Texas - Become a CPA

Becoming a CPA in Texas is a relatively straightforward process, involving a combination of education, examination and experience in order to gain the licensure required to hold this coveted title.

Texas CPA Education Requirements

1. Pick an acceptable institution

The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy only recognizes baccalaureate and higher degrees from select institutions of higher education. You need to confirm the college or university you’re attending, or plan to attend, adheres to the Texas educational requirements. You will need an accredited Bachelor's Degree in Accounting to become a CPA, but to get started in your education path, you can start with an associate's.

If you’ve already received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, you can qualify to take the Uniform CPA Examination by taking accounting courses or completing an accounting program at a pre-approved community college.

Education completed outside of the United States will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the degree is equivalent to recognized course requirements. International credential evaluation services are not accepted.

2. Pick an educational route

The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy requires that CPA applicants complete at least 30 semester hours of upper-level accounting courses at a recognized institution. This can be done in two ways:

Attain a baccalaureate or higher degree that includes a minimum of 30 semester hours in accounting and 24 semester hours of upper-level related business courses.

Attain a baccalaureate or higher degree and then complete an additional 30 semester hours of accounting courses and 24 semester hours of upper-level related business courses from a four-year institution or pre-approved community college.

3. Sign up for the right courses

The Board recognizes the following accounting courses:

• • Financial Accounting and Reporting for Business

  • Advanced Accounting

  • Accounting Theory

  • Intermediate Accounting (maximum of 9 semester hours)

  • Managerial or Cost Accounting

  • Auditing and Attestation Services

  • Internal Accounting Control and Risk Assessment

  • Accounting Research and Analysis

  • Taxation (maximum of 12 semester hours)

  • Financial Accounting and Reporting for Government and, or Non-Profit Entities

  • Accounting Information Systems (maximum of 12 semester hours)

  • Fraud Examination

  • International Accounting and Financial Reporting

  • Accounting Internship (maximum of three semester hours, taken only after the completion of 12 semester hours of upper-level accounting courses)

The following related business courses are also accepted, providing no more than six semester hours are taken in a single subject area:

• • Business Law

  • Economics

  • Management

  • Marketing

  • Business Communications

  • Statistics and Quantitative Methods

  • Finance

  • Information System or Technology

  • Other Accounting Relevant Courses

You also need at least two semester hours in upper-level accounting or tax research and analysis, as well as two semester hours in upper-level accounting communications or business communications.

Additionally, you must complete a Board-approved three semester hour course on ethics.

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CPA Uniform Examination Requirements

1. Verify you’ve met the requirements

You can apply to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination once you meet the following qualifications:

• • Be of good moral character, as assessed by question responses, the FBI database, and the Texas Department of Public Safety criminal records.

  • Have a baccalaureate or higher degree from a recognized institution.

  • Complete 150 semester hours, including:

  • 30 semester hours of upper-level accounting courses, including two semester hours of accounting or tax research and analysis.

  • 24 semester hours of upper-level related business courses, including two semester hours of accounting or business communications

2. Submit an Application of Intent

Once you have met all necessary requirements, you can submit an Application of Intent to the following:

Texas State Board of Public Accountancy

333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 900

Austin, TX 78701-3900

You will need:

• • $20 check or money order made payable to the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy

  • Official transcript(s)

  • Passport-type photograph taken in the last six months

  • Certified or notarized copy of a government-issued identification document

  • Certified or notarized copy of your U.S. Social Security Card

  • Certified or notarized Authorization and Release form

  • Application for Testing Accommodations, if applicable

  • Background Statement form, if necessary

Fingerprinting is also required. Your application can’t be approved until the fingerprint process has been completed.

3. Submit an eligibility application

In order to apply for one or more sections of the Uniform CPA Examination, you must first submit an Eligibility Application online. While there is no deadline for this application, your Application of Intent will expire after two years. In addition to the application, you will also need:

• • $10 nonrefundable fee for each section you plan to take

  • ID card

It generally takes between 24 and 48 hours to process your application, at which time the Board will notify the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) of your candidacy. Shortly thereafter, you’ll receive an Approval Notice giving you 90 days to complete your approved exam sections.

4. Pay the NASBA exam fees

After getting your Approval Notice, you will receive an Exam Fee Payment Coupon from NASBA via mail, fax, or email (based upon your preference). This coupon will state the fees that you’re responsible for, which can be paid by check, money order, or credit card.

5. Schedule your exam

Once your payment has been processed, you will receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS). Your NTS will indicate which sections of the examination you’re approved to take and will instruct you to schedule your exam date(s) via Prometric.

CPA Work Experience Requirements

1. Complete experience requirements

To qualify for a CPA license in Texas, you must work professionally for a year (at least 2000 hours) in one of the following categories:

Attest services (audits, compilations, reviews, and other assurance and engagements)

Professional accounting services in:

• • Financial statements reporting

  • Financial management or advice

  • Tax preparation

  • Tax advice

  • Forensic accounting

  • Internal auditing

Your work experience must be verified by a licensed CPA. Additionally, a statement describing the supervising CPA’s experience and a copy of your job description is required.

