Colorado CPA Requirements
Exam and License Requirements To Become a CPA
Want to learn all about the CPA Exam?
Interested in becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Colorado? Take the first step by learning everything you need to know in our detailed guide. Below you’ll learn the CPA Exam and licensing requirements, as well as information on the cost and fees required to become a CPA in Colorado.
Understanding Colorado CPA Requirements
Every state adheres to rules and regulations regarding the CPA Exam and licensing procedure. From state to state, the standards differ. Below we’ll go over Colorado’s own set of CPA requirements.
| Social Security Requirements | Yes |
| Age, Citizenship, and Residency Requirements |
|
| Good Moral Character | Yes |
| Education Requirement for Licensure | 150 hours (including B.A.) |
| Pass the Exam | Need at least 75 in each section to pass |
| Work Experience | 1 year of related work experience |
| Ethics Exam Requirements | AICPA Professional Ethics Exam |
| International CPA Examination Program | Participant |
Educational Requirements
- For the CPA Exam, you must have a baccalaureate degree or higher education equivalent, including 120 semester hours in accounting or business courses.
- These 120 hours must include at least 27 semester hours of non-duplicative accounting coursework.
- These 27 semester hours must contain 21 hours of the below-listed coursework:
- Taxation
- Tax Auditing
- Tax Research and Analysis
- Accounting Ethics
- Forensic Accounting
- Accounting Theory
- Accounting Information Systems
- Accounting Research and Analysis
- Auditing and Attestation Services
- Fraud Examination
- Financial Accounting
- Managerial or Cost Accounting
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Internal Controls and Risk Assessment
- These 21 hours must include a U.S. GAAS-focused auditing course of at least three semester hours.
- For a CPA license, you must have 150 semester hours, including 33 semester hours in accounting and 27 semesters in business at the undergraduate or graduate level.
Work Experience Requirements
You must complete one year of work experience (1,800 hours) for one or more employers as an employee under supervision. Working in public accounting, industry, government, or academia is acceptable.
Ethical Exam Requirements
Passing the ethical exam is one of the most critical requirements for obtaining a CPA license in Colorado. You must pass the AICPA Professional Ethics Exam within 90 days of satisfying the work experience prerequisite.
Colorado CPA Exam & Licensing - Cost and Fees
Candidates sitting for the CPA Exam for the first time must pay an education evaluation application fee followed by the exam section fee. The education evaluation application fee is $75, and each exam section costs $339.80.
| Colorado CPA Exam Fees | |
|---|---|
| Education Evaluation Application Fee | $75.00 |
| Exam Section Fees | $1,359.20 |
| Total: | $1,434.20 |
*Pass the three core sections - AUD, FAR, and REG, and one discipline section - BAR/ISC/TCP
When you have passed your CPA ethics exam and met all the licensing requirements, you can apply for the CPA license through the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) website. Take a look at the licensing costs and fees listed below.
| Colorado CPA License Fees | |
|---|---|
| Initial Application | $150.00 |
| Hard-copy fingerprint process | $49.00 |
| Biennial license renewal | $120.00 |
| Application for retired status | $75.00 |
| Retired-to-active status | $50.00 |
License Renewal Requirements
CPAs must renew their license in Colorado every two years. Every other year, on the last day of the licensee's birth month, the license will expire at midnight.
Continuing Education Requirements
To maintain your CPA license in Colorado, you must complete 80 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE). CPAs who offer audit, review, or other attestation services or provide compiled financial statement reports must submit at least 24 hours of CPE in accounting and auditing.
Colorado CPA Exam: Exam Dates, Score Release, and Scheduling
Although each state in the United States has its laws, some practices are standard. CPA Examination Services (CPAES), a subsidiary of NASBA, handles applications for the CPA Examination and initial licensing in Colorado. However, you must familiarize yourself with the target exam, score release dates, and the Colorado CPA Exam application process.
Exam Dates and Score Release
Candidates can apply and sit for the CPA Exam as per their preference aligned with the CPA Exam and score release dates. It’s important to note that AICPA periodically updates its policies, and for the 2024 CPA Exam, continuous testing has been temporarily paused to account for standard-setting analyses and activities.
Scheduling the CPA Examination
Each state has a slightly different application process. Hence, here's a quick guide to applying for and scheduling the Colorado CPA Exam.
Colorado CPA candidates must sign up on the CPA Portal by NASBA to apply for the CPA Exam. You will find all your CPA application status and Notice to Schedules and get your scores on the portal.
As a participant in the International CPA Examination Program, international candidates or those who’ve completed their education outside the United States can apply for the Colorado CPA Exam.
After signing up on the CPA portal, you must submit an education evaluation application by paying a fee of $75. Note that candidates who’ve completed their education outside of the United States must have their education evaluated via one of the following:
- NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES)
- Foreign Academic Credential Service, Inc. (FACS)
- Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc. (ERES)
Schedule your CPA Exam via Prometric using your NTS number and CES ID. The website allows you to schedule your exam based on your preferred date and location. Check online for the nearest Prometric testing center. Remember to carry a physical copy of the NTS to the testing center on the exam day.
Colorado CPA candidates must sign up on the CPA Portal by NASBA to apply for the CPA Exam. You will find all your CPA application status and Notice to Schedules and get your scores on the portal.
As a participant in the International CPA Examination Program, international candidates or those who’ve completed their education outside the United States can apply for the Colorado CPA Exam.
After signing up on the CPA portal, you must submit an education evaluation application by paying a fee of $75. Note that candidates who’ve completed their education outside of the United States must have their education evaluated via one of the following:
- NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES)
- Foreign Academic Credential Service, Inc. (FACS)
- Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc. (ERES)
Candidates will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) once NASBA approves their education evaluation application. The document confirms your eligibility to sit for the CPA Exam. You can apply for one CPA Exam section at a time, and each will receive a separate Notice to Schedule (NTS) upon fee payment. You’ll also receive a Candidate Exam Section ID (CES ID) for exam scheduling.
Schedule your CPA Exam via Prometric using your NTS number and CES ID. The website allows you to schedule your exam based on your preferred date and location. Check online for the nearest Prometric testing center. Remember to carry a physical copy of the NTS to the testing center on the exam day.
