Do you want to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Kansas? Practicing as a CPA in Kansas can bring you competitive and high-paying jobs in all fields. This guide will get you started with a look at the CPA requirements, application process, and everything else you need to know about becoming a CPA in Kansas.
Kansas CPA Requirements
Kansas CPA requirements are administered and determined by the Kansas Board of Accountancy (KSBOA). Obtaining a CPA license in Kansas requires candidates to satisfy the educational requirements, pass the CPA Exam, have work experience, and pass the ethics exam.
Kansas is a 2-tiered state, meaning a certificate will be issued upon passing the CPA Exam, and a license will be issued upon gaining work experience. The KSBOA works closely with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA®) to administer the CPA Exam and process licenses.
| Social Security Requirement | Yes |
| Age, Citizenship, and Residency Requirements |
|
| Good Moral Character | Yes |
| Education Requirements for Licensure | 150 hours (inclusive of a bachelor’s degree) |
| Exam Passing Requirements | Minimum of 75 in each section |
| Ethics Exam Requirements | Pass the AICPA ethics exam with a minimum score of 90. |
| Work Experience | 1 year of full-time experience |
| International CPA Examination Program | Yes, is a participant |
Educational Requirements
To sit for the CPA Exam and gain CPA licensure in Kansas, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an institution/university recognized by the KSBOA. Candidates must furthermore complete a minimum of 150 semester hours that include the following:
- 42 semester hours in Business and General Education. Includes courses in:
- Macro and Microeconomics, and 1 upper-division economics course
- At least 2 courses in Business Law
- College Algebra or higher-level math course
- Information Systems and Applications course, equivalent to at least a 200-level course
- Finance
- Management and Administration
- Marketing
- Production, Operations Research, or Applications of Quantitative Techniques to Business Problems
- 30 semester hours in Accounting Theory and Practice. Includes courses in:
- Financial Accounting and Reporting for Business Organizations
- Managerial Accounting (above introductory level)
- Auditing courses based on standards accepted by the AICPA auditing standards board or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or both
- U.S. Income Taxation
- Accounting Systems (above introductory computer course)
- 11 semester hours in Written and Oral Communication
Kansas CPA candidates may sit for the CPA Exam up to 60 days before meeting the educational requirement and must submit the final transcripts to NASBA within 120 days of taking the first exam section.
One year of full-time experience in accounting verified by a licensed CPA is required to obtain a CPA license in Kansas. This experience must include providing any service or advice using attest, accounting, tax, or consulting skills, as well as financial advisory, management advisory, and compilation services. Candidates can gain experience via employment in government, industry, academia, or public practice. Note that internships may not be counted toward the experience requirement.
Kansas CPA Exam & Licensing: Cost and Fees
KSBOA has an education evaluation application fee of $96, an exam application fee of $96, and a $262.64 fee for each exam section. Fees are submitted at the time of application and are non-refundable. CPAs will be issued licenses upon meeting the experience requirements prescribed by the KSBOA. All CPA certificate holders must apply for an Initial Permit to Practice from the state board.
| Kansas 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: | $1,242.56 | |
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).
After passing the exam and satisfying the initial requirements for a license, you can apply to the Kansas State Board of Accountancy for an initial permit by paying a fee of $165 (if more than 1 year remains in the biennial period) or $82.50 (if less than 1 year remains in the period).
Kansas CPA License Renewal Requirements
The Kansas state board specifies that CPA licensees must renew their license biennially by June 30 of the odd/even year, based on the year the permit was issued. This includes a fee of $165. Your license will be renewed, provided the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements are met for the biennial period. If you don’t obtain the CPE as per the regulations, you must have an additional 8 hours of CPE within a specified period before your license is renewed.
Kansas CPA Continuing Education Requirements
All CPA licensees from Kansas are required to complete 80 CPE hours every 2 years, including 2 hours of ethics. CPE completed can include professional development programs, technical sessions, university or college courses, or programs in accounting, auditing, consulting services, or ethics.
Note that you can carry up to 20 CPE hours over the required amount for permit renewal. You must also maintain the CPE records for 5 years and produce the necessary completion certificate issued by the Continuing Education (CE) sponsor.
Kansas CPA Exam: Exam Dates, Score Release, and Scheduling
Learn more about the Kansas CPA Exam dates, score release procedures, and effective scheduling techniques to streamline your examination process.
Exam Dates & Score Release
The CPA Exam is administered by CPA Examination Services (CPAES), a division of NASBA. Candidates can schedule their exams based on their preference by checking the target exam and score release dates. The AICPA announces the CPA Exam score release dates, and scores are accessible within 48 hours of the target score release date.
Exam Section Scheduling
Let’s look at the application and scheduling process for the CPA Exam.
Once you have met the Kansas CPA Exam requirements, you can create an Okta account to access the CPA portal. This portal will help you throughout the application process. You can manage your documents, make payments, receive Notice to Schedule (NTS), and more.
Apply for the education evaluation process to check if you are eligible for the exam. If you qualify, your CPA portal will display your eligibility status. Ensure that your educational transcripts are sent directly from your institution/university to NASBA. If you have completed your education outside the United States, you can choose any of the following services to get the evaluation done.
- NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES)
- Foreign Academic Credential Service, Inc. (FACS)
- Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc. (ERES)
After successful determination of eligibility, you can proceed toward exam application by paying a fee of $96, followed by an exam section fee of $262.64. Note that you can only apply for 1 section per application. An NTS will be issued under your name after the application process is completed. You will also get a Candidate Exam Section ID (CES ID). You’ll receive 1 NTS for each section after the application process is complete.
After receiving your NTS, you can schedule your CPA Exam using Prometric. The portal helps you to schedule your exam based on your preferred date and location. We recommend checking for and selecting the nearest Prometric testing center.
To pass the CPA Exam, you need to score 75 or higher on each section. Ensure you have a study plan and the right preparatory materials that work for you.
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