Minnesota CPA Requirements
Exam and License Requirements To Become A CPA

Minnesota CPA Requirements

The Minnesota Board of Accountancy is the state-governing body for CPA Exams and licenses. It works in collaboration with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). To obtain your CPA license in Minnesota, you must pass all the exam sections, meet educational and experience requirements, and pass the ethics exam.

You must provide your Social Security number for CPA licensure, as per Minnesota CPA requirements, to ascertain compliance with the tax laws of the land.

• You are not required to hold U.S. citizenship to apply for the CPA license in Minnesota.
• You must be older than 18 years of age at the time of application.
• You must be a resident of the state of Minnesota before applying for the CPA Examination.

Educational Requirements

The Minnesota Board of Accountancy has set specific educational and semester-hour requirements for candidates sitting for the CPA Exam and applying for CPA licensure. Candidates have a few paths to consider depending on their degree level and school’s accreditation:

• Option 1: National or Regional Accreditation

  To sit for the CPA Exam applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or higher with 24 semester hours in accounting (above the introductory level), including courses in auditing, financial accounting, management accounting, and taxation.

  To earn CPA licensure applicants must have completed a total of 150 semester hours with 24 hours in business-related subjects (undergraduate or graduate level) or an additional 24 hours in accounting courses (above the introductory level).

• Option 2: AACSB or ACBSP Accreditation (Business School or COB)

  To sit for the CPA Exam applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and completed 24 semester hours in accounting (undergraduate or graduate level), including courses in auditing, financial accounting, management accounting, and taxation. An additional 24 semester hours in business-related or accounting courses (undergraduate or graduate level) are required.

  Note that if you have a graduate degree from an AACSB or ACBSP business school or college of business, your education requirement is slightly different. In this scenario you must have completed 24 semester hours in accounting at the undergraduate level or 15 semester hours in accounting at the graduate level (or equivalent combination). Required courses include auditing, financial accounting, management accounting, and taxation.

  To earn CPA licensure applicants must have completed a total of 150 semester hours with no additional requirements if the candidate is eligible to sit for the CPA Exam.

• Option 3: AACSB or ACBSP Accreditation (Accounting Program or Department)

  To sit for the CPA Exam applicants must have obtained a graduate degree with an accounting focus.

  To earn CPA licensure applicants must have completed a total of 150 semester hours with no additional requirements if the candidate is eligible to sit for the CPA Exam.

Up to 6 internship credits can be applied to your 48 credit hours in accounting or business courses. Any additional internship credits within these concentrations can be applied to your 150 total hours.

You must score at least 75 in each of the four CPA Exam sections within an 18-month timeframe.

As per Minnesota CPA requirements, gaining work experience is essential to obtaining a CPA license. Candidates must complete one year of work experience (2,000 hours) in a period longer than one year and less than three years. You can gain experience working in public accounting, industry, education, or government.

Experience gained through paid internships can be counted, provided the internships are not used to fulfill the educational requirements. One of the benefits in Minnesota is that work hours earned while sitting for the CPA Exam can be counted toward the experience requirement. However, a licensed CPA from the state where you gained the experience (and who is not related to you) must verify the experience.

Minnesota CPA candidates must pass the AICPA’s Professional Ethics course. You must score at least 90 in the 11-hour self-study course. You can take the ethics exam at any point during the process–before or after passing the CPA Exam–provided it’s completed within the two years preceding your initial license application.

If you work in public accounting, or for the State or Legislative Auditor, your timing is more important. Once you receive notice that you meet education and experience requirements, and have passed all four sections of the CPA Exam, you have 60 days to file for your certificate with the Minnesota state board. This 60-day period begins whether you’ve passed the ethics exam or not. Keep this in mind as you approach licensure.

Minnesota participates in the International CPA Examination Program to facilitate non-U.S. citizens becoming CPA license holders. If you have completed your education outside of the United States, your credentials will be evaluated by NASBA International Evaluation Services, or the Educational Credential Evaluators. Upon determining your eligibility, you will be allowed to sit for the CPA Exam and apply for CPA licensure as per the Minnesota CPA requirements.