CPA Resources

UPDATE TO CPA REQUIREMENTS IN OREGON

Click here to access a recorded webinar on these changes.

We’re excited to share that an additional pathway to CPA licensure has officially been approved in Oregon, following the passage of SB 797. The new pathway will be available to candidates applying for CPA licensure on or after January 1, 2026. This change offers more flexibility in how you can meet the requirements to become a CPA.

The new pathway (pathway 3) removes the 225 quarter-hour requirement in exchange for an additional year of supervised experience.

CPA Table- Oregon

Pros and Cons of Each Pathway:

Pathway 1: Bachelor’s + Master’s (Typically 225 credits total)

Pros:

Requires less work experience (just 12 months) to become a fully licensed CPA
You can complete the CPA exams during graduate school, before starting your full-time job
A Master’s degree can boost your earning potential and open more doors long-term
PSU offers accelerated Master’s programs in Taxation and Finance that can be completed in just one year.
PSU also offers Bachelors + Masters 4+1 programs for accounting students interested in taxation and audit careers. These programs save students time and money on their graduate degrees.
Coursework in the Master of Taxation program can assist students with passing the TCP section of the CPA exam.
Scholarships are available for 4+1 program students and graduate students
Additional information: PSU’s Master of Taxation and MS in Finance

Cons:

Significantly higher costs than Pathway 3 (Bachelor’s only). Scholarships and the 4+1 programs can help reduce costs..

Pathway 2: Bachelor’s + 45 Additional Credits (Total of 225 quarter credits)

Pros:

Requires less work experience (just 12 months) to become a fully licensed CPA
You can complete the CPA exams during graduate school, before starting your full-time job
Some students already meet the 225 credit requirement by:
- Changing majors or transferring schools
  Double majoring or taking AP/IB/community college credits
- Receiving academic credit from internships (up to 18 total)

Cons:

If you're taking extra courses solely to meet the 225 credit requirement, this option will be more costly than Pathway 3
You’re unlikely to see a difference in starting salary or opportunities compared to Pathway 3

Pathway 3: Bachelor’s Degree Only (New Pathway under SB 797)

Pros:

No additional coursework after earning your bachelor’s in accounting, resulting in less cost than Pathway 1 or 2
You can start working full-time immediately after graduation

Cons:

Requires an additional year of work experience to become a fully licensed CPA
No additional credential (Master in Taxation, MS in Finance) to provide in depth learning and support accelerated career growth

How This Change Might Affect Your Timeline:

I am graduating with my bachelor’s in accounting in 2025 and have not considered public accounting before because of the additional education requirements. Can I now apply for public accounting positions with just my bachelor’s?
Yes! As long as you are earning your bachelor’s in accounting, you may now pursue CPA licensure under Pathway 3- no additional coursework is required. You are eligible to apply for public accounting positions with just your bachelor's degree.
I accepted a 2025 internship offer, with plans to finish my education in 2026. Does this impact me?
Potentially. If you plan to earn your bachelor’s degree in accounting this year, you may now pursue CPA licensure under Pathway 3, which means:
- You won’t need additional coursework after earning your bachelor’s in accounting
- If you receive a full-time offer after your internship, you might be able to start earlier, depending on your firm’s policies

If you’re considering this, contact the recruiter or HR at the firm that you are interning with as soon as possible, and book an appointment with Madelyn Parsons at psucpahelp.youcanbook.me.

I accepted a 2026 internship offer, but with the new CPA Pathway, I’d like to start my full-time job when I graduate in 2026. What should I do?
Most firms will review these requests on a case-by-case basis. Keep in mind:
- Some firms may not be able to convert your 2026 internship offer to a full-time 2026 offer
- Changing your full-time start date could put your internship offer at risk.

If you’re considering this, contact the recruiter or HR at the firm that you are interning with as soon as possible, and book an appointment with Madelyn Parsons at psucpahelp.youcanbook.me.

I haven’t accepted an internship offer yet. I’m graduating with my bachelor’s in 2026, but was planning to be in school until 2027 to meet CPA eligibility requirements. Will my recruiting timeline be impacted?
Potentially. You now have two options:
- Stay on Pathway 1 or 2: Recruit for 2026 internships, with plans for a 2027 full-time start date.
- Switch to Pathway 3: Recruit now for 2026 full-time positions.

Keep in mind that 2026 full-time positions will likely be more competitive than usual. Consult with PSU’s Accounting career coaches to create a career timeline and weigh alternatives.

I will not graduate with my bachelor’s until 2027 or later. Will my recruiting timeline be impacted?
Potentially. You now have two options:
- Pathway 1 or 2: Take additional coursework after graduation (recommended if planning to pursue a master’s).
- Pathway 3: Plan to work full-time after earning your bachelor’s.

Consult with PSU’s Accounting career coaches to create a career timeline and weigh alternatives.

I will be CPA eligible under Pathway 1 or 2 in 2026 and plan to apply to full-time positions later this year. Will my recruiting timeline be impacted?
No, your recruiting timeline will not be impacted if you stay on Pathway 1 or 2. Keep in mind that 2026 full-time positions are likely to be more competitive than usual, so prioritize attending networking events and receiving coaching.
Meet with PSU’s Accounting career coaches to review your application materials and job search strategy.
I am planning to pursue my Master’s degree. Will that still give me a pathway to licensure?
Yes, you would follow Pathway 2 and your current recruiting timeline will not be impacted. If you switch to Pathway 3, a Master’s is no longer necessary to achieve CPA eligibility.
Meet with PSU’s Accounting career coaches to talk through your goals and which path is best for you.

