Iowa CPA Requirements
Exam and License Requirements To Become a CPA
Semester Units
Requirements
Exam Program
Semester Units
Year of Experience
Requirements
Exam Program
Iowa CPA Requirements
The Iowa Accountancy Examining Board has set specific guidelines and prerequisites for CPA candidates. They include completing your education, passing the CPA Exam, obtaining work experience, and passing the ethics exam for CPA licensure. The board coordinates with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to conduct the CPA Exam and process licenses.
| 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 | Score 75 in each CPA Exam section |
| Work Experience | One year (2,000 hours) of experience |
| Ethics Exam Requirements | Yes |
| International CPA Examination Program | Yes |
Iowa CPA requirements mandate candidates to produce their Social Security number to obtain a CPA license in the state. It helps ascertain compliance with tax laws and benefits.
- U.S. citizenship is not required to become a CPA in the state
- Must be at least 18 years old to apply for CPA licensure
- No state residency is required
To sit for the CPA Exam in Iowa, candidates must meet one of the four following education requirements.
- Earn a graduate degree with a major in accounting from an accredited institution recognized by the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board.
- Earn a graduate degree in business from an institution recognized by the state board, consisting of at least 24 semester hours in accounting.
- Required accounting courses include financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting above the elementary level.
- Earn a bachelor’s degree in business or accounting from an institution recognized by the board with at least 24 semester hours in accounting.
- Required accounting courses include financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting above the elementary level.
- Earn a bachelor’s degree or higher degree from an institution recognized by the board with at least 24 semester hours each in accounting and business-related courses.
- Required accounting courses include financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting above the elementary level.
- Elementary accounting hours that do not fulfill the accounting requirement may apply toward the business-related course requirement.
For CPA licensure, candidates must obtain at least 150 semester hours of education with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
The CPA Exam has four parts, and candidates must pass all the sections with a score of 75 or higher. You must pass the sections within an 18-month period.
Iowa CPA candidates must gain one year of experience (2,000 hours), either full-time or part-time, spanning no more than three years. Experience may be gained via one or more employment opportunities providing any type of service or advice using accounting, attest (CPA), management advisory, compilation, tax, financial advisory, or consulting skills. The experience must be verified by a licensed CPA, and can be gained in government, academia, industry, or public practice. Exceptions include the following:
- If the experience is academic, you must teach a minimum of 24 semester hours of accounting courses in higher education. To qualify, students must receive credit on an official transcript.
- To qualify as an attest CPA, you must gain a total of two years (4,000 hours) of experience, 2,000 hours of which must be providing attest services under a qualified CPA.
Please note that bookkeeping and elementary individual tax return preparation are usually not considered to be qualifying work experience.
CPA licensees must uphold the ethical framework of their profession. Iowa requires its CPA candidates to complete and pass the AICPA Professional Ethics Exam for CPAs. It is an 11-hour self-study ethics exam taken after passing the CPA Exam. You must score a minimum of 90 to pass the exam and print your certificate for your CPA license application.
Iowa participates in the International CPA Examination Program administered by NASBA. International candidates must have their educational credentials evaluated by NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES) or Foreign Academic Credentials Service (FACS). If your credentials match the state’s requirements, you can apply for the Uniform CPA Exam and licensure.
Iowa CPA Exam & Licensing - Cost and Fees
The initial application fee for CPA Examination in Iowa is $170, followed by a fee of $238.15 for each section. The application and examination fees must be paid at the time of application. There is a re-examination application fee of $90.
| Iowa CPA Exam Fees | ||
|---|---|---|
| Initial Application Fee | $170.00 | |
| Auditing and Attestation (AUD) | $238.15 | |
| Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) | $238.15 | |
| Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) | $238.15 | |
| Regulation (REG) | $238.15 | |
| Total | $1,122.60 | |
After meeting the Iowa CPA requirements for licensure, candidates must complete the online initial licensure application and mail all their paperwork and educational transcripts to the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board with an application fee of $100. If you're seeking qualification as an attest CPA, you must fill out the Application for Attest Qualification Form and provide the required experience. The board will review your application and provide you with an initial license within two to three weeks, provided there are no questions or concerns.
Iowa CPA License Renewal Requirements
CPA licensees from Iowa must renew their licenses annually by July 1 each year, with licenses expiring on June 30. Licenses shall be renewed via an electronic online renewal application with a fee of $100 upon meeting the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements for the period. The state board mails a notice to licensees in May to renew their licenses.
Iowa CPA Continuing Education Requirements
CPE ensures that CPAs are updated with the latest information and implement best practices. Licensees must obtain 120 CPE hours every three years to maintain their CPA license. A licensee may choose June 30 or December 31 to satisfy the CPE requirement for license renewal.
- No CPE requirement for the first renewal.
- 40 CPE hours are required for renewal in the second year.
- 80 CPE hours are required for renewal in the third year.
- 120 CPE hours are required every three years for annual renewal.
Out of the 120 CPE hours, a maximum of 24 may be in non-technical subjects, 4 must be in ethics and rules of professional conduct, and the rest must be in technical accounting subjects.
Iowa CPA Exam: Dates, Score Release, and Scheduling
Iowa CPA candidates can apply for the Uniform CPA Exam year-round after satisfying the state’s educational requirements. The CPA Exam is administered by CPA Examination Services (CPAES), a NASBA sub-division. Before applying, it helps to know the target exam and score release dates. The CPA Exam score release dates are announced biennially by the AICPA, with scores accessible within 48 hours of the target score release date. Below is a step-wise guide to register for and schedule your CPA Exam.
Submit CPA Exam Application and Fees
Iowa CPA candidates can apply for the CPA Exam via CPA Central, NASBA's examination portal. You must enter all the required information and have your university send your educational transcripts directly to NASBA. The initial application fee is $170.
Obtain Authorization to Test (ATT)
The Iowa Accounting Examining Board will determine your CPA Exam eligibility. If you have met the requirements, you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) that confirms your eligibility to sit for the CPA Exam in Iowa.
Receive Your Notice to Schedule (NTS)
Post ATT, you will receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS), available on the NASBA candidate portal after three to six weeks of applying for the exam. Your NTS is an important document to schedule your CPA Exam, and you must bring it with you to the Prometric testing center in order to take the exam.
Schedule Your Exam With Prometric
After receiving your NTS, you can schedule your exams through Prometric. Here you can search for your preferred exam date and location.
Pass the CPA Exam
The four-part CPA Exam must be passed with a minimum score of 75 in each section, and within an 18-month window.