Are you looking to become a CPA in Nebraska? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve outlined everything you need to know about the state’s requirements. Keep reading to learn what’s required to earn your CPA license in Nebraska.
Understanding Nebraska CPA Requirements
Each state has different requirements for the CPA Exam and licensure, and the same holds for Nebraska. Candidates must familiarize themselves with these requirements and apply for the CPA designation accordingly. Here is a detailed rundown of these requirements:
| Social Security Requirements | Yes |
| Age, Citizenship, and Residency Requirements |
|
| Good Moral Character | Yes |
| Education Requirement for Licensure | 150 hours (including a bachelor’s degree) |
| Exam Passing Requirements | 75 is the minimum passing score for each exam section |
| Work Experience | 4,000-6,000 hours of work experience |
| Ethics Exam Requirements |
Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA®) Ethics Exam |
| International CPA Examination Program | Yes, is a participant |
Educational Requirements
Nebraska’s CPA education requirements for taking the CPA Exam are 120 hours, and for licensure are 150 hours. For the CPA Exam, candidates must have completed 24 semester hours each in accounting and general business. For licensure, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, with a minimum of 150 semester hours (or 225 quarter hours) of coursework. It includes:
- 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) in accounting above the introductory level, covering:
- Financial accounting theory
- Cost/managerial accounting
- Taxation
- Auditing
- Accounting information systems
- Governmental/not-for-profit accounting
- 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) in general business subjects, covering:
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
- Business law
- Marketing
- Management
- Finance
- Business ethics
- Principles of accounting
College students may take the CPA Exam if they meet the above requirements by 120 days from their examination date. Once the education requirements have been met, you must submit all appropriate documents to CPA Examination Services (CPAES) by 150 days from your examination date.
Work Experience Requirements
Nebraska CPA candidates have 3 ways to meet their work experience requirements. Complete the experience requirement under the supervision of an active CPA within 10 years. Combining different types of work experience is permissible, but doing so bumps the experience requirement to 3 years (6,000 hours). The 3 work experience options are:
- 2 years (4,000 hours) in public accounting
- 2 years (4,000 hours) at the Nebraska Department of Revenue or Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts
- 3 years (6,000 hours) in private industry, government, or academia
Ethical Exam Requirements
In Nebraska, CPA candidates must pass 2 separate ethics exams. The first is the NBPA Ethics Exam administered by the State Board. The second is AICPA’s Professional Ethics self-study examination.
Nebraska CPA Exam & Licensing: Cost and Fees
First-time applicants must pay a 1-time education evaluation application fee of $111, followed by an exam application fee of $96, and an exam section fee of $262.64 for each section. If you must retake an exam section, you must pay the fee accordingly.
| Nebraska CPA Exam Fees | |
|---|---|
| Education Evaluation Application Fee | $111 |
| 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: | $1,257.56 |
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).
Nebraska is a 2-tiered state, meaning successful candidates must apply for a CPA certificate upon passing the exam and for licensure after meeting the requirements. The CPA Certificate states the passing of the CPA Exam and the professional ethics examination by the board. Access the application for the certificate on the state board website. Once you have the CPA Certificate and meet the experience requirements, you can apply for a Permit to Practice with a fee of $200.
License Renewal Requirements
CPAs in Nebraska must renew their license biennially by meeting the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements. Submit your renewal application by the required date, along with the stipulated fee. You can apply for the renewal online on the state website.
Continuing Education Requirements
You must earn 80 CPE hours (including 4 hours in ethics) during the biennial period. Remember to meet the CPE requirement by Dec. 31 of the year before the renewal and report by Jan. 31 of the renewal year. Visit the State Board website for more information.
Nebraska CPA Exam: Dates, Score Release, and Scheduling
After satisfying the state requirements, prospective candidates can undertake the Uniform CPA Examination in Nebraska. However, it's crucial to understand the CPA Exam and score release dates before initiating the application process. We provide a concise overview of these particulars to assist you in applying.
Exam Dates and Score Release
Candidates can schedule their CPA Exam based on their preference after checking the target CPA Exam and score release dates on the AICPA website. Please note that continuous testing is for core sections, whereas discipline sections are held in 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 Nebraska CPA Exam.
Nebraska CPA candidates can apply for the CPA Exam by creating an Okta Account on the CPA Portal. Provide all relevant information, and save the credentials, as the portal serves as your central point of contact for accessing your CPA Exam status, receiving a Notice to Schedule (NTS), and viewing 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 Nebraska CPA Exam.After creating your Okta Account; you must submit an education evaluation application to National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) with your educational details and transcripts from the institution/university. If you’ve met the educational requirements outside of the United States, the following services will be helpful:
- NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES)
- Foreign Academic Credential Service, Inc. (FACS)
- Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc. (ERES).
NASBA releases an Authorization to Test (ATT) confirming your eligibility to sit for the CPA Exam from Nebraska. You can apply for exam sections via an exam application fee and an exam section fee. Remember, you can only use 1 section at a time, and a separate NTS is issued for each application. Along with the NTS, all candidates are assigned a Candidate Section ID (CES ID) for exam scheduling purposes.
To schedule the CPA Exam, go to Prometric’s website. Enter your NTS and CES ID details, and select your testing location and an appropriate exam date in advance. You can search online for the nearest Prometric testing center to you. Remember to bring a physical copy of your NTS to the test center on the exam day.
The CPA Exam scoring scale for each section is 0-99. You must score at least 75 in every section to pass the exam.
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