If you have a question about the updates to CPA eligibility that is not covered in this email, Madelyn Parsons has expanded availability at psucpahelp.youcanbook.me to assist you. If you are interested in earning a Master of Taxation or a MS in Finance to help you meet CPA requirements and accelerate your career, schedule an appointment with Academic Director, Julie Hackett at juliehackett.youcanbook.me.

To become a Certified Public Accountant in Oregon, you have to meet the following requirements (in no particular order):

1. Educational requirements:
  - - See table above
2. Pass 4 sections of the CPA exams with a score of 75% or above:
  - - In order to take the CPA exams, you must have your bachelor's degree, 36 quarter hours in upper level accounting, and 36 quarter hours in additional accounting or accounting-related courses.
    - The CPA exams are broken out into 4 separate sections, which can be taken in any order:
      - Core exams (all required):
        AUD: Audit & Attestation
        FAR: Financial Accounting and Reporting
        REG: Taxation and Regulation
        Candidates choose between one of the following disciplines for their fourth exam:
        BAR: Business Analysis and Reporting
        ISC: Information Systems and Controls
        TCP: Tax Compliance and Planning
3. Pass the Oregon Board of Accountancy Ethics Exam
4. Meet the minimum work requirements under the active supervision of a licensed CPA.
  - - Work experience is required to meet a few different competencies. Refer to the Oregon Board of Accountancy's website for further details.

For more details regarding the requirements to become a licensed CPA in Oregon, please visit the Oregon Board of Accountancy's website.

Educational Requirements for the CPA Exam and CPA License

Educational Requirements for the CPA Exams: Students are able to take the CPA exams after earning their bachelor's in accounting. See below for the specific requirements.

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (this degree does not have to be in accounting).
Your coursework must include 36 quarter hours in upper division accounting, which at PSU includes the following courses:
- - Accounting core course required for bachelor's and post-bacc:
    - - ACTG 335 – Accounting Information Systems (4 credits)
      - ACTG 360 – Management Accounting (2)
      - ACTG 381, 382, 383 – Financial Accounting and Reporting (12)
      - ACTG 395 – Taxation (4) -previously listed as ACTG 421
      - ACTG 430 – Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting (2)
      - ACTG 492 – Auditing Concepts and Practices (4)
      - ACTG 495 – Integrated Accounting Issues (4)
  - Accounting electives (1 required for bachelor's, 2 required for post-bacc):
    - - ACTG 407 – Accounting Analytics (4)
      - ACTG 407 – Advanced Not-for-Profit Accounting (2)
      - ACTG 407 – Seminar: Tax Research (4)
      - ACTG 416 – IT Cybersecurity and Compliance (4)
      - ACTG 422 – Advanced Taxation (4)
      - ACTG 445 – Forensic Accounting (4)
      - ACTG 485 – Business Law (4)
      - ACTG 490 – Advanced Financial Accounting (4)
      - ACTG 493 – Advanced Auditing (4)
Your coursework must also include 36 quarter hours in additional upper division accounting or business courses at the 200 level or above, which at PSU includes the following courses:
- - - - All accounting courses listed above
      - ACTG 404 - Accounting Internships (limited to 18 credits by the Oregon Board of Accountancy)
      - Business Law, Economics, Management, Marketing, Finance, Business Communication*, Statistics, Data Analytics.
        *Business communication: whether taken in the business school or in another college or university program, such as English, Speech Communications, or other courses designed to improve a student's communication skills.

Educational Requirements for the CPA License:

All of the educational requirements listed above, and
Total of 225 quarter or 150 semester credits (if pursuing licensure under Pathway 1 or 2)

Students with International Credits:

If you have a degree earned outside of the US or a substantial amount of international educational credits that you plan to use towards your CPA eligibility, you will likely be required to complete an International Evaluation of your transcripts by NASBA.

For more information, see nasba.org/products/nasbainternationalevaluationservices/

Preparing to take the CPA Exams

Apply to take the exams through NASBA once you have met the educational requirements for the exams. Plan for NASBA to take at least 4 weeks to process your application. For more information on the exam fees and the materials required for your application, click here.
Once your application is approved, NASBA will provide you with an "NTS" (Notice to Sit) for the exams that you paid for. This is essentially the permission slip that lets you schedule your exam at the Prometric testing center closest to you. Your NTS is typically valid for 6 months.
To study for the CPA exams, you'll need to purchase a CPA exam review program. There are multiple companies that offer CPA exam reviews, with prices for all four exams ranging between $800-$3,800. Many public accounting firms directly pay for or reimburse the cost of the review programs.
- - These programs typically include an exam review book, recorded online lectures, practice problems, and practice exams.
  - Most programs also have a built-in planner tool that assists you with planning your study schedule.
  - The most popular review providers are Becker and UWorld (formerly Roger).
    - - PSU provides a limited number of 50% off scholarships for Becker's Review Program for students who are not being reimbursed for the materials from their employer. The application link for the 2023-2024 academic year will be posted in Winter term.
Be gentle with yourself while studying for the CPA exams. It is not uncommon to start off with scores between 50-60% when you begin your practice problems. As you study, you'll continue to increase your homework scores. Remember that you just need a 75% to pass the exam.
Once you plan a study schedule for your exam, schedule your exam date to ensure that the testing center has availability.

How to Become a CPA Workshop w/ Becker

NASBA's CPA Exam Candidate Guide

CPA-Exam-Candidate-Guide_04052024.pdf

For more information on the requirements to become a CPA in Oregon, visit the Oregon Board of Accountancy's Website

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