Do you have what it takes to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Wisconsin? The state attracts CPAs globally due to its flexible and easy application process to become a CPA license holder. Keep reading to learn more about these requirements and go through the application process to become a CPA in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin CPA Requirements
CPA candidates in Wisconsin must pass all 4 CPA Exam sections, pass an ethics exam, and obtain work experience to qualify for licensure. The Wisconsin Accounting Examining Board collaborates with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA®) to facilitate the CPA Exam and licensing process.
| Social Security Requirement | No |
| Age, Citizenship, and Residency Requirements |
|
| Good Moral Character | Yes |
| Education Requirements for Licensure | 150 hours (including a bachelor’s degree) |
| Pass the Exam | Score at least 75 in each CPA Exam section |
| Work Experience | 1 year of full-time experience |
| Ethics Exam Requirements | Yes |
| International CPA Examination Program | Yes, is a participant |
Education Requirements
To sit for the CPA Exam in Wisconsin, candidates must complete 120 semester hours of education and fulfill 1 of the 3 following requirements:
- Earned a master’s degree in accounting from an institution whose accounting program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
- Earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited business program, while completing the following course requirements:
- 24 undergraduate semester hours (15 graduate semester hours or equivalent combination) in accounting, covering financial accounting, cost or managerial accounting, taxation, auditing, and accounting information systems.
- Earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution, while completing the following course requirements:
- 24 undergraduate semester hours (15 graduate semester hours or equivalent combination) in accounting, covering financial accounting, cost or managerial accounting, taxation, auditing, and accounting information systems.
- 24 undergraduate semester hours (15 graduate semester hours or equivalent combination) in business and economics (non-accounting courses), covering economics, finance, statistics or data analytics, business law, and information technology.
To receive a CPA license in Wisconsin, candidates must have completed a bachelor’s or higher degree with a total of 150 semester hours.
Work Experience Requirements
CPA candidates in Wisconsin must complete 1 year of public accounting experience after satisfying their CPA Exam education requirements, and within 5 years of applying for licensure. Experience may consist of providing services or advice using accounting, compilation, attest, financial advisory, management advisory, tax, or related consulting skills. Areas of experience that may be considered equivalent, and will be reviewed by the board upon written request, include:
- Experience in accounting in industry and government: Must require high levels of knowledge, competence, and judgment.
- Experience in teaching accounting: Must be at an advanced and specialized level of accounting.
- Experience in law: Must be at a level with responsibility for independent accounting decisions, and must require high levels of accounting knowledge, competence, and judgment.
Please note that bookkeeping and elementary individual tax return preparation are usually not considered to be qualifying work experience.
CPA Ethical Exam Requirements
CPA candidates in Wisconsin must pass an open-book professional ethics examination on statutes and rules governing the practice of public accounting in Wisconsin. A passing score is 80 or higher. If you fail to pass the exam, you must wait at least 30 days following notification of the failure to retake the exam. If you fail to pass a second time, you must wait at least 90 days following notification of the failure.
The International CPA Examination Program
Wisconsin encourages international candidates to become CPAs in Wisconsin by participating in the International CPA Examination Program. International candidates must have their credentials evaluated by NASBA’s International Evaluation Services (NIES). If deemed eligible upon satisfying the credit-hour requirements, international candidates can apply for the exam.
Wisconsin CPA Exam & Licensing: Cost and Fees
The Wisconsin CPA Exam education evaluation application fee is $96, followed by an exam application fee of $146 and a per-section application fee of $262.64.
| Wisconsin CPA Exam Fees | |
|---|---|
| Education Evaluation Application Fee | $96 |
| Exam Application Fee | $146 |
| Auditing and Attestation (AUD) | $262.64 |
| Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) | $262.64 |
| Regulation (REG) | $262.64 |
| ISC/BAR/TCP | $262.64 |
| Total: | $1,292.56 |
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).
Wisconsin’s Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) administers the state’s CPA license requirements and issues licenses to successful candidates. You can apply for a CPA license after passing the exam and obtaining work experience. Head to the DSPS portal to access the forms necessary for your CPA license application. The initial licensing fee is $43.
You can also apply for licensure via the following if you’re not a Wisconsin CPA candidate:
- Transfer of scores (passed the CPA Exam in another state)
- Endorsement (licensed in another state)
Wisconsin CPA License Renewal Requirements
Wisconsin CPA license holders must renew their licenses biennially, with the cycle occurring from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. The renewal date for CPAs is Dec. 14 of each odd-numbered year. If you receive your initial license in the months leading up to the renewal date, you are still required to renew your license. The license renewal fee is $43. All candidates must fulfill the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit hours required to renew their license.
Wisconsin CPA Continuing Education Requirements
Wisconsin mandates license holders to obtain at least 80 CPE credits during each 2-year reporting period, with no less than 40 credits from formal learning activities, and 3 credits in ethics. The minimum CPE requirement annually is 20 credits, and you may carry over a maximum of 40 credits per cycle.
However, the CPE requirements for new licensees who join in the first year of the compliance period are cut in half (i.e., 40 CPE credits, 20 formal learning credits, and 1.5 ethics credits). Licensees who join in the second year of the compliance period are exempt from that cycle’s CPE requirements.
CPE records must be maintained for 5 years after completing the CPE requirements for the cycle.
Wisconsin CPA Exam: Dates, Score Release, and Scheduling
It is essential for CPA candidates to be aware of the examination dates and the schedule for score releases to effectively plan for their CPA Exam. Being informed about these dates enables candidates to prepare and strategize their study schedules accordingly, maximizing their chances of success in the CPA certification process.
Exam Dates & Score Release
Once you meet the Wisconsin CPA Exam requirements, you can apply for the Uniform CPA Exam. After taking your exam, your score will be released within a couple of weeks, following the CPA Exam score release dates.
Exam Section Scheduling
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to apply for and schedule your CPA Exam.
To start the application process, first, create an Okta account. It provides access to the CPA portal through your application dashboard, streamlining the entire CPA Exam process. Use this portal to manage your details, make payments, and access documents such as payment receipts and your Notice to Schedule (NTS).
- NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES)
- Foreign Academic Credential Service, Inc. (FACS)
- Educational Records Evaluation Service, Inc. (ERES)
After the completion of your educational evaluation, the CPA portal will indicate your eligibility for the exam. If deemed eligible, proceed with the exam application process by paying the exam application fee and submitting the exam section application along with the applicable fee. Each application allows you to apply for only 1 section exam. You will receive an NTS when you apply for the CPA Exam. Your homepage will display your NTS status and expiration date, along with a Candidate Exam Section ID (CES ID) required for exam scheduling. It is essential to note that the new process involves receiving a separate NTS for each section after application.
Exam scheduling is done through Prometric, helping candidates to schedule their CPA Exam dates based on their preferences. You may want to do a quick internet search to locate the nearest Prometric center.
A minimum score of 75 in each section of the CPA Exam is mandatory to pass the exam. Note that all sections must be completed within 30 months.
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