Certified Public Accountant (CPA) states
51
Top quartile, highest
Occupational licensing · Finance · 51 state boards
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensing Requirements by State
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Debt Collector, Insurance Agent, Mortgage Loan Originator.
- States regulated
- 51
- Avg initial fee
- $257
- Require an exam
- 100%
Board Pathway Strip
Certified Public Accountant (CPA): 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100% · avg first fee $257. Same-lane boards: Debt Collector, Insurance Agent, Mortgage Loan Originator.
Provides accounting and auditing services. Requires Uniform CPA Exam.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) initial fees swing $50 (NH) to $494 (CA), a $444 spread across 51 boards ; Debt Collector often lands on a different fee band.
Board thresholds for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Debt Collector and Insurance