Nevada CPA Requirements
Exam and License Requirements to Become a CPA
Want to learn all about the CPA Exam?
Do you want to become a CPA in Nevada? If yes, you must know the state's CPA Exam and license requirements. Let's explore the Nevada CPA requirements through this comprehensive guide and become familiar with the application process.
Understanding Nevada CPA Requirements
Becoming a CPA in Nevada requires candidates to satisfy the education and experience prerequisites provided by the Nevada State Board of Accountancy. Besides education and experience, there are other requirements, such as citizenship, residency, and ethics exams. Below are a few mandatory requirements to obtain a Nevada CPA license.
| Social Security Requirements | Yes |
| Age, Citizenship, and Residency Requirements |
|
| Good Moral Character | Yes |
| Education Requirement for Licensure | 150 hours (including a bachelor’s degree) |
| Pass the Exam | Score 75 in each CPA Exam section |
| Work Experience | 1 year (2,000 hours) of full-time experience |
| Ethics Exam Requirements | AICPA Ethics Exam |
| International CPA Examination Program | Participant |
Educational Requirements
To take the CPA Exam, candidates must complete a bachelor's degree in accounting. If your degree is not in accounting, you must study the following courses above the introductory level:
- 6 credits in financial accounting (intermediate I, II, III, or advanced)
- 3 credits in cost accounting
- 3 credits in auditing
- 3 credits in federal income tax
- 3 credits in business law
For licensure, candidates must complete a total of 150 credits, which includes these additional courses on top of those required for examination:
- 9 credits in accounting electives
- 24 credits in non-accounting business courses
Work Experience Requirements
Nevada CPA candidates must obtain at least 2,000 hours of work experience performed over not less than one year, completed under the direct supervision of a licensed CPA. The experience must demonstrate increasing complexity and may be performed in industry, public practice, nonprofits, or government. Work experience should involve any professional service or advice using:
- Accounting
- Attestation
- Compilation
- Management advisory services
- Financial advisory services
- Tax consulting
The candidate must submit a verification form to the Board to verify completion. A supervising CPA must sign the form.
Ethical Exam Requirements
To receive your CPA license in Nevada, you must provide the Board with results indicating that you have passed the Rules of Professional Conduct (Ethics) exam within the past three years of application. You can take the exam from any provider of continuing education.
Nevada CPA Exam & Licensing - Cost and Fees
The initial application fee for Nevada CPA candidates is $100 (non-refundable), paid to the Nevada State Board of Accountancy. There is a re-exam application fee of $50 (non-refundable). The fee for each exam section is $254.80, paid directly to NASBA.
| Nevada CPA Exam Fees | |
|---|---|
| Initial Application Fee | $100 |
| Exam Section Fees | $1,019.20 |
| Total: | $1,119.20 |
*Pass the three core sections - AUD, FAR, and REG, and one discipline section - BAR/ISC/TCP
After passing the CPA Exam, gaining work experience, and passing the ethics exam, candidates can apply for an initial license in Nevada. The application packet is available on the state board website, which requires you to send all the documents requested along with an application fee of $240. The state board will verify the application and documents before granting you a CPA license.
If you've passed the CPA Exam in another state, you can apply for a license in Nevada by matching the state's requirements. You can also apply for reciprocity if licensed in another state.
License Renewal Requirements
Nevada CPAs must renew their license annually by January 31 to maintain their ability to practice. Licenses expire every year on December 31. You can submit the renewal application via the state board's website for a fee of $120 or by mail for a fee of $140.
Licenses will be renewed every two years upon fulfilling the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements. Of the required CPE hours, four credits should be in ethics for the rolling period. However, initial licensees are exempt from the CPE requirements for the first renewal.
To encourage compliance with the CPE requirements for license renewal, the state board audits 20% of randomly selected licensees.
Continuing Education Requirements
Licensees must engage in continuing education to ensure best practices and standards are implemented in public accounting. Nevada mandates 80 CPE hours every two-year rolling period to ensure that CPAs are updated with the latest information. If you fail to meet the CPE requirements in the rolling period, a CPE Administrative Complaint will be issued with extensions and penalties.
| CPE Completion Period | Penalty |
|---|---|
| January 1 - January 31 | $100 |
| February 1 - March 31 | $350 |
| April 1 - May 31 | $850 |
| June 1 - July 31 | $1,600 |
Nevada CPA Exam: Exam Dates, Score Release, and Scheduling
Having fulfilled the Nevada CPA educational requirements, you can proceed towards applying for the CPA Exam. Before applying, you must know the target exam, score release dates, and the application process. Here's a comprehensive rundown of these details.
Exam Dates and Score Release
Nevada CPA candidates can apply for the exam based on their preference. However, you must check the target CPA Exam and score release dates on the AICPA website before scheduling your exam. Please note that the CPA Exam doesn’t follow the continuous testing process to account for standard-setting analyses and activities.
Scheduling the CPA Examination
Each state has a slightly different application process. Hence, here's a quick guide to applying for and scheduling the Nevada CPA Exam.
Nevada CPA candidates can submit their applications via the state board’s website. Enter all required information and ensure that your educational transcripts are sent directly to NASBA from your university. The initial application fee is $100, paid to the Nevada State Board of Accountancy.
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 Nevada CPA Exam.
The state board will determine your CPA Exam eligibility and send an Authorization to Test (ATT) to the National Candidate Database (NCD) at NASBA. Eligible candidates will be billed for the exam section fees, to be paid to NASBA within six months after the ATT is sent.
After paying the exam fee to NASBA, a Notice to Schedule will be available in your NASBA candidate portal. It’s valid for six months and is used to schedule the exam via Prometric. Remember to carry your NTS to the center on the exam date.
Prometric helps candidates schedule their CPA Exam based on their preferred date and location. Currently, Nevada has two testing centers – Reno and Las Vegas.
You must score at least 75 in each section to pass the CPA Exam and qualify for licensure. There’s a 30-month rolling window to pass the exam.