CPA License Application Process

1. Verify you’ve met the requirements

In order to apply for a CPA license in Texas, you must meet the following requirements:

• • Be of good moral character

  • Earn a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited educational institute and complete all course requirements

  • Pass all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination

  • Complete professional work requirements

  • Pass an exam on the Board’s Rules of Professional Conduct with a score of 85% or higher (this will be sent to you after you’ve submitted your Application for Issuance)

  • Pass a Board-approved four-credit ethics course

2. Submit your application for issuance

Once you’ve passed the Uniform CPA Examination, you can submit an Application for Issuance of the CPA Certificate. You must request a copy of this form directly from the Board. Additionally, you must submit the Oath of Office form and the Work Experience form. A $50 check or money order, made payable to the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, is also required.

Once your application is reviewed and approved, you’ll receive a congratulatory letter with your assigned CPA number. Make sure you pay your license fee right away to confirm your new designation.

Texas Continuing Education (CPE) Requirements

1. Complete requirements

In order to maintain your CPA license in Texas, you must meet the state’s CPE requirements. Within each three-year period, you must complete the following:

120 CPE credits

A minimum of 20 hours per year is required

4-credit ethics course every other year

You must document all CPE participation and send it to the Board if requested.

When you have a level in accounting, you will certainly require to sign up with the appropriate licensing as well as accreditation board in your state. The enrollment demands for Certified public accountants differ from one state to another. The standard operating procedures are:

In order to come to be qualified, you need to first satisfy the credentials. Prior to the next certification, you have to have taken as well as passed the examination that is needed by the board. Passing the assessment suggests that you comprehend the material of the exam and also you can recognize all the responses on the examination. You should also have the ability to utilize all the devices and methods that are offered in the examination.

When it pertains to your state, each state has different certification needs. The demands include licensing, schooling, testing, and conclusion of coursework. In some states, the licensing demands are satisfied at the time of education and learning, while others should be met after the completion of their education.

Due to the legal demand, coming to be a CPA takes a longer time period. So you might have to invest even more time on your training and your practice.

The schedule of the education and the passing away of the test make this an additional legal demand. Being a CPA requires that you meet the lawful requirement.

Those that function as accountants must additionally adhere to different other licensing and accreditation rules in order to practice as a CPA. They should also be guaranteed or certified to exercise, in all 50 states.

A CPA should have the ability to supply suggestions as well as guidance to the general public. Lots of organisations can gain from hiring a CPA. You will be able to provide all the solutions that are needed, as well as additionally supply many suggestions to help boost the efficiency of any kind of company.

If you intend to end up being a CPA, the only requirement is that you have a level in accounting. Nonetheless, you do not have to have an accounting degree to take the examination. You can take the examination without a level, if you get approved for one.

There are lots of aspects that can establish whether or not you get approved for CPA accreditation. Among these aspects is the amount of experience that you have in accounting.

Experience does not matter unless you have actually the experience called for to assist services find their requirements. As a CPA, you will also be required to assist consumers discover the right insurance policy for their demands. Given that you are not accredited in every state, it depends on you to decide just how to handle the licensing problem.

Training can vary from state to state. It depends on the need and kind of training. Some states need you full general accounting courses prior to taking the exam, while others just call for the certified public accountant certification.

Ending up being a CPA is an excellent concept for any individual who wants to assist companies in all sorts of ways. You can also offer guidance and also assistance in helping the ordinary customer locate the best insurance for their demands. It may take a little bit of time and effort to find out the required skills, but the incentives can be excellent.

Sometimes, a teaching fellowship can bring about a work deal, so it is essential to be professional, create your network, in addition to offer your best effort everyday. Finishing your degree program, in addition to any type of type of added coursework needed, is the complying with activity on your training course toward a career in accountancy. Maintain in mind, numerous universities need a certain quality aspect average if you're taking place to attain an innovative degree.

You can likewise gain additional debt reports needed to sit for the CPA exam while working your very first job. Depending upon which specialized area you select, you might elect to obtain among a variety of extra certifications. Acquiring qualifications beyond your degree can boost your marketability and also increase your professional reliability: Qualified Public Accountants Certified Public Accountants, added generally described as CPAs, are needed to pass an extensive examination and additionally required to have actually outlined knowledge in the accountancy location.

Qualified Info Systems Auditors Accounting experts with a minimum of five years of experience in the details systems area can take an analysis used by ISACA, previously called the Details Solution Audit as well as Control Company, to be certified as a Certified Information Remedy Auditor. Licensed Management Accountants Certified Monitoring Accounting professionals should have 2 years of experience in administration audit along with passing an evaluation provided by the Institute of Keeping Track Of Accountants.

A four-year level in accounting is needed as a demand for all these certifications. Choosing a licensed college is necessary to ensure the worth of your level after university graduation. Smaller sized training course dimensions and also knowledgeable professors are additionally vital aspects to look for so you can complete success in your profession after obtaining your level.