How do you become a Certified Public Accountant in Georgia? Take the first step with our comprehensive Georgia CPA requirements guide. Find out everything you need to know about the journey to passing the CPA Exam, satisfying the experience requirements, and applying for licensure.
Understanding Georgia CPA Requirements
Each state’s CPA requirements differ. In Georgia, the Georgia State Board of Accountancy sets the regulations for sitting for the CPA Exam and obtaining licensure, along with the experiential requirements. Here’s a breakdown of the requirements.
| Social Security Requirements | Yes |
| Age, Citizenship, and Residency Requirements |
|
| Good Moral Character | Yes |
| Education Requirement for Licensure | *Varies depending on pathway; see below |
| Exam Passing Requirements | 75 is the minimum passing score for each exam section |
| Work Experience | *Varies depending on pathway; see below |
| Ethics Exam Requirements | None |
| International CPA Examination Program | Participant |
*Legislative Update: HB148 (Effective Jan. 1, 2026)
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, Georgia began offering an alternative pathway to licensure, requiring only a bachelor’s degree and 2 years of experience.
Educational Requirements
In Georgia, there are a few education requirement options for both the CPA Exam and the license application.
- Option 1: Successfully complete a baccalaureate degree of not fewer than 150 semester hours with an accounting concentration.
- Option 2: Obtain a master’s degree with a concentration in accounting or taxation.
- Option 3: Earn a baccalaureate degree with a concentration in accounting of 120 semester hours.
Work Experience Requirements
CPA candidates in Georgia must have some experience working in public accounting. The following stipulations must be met before a candidate can apply for licensure:
- 1 year of continuous experience in accounting required, if you’ve obtained a baccalaureate degree with 150 semester hours or a master’s degree in accounting concentration.
- Or, 2 years of continuous experience is required if you’ve obtained a baccalaureate degree with 120 semester hours.
Additionally, your work experience can be obtained in business, industry, or government under an actively licensed CPA, and it cannot extend beyond 1 year before the application submission date.
Georgia CPA Exam & Licensing: Cost and Fees
First-time candidates must pay both the education evaluation application and examination fees. You can only apply for 1 exam section at a time. The education evaluation application fee is $96, followed by an exam section fee of $262.64 for each section.
| Georgia CPA Exam Fees | ||
|---|---|---|
| Education Evaluation Application Fee | $96 | |
| Exam Application Fee | $96 | |
| Auditing and Attestation (AUD) | $262.64 | |
| Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) | $262.64 | |
| Regulation (REG) | $262.64 | |
| ISC/BAR/TCP | $262.64 | |
| Total | $1,242.60 | |
Pass the 3 core sections, AUD, FAR, and REG, and 1 discipline section: Information Systems and Controls (ISC), Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR), or Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP).
Once you have passed all 4 sections of the CPA Exam and completed the education and work experience requirements for the CPA license, you can submit a New Individual License Application to the Georgia State Board through the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). CPA license costs and fees in Georgia differ from those in other states in the United States. Take a look below to get an idea:
- Initial License Cost: $140
- Transfer of Grades: $220
- Reciprocal: $220
License Renewal Requirements
Licensees must renew their certification biennially. The expiration date for all CPA licenses is Dec. 31 of each odd-numbered year. All permits for firms expire June 30 of each even-numbered year.
Continuing Education Requirements
- You don’t need to fulfill any continuing education requirements during your first year of licensure.
- If you have been licensed for less than 2 years, you need 40 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) before your first renewal date.
- After your first renewal, you need 80 hours of CPE every 2 years, of which 16 hours must be in auditing and accounting.
- Each year, you must earn at least 20 hours.
- If the CPE requirements are not met by the end of the renewal period, your license will expire, and you will need to reactivate it.
All CPA licensees should keep records of their CPE credits for 5 years. If selected for the audit process, proof of CPE credits must be presented to the board.
Georgia CPA Exam: Exam Dates, Score Release, and Scheduling
Candidates can sit for the CPA Exam after satisfying the Georgia CPA requirements. However, before applying, you must know the CPA Exam and score release dates to schedule the exam and the application process. We’ve got you covered with a quick overview of these details.
Exam Dates and Score Release
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA®) periodically updates the target CPA Exam and score release dates on its website. For the CPA Exam, continuous testing is in effect for the core sections, whereas discipline sections are held during specific windows.
Scheduling the CPA Examination
Each state has a slightly different application process. Here’s a quick guide to applying for and scheduling the Georgia CPA Exam.
Candidates applying for the Georgia CPA Exam can submit their applications by creating an Okta Account on the CPA Portal. The portal is home to checking and using your CPA Exam materials, receiving your Notice to Schedule (NTS), and accessing your scores.
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 Georgia CPA Exam.
To determine your eligibility to sit for the CPA Exam in Georgia, you must submit an education evaluation application with a fee of $96. However, you can reach any of the following education evaluators if you’ve met educational requirements outside of the United States:
- NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES)
- Foreign Academic Credential Service, Inc. (FACS)
- Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc. (ERES)
Now that you have your NTS and CES ID, you can schedule your CPA Exam through Prometric’s website. You can schedule the exam date and location based on your preference. Remember to carry a physical copy of your NTS to the testing center on the exam day.
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