Arkansas Cpa Exam License Requirements 2022

Arkansas CPA Exam

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Please note that it is a one-tier state. Thus, candidates must pass the CPA ExamCPA ExamA Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a US state board-issued license to practice the accounting professionread more and gain relevant experience before applying for the license. In addition, Arkansas places no restrictions on age, citizenship, or residency for licensure. Moreover, the U.S. jurisdiction also participates in the International Examination Program.

Here is the Arkansas CPA exam and license requirements checklist.

Contents

30 hours of upper-level accounting courses
30 hours of business courses (besides accounting)

Arkansas CPA Exam Requirements

Eligibility RequirementsFeesRequired Documents

Arkansas CPA License Requirements

Education RequirementsExam RequirementsExperience RequirementsCriminal Background Check

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

Arkansas Exam Information & Resources

Arkansas CPA Exam Requirements

Arkansas applicants must pass the computer-aided sequence of tests within the rolling 18-month period. This duration begins from the testing date of your first passed section.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) associates with the National Association of State Boards of Public Accountancy (NASBA) and Prometric to deliver the licensure test.

The examination assesses an applicant’s cognition and professionalism to efficiently perform as an entry-level CPA. It consists of four sections. Each of them is four-hour long and requires a passing score of at least 75 points on a scale of 0-99.

Auditing & Attestation (AUD ExamAUD ExamAuditing and Attestation (AUD) is one of the four Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam sections to be passed for CPA licensure. With a complex exam format, tricky questions, and an exhaustive list of topics to study, you will benefit from some quick tips on the art of preparing for the AUD CPA exam section.read more)Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR ExamFAR ExamThe Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) CPA Exam section tests a candidate’s competency in understanding and applying financial accounting and reporting standards.read more)Business Environment & Concepts (BEC ExamBEC ExamThe BEC CPA Exam (Business Environment and Concepts) exam section evaluates your understanding of the general business environment and your duties and responsibilities as a CPA towards it. It assesses your ability to recognize and scrutinize situations related to Financial reporting, Financial statement audit and attestation and Tax preparation
read more) Regulation (REG ExamREG ExamREG CPA Exam (Regulation) exam section tests a candidate’s competency in applying the concepts of federal taxation, business law, and ethics. It is a four-hour exam with 15 minutes break.
read more)

All CPA exam sectionsCPA Exam SectionsThe Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam comprises four sections, namely, Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG). The unique content, structure, format, and scoring of the CPA exam earn it the title of one of the most challenging professional exams. read more include five tests with multiple-choice questions and task-based simulations. Apart from these, BEC also incorporates a different question type, namely, written communication tasks.

Eligibility Requirements

Arkansas requires applicants to hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with

30 hours of upper-level accounting courses including, Management Accounting (Cost Accounting)Financial Accounting (Intermediate Accounting)Federal Taxation (Advanced income tax or fundamentals of taxation)Governmental & Not-for-Profit Accounting (Institutional Accounting)Accounting Information SystemsAuditing & Attestation 30 hours of business courses (besides accounting)
Management Accounting (Cost Accounting)Financial Accounting (Intermediate Accounting)Federal Taxation (Advanced income tax or fundamentals of taxation)Governmental & Not-for-Profit Accounting (Institutional Accounting)Accounting Information SystemsAuditing & Attestation

Ensure to complete both accounting ancd business courses with at least a “C” grade. Then, submit your exam application to the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy (ASBPA) with the required fees and documents. The complete online application process is available on the ASBPA official portal.

Note that you cannot use an accounting internship to fulfill a business course requirement.

Fees

Arkansas State Board charges a specific fee to each initial or re-exam applicant. Here lie the first-time application and examination fees. Please note that both are non-transferable and non-refundable.

You have six months from the NTS issuance date to take the applied CPA exam section(s). Note that the board charges $10 per exam section to transfer credit from another jurisdiction. Submit this fee along with your application and the Authorization for Interstate Exchange of Examination and Licensure Information form.

Required Documents

Here lies the list of required documents:

Candidates may use any evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluators (NACES).

Arkansas CPA License Requirements

Arkansas is a relatively easy state to apply for a license with no minimum age, citizenship, residency, or ethics requirements. ASBPA shall grant the CPA license to individuals who,

Complete 150 Semester hoursPass the Uniform CPA Exam Gain year of relevant work experienceProvide a full criminal background check

Upon successful CPA exam completionCPA Exam CompletionYou must complete all the CPA exam sections within 18 months for successful licensure. An average CPA candidate requires 9-14 months to pass all the sections of the CPA Examination. However, this period may vary as per your familiarity with the material, acquired skills, and study time devoted.read more, ASBPA Licensing Coordinator will send you an e-mail with the online licensure application link.

Ensure to earn the CPA license within three years of passing the examination. Further details are mentioned on the State Board website.

Education Requirements

Arkansas CPA licensure applicants must obtain 150 semester hours of education with at least a Bachelor’s degree. Please note that it includes the semester hours required to sit for the CPA exam.

You must meet the qualification within three years of passing the last exam section. Applicants unable to do so due to extreme situations may request an extension to the Board.

Exam Requirements

Candidates must pass all four CPA exam sections with at least 75 points. In addition, ensure to complete the examination within the rolling 18-month testing period. For more information, please go through the Arkansas CPA Exam Requirements section.

Experience Requirements

Let’s view the experience requirements in detail.

Criminal Background Check

You must obtain national and state criminal background checks. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Identification Bureau of the Division of Arkansas State Police (ASP) administers the checks. So, make sure to provide your fingerprints. Also, submit the necessary fee ($35) for the same.

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

To sustain your CPA license, ensure to gain 40 CPE credit hours annually. Moreover, the program sponsors must be:

members of NASBA’s or the Board’s Registry, orapproved by other state boards

The programs sponsored by the following sponsors have automatic approval:

AICPA and other CPA professional associations (national or state)Governmental entitiesFirms offering in-firm education programs (accounting and industrial firms)Accredited universities or colleges

Licensees with the initial license acquired during the current calendar year are exempt from the ethics requirement in their year of licensing.

There is a reason why Arkansas is known as the “Land of Opportunity.” With an annual base pay of $55,472 for a CPA, the U.S. jurisdiction is undoubtedly among the best places to earn your CPA title. So, gear up for the CPA Exam and fulfill all requirements to be a proud owner of the Arkansas CPA license.

online course via the ASBPA website, or
Group training by a board member/board staff member/board designee
Returning military veteran within 1 year of discharge from active duty
An active-duty military service member outside of Arkansas
Spouse of a person mentioned above

This highly esteemed credential opens up the door to endless career pathways. From tax accountant and chief financial officer to corporate controller, CPA license offers plenty of senior-level positions. You can choose any field of specialization and enjoy a rewarding career!

Arkansas Exam Information & Resources

Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy (https://www.asbpa.arkansas.gov/)

900 W. Capitol Ave, Suite 400

Little Rock, AR 72201-3108

Phone: (501) 682-1520

Arkansas Society of CPAs (https://www.arcpa.org/)

11300 Executive Center Drive

Little Rock AR 72211

501-664-8739

800-482-8739 in AR

[email protected]

Arkansas Department of Labor & Licensing (https://www.labor.arkansas.gov/)

900 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201-3108

501-682-4500

501-682-4535 Fax

Arkansas Secretary of State (https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/)

State Capitol

500 Woodlane Avenue, Suite 256

Little Rock, AR 72201

501-682-1010