Public AccountancyPO Box 300375Montgomery, AL 36130-0375

Ph(office): 334-242-5700Fax: 334-242-2711

  1. Alabama Society of CPAs (https://www.ascpa.org/)

1041 Longfield CourtMontgomery, AL 36117

PO Box 242987Montgomery, AL 36124-2987

Ph: (800) 227-1711(334) 834-7650

Fax: (334) 834-7603

  1. Alabama Secretary of State (https://www.sos.alabama.gov/)

P.O. Box 5616 Montgomery, AL 36103-5616 

Ph: (334) 242-7200 

Fax: (334) 242-4993

A Guide to Alabama CPA Exam & License Requirements. Here we discuss all the prerequisites to the Alabama CPA exam and license. You may also have a look at the below articles to compare CPA with other examinations –

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