New Jersey CPA Requirements
Exam and License Requirements To Become a CPA
Want to learn all about the CPA Exam?
Discover how to become a CPA in New Jersey and join one of the largest Certified Public Accountant bodies in the U.S. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the state's CPA requirements.
Uncover New Jersey CPA Requirements
As an aspiring CPA candidate in New Jersey, you must pass the CPA Exam, meet the educational and experience requirements, and pass an ethics exam. The New Jersey State Board of Accountancy (NJ State Board) is the principal body that administers the state’s CPA regulations in collaboration with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
| Social Security Requirements | Yes |
| Age, Citizenship, and Residency Requirements |
|
| Good Moral Character | Yes |
| Education Requirement for Licensure | 150 hours (including B.A.of 120 hours) |
| Pass the Exam | Score a minimum of 75 in each section |
| Work Experience | 1 year of professional experience in public accounting/equivalent under a CPA license holder |
| Ethics Exam Requirements | Must pass the New Jersey Law and Ethics Course. |
| International CPA Examination Program | Does not participate in the International CPA Program. |
You must fulfill specific educational and credit-hour requirements to meet New Jersey’s CPA Exam requirements to take the exam. This includes obtaining a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with at least 120 hours of general college-level credit. The credits must incorporate the following:
- 24 semester hours in accounting courses
- 24 semester hours in general business courses
For a CPA license, you need a baccalaureate degree with at least 150 semester hours of general college-level credit. This must include 24 semester hours of accounting courses and 24 semester hours of general business courses.
You must gain one year of full-time work experience in professional accounting or its equivalent, under a licensed CPA professional. You can work in public accounting, academia, a government agency, or private industry.
Self-practice will not be considered. If you're working part-time, the requirement increases to two years. After completing your experience, you must submit work experience documents to the NJ State Board.
New Jersey CPA Exam & Licensing - Cost and Fees
The educational evaluation fee for the New Jersey CPA Examination is $90, and the fee for each section, $344.80, is paid directly to the NASBA. After passing all the CPA Exam sections, gaining work experience, and meeting additional requirements, you can apply for a CPA license in New Jersey. The initial licensing fee is $65 and for a reciprocal license is $75. However, there are different ways in which you can apply for a CPA license in New Jersey.
| New Jersey CPA Exam Fees | ||
|---|---|---|
| Education Evaluation Application Fee | $90 | |
| Auditing and Attestation (AUD) | $364.80 | |
| Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) | $364.80 | |
| Regulation (REG) | $364.80 | |
| ISC/BAR/TCP | $364.80 | |
| Total: | $1,549.20 | |
[Information Systems and Controls (ISC), Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR), Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)]
- If you're applying after passing all exams, there is no initial application fee. However, you need to pay the fee once your application is approved.
- You must send supporting documents to the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy and submit your final licensure payment.
- If you've studied outside of the U.S. or at an institution that is not regionally accredited, you must submit an application to NASBA International Evaluation Services for a $75 fee.
- Once accepted, you must fulfill all requirements and submit all requested documentation to obtain your license.
- If you're applying for a CPA license in New Jersey via an endorsement, you have to pay an application fee of $175 and submit all the required documents to the board.
- The licensing state must then submit the official Verification of Licensure Form, and upon meeting the requirements, you can proceed with the final licensure payment.
License Renewal Requirements
The New Jersey CPA license is valid for three years from the date of issue. To receive renewal notices and renew your license, you must have your mailing address updated. Renewing your license is an online process with a fee of $90. The renewal must be done before December 31 of the year of license expiry. You must also meet the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements during each renewal period.
Continuing Education Requirements
CPE is an essential component of CPA licensure, as it keeps professionals updated with the latest developments and helps them brush up their skills in accountancy. Hence, every CPA license holder must meet the CPE requirements of 120 credit hours before renewing their license. Of the 120 credit hours, the following are mandatory:
- 60 credit hours in technical subject areas
- 24 credit hours in accounting and auditing
- A minimum of 20 credit hours per year
New Jersey CPA Exam: Exam Dates, Score Release and Scheduling
Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New Jersey entails meticulous preparation and compliance with the state's specific requirements. The process involves several key steps, including registration for the CPA exam, strategically scheduling exam sections, and staying updated on score release dates.
Exam Dates & Score Release
AICPA declares the testing windows and CPA Exam score release dates. Usually, the scores are out within 48 hours of the target score release dates. Let us go through the application process and schedule your CPA Exam step-by-step.
You need to create an Okta account to apply for the New Jersey CPA Exam. This account will give you access to your CPA portal, which will be used throughout the application process. Your portal will help you manage your details, make payments, and access documents such as payment receipts and NTS.
Apply for the education evaluation through the CPA portal once you have created an account. This evaluation is to check your eligibility for the exam. Make sure your educational transcripts are submitted to CPA Exam Services directly from your institutions/universities. Once you have cleared the evaluation process, your home page will show your status as eligible. If you have completed your education outside of the U.S., you can get your education evaluated via the following services:
- NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES)
- Foreign Academic Credential Service, Inc. (FACS)
- Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc. (ERES)
You can start your exam section application after the eligibility confirmation. You are only allowed to apply for one section per application. You will receive the NTS after the application process is completed. Your NTS status and expiration date will be available on your portal home page. A Candidate Exam Section ID (CES ID) will also be on the page. It would be needed at the time of scheduling your exam. Furthermore, you will receive NTS for each section after application.
Use Prometric to schedule your CPA Exam. You will need a CES ID and NTS number while scheduling the exam. We suggest doing a quick search to find your nearest Prometric center. Remember to bring a printout of the NTS with you when you go to the center on exam day.
The time window to pass all the CPA is 30 months. You must score at least 75 in each section to pass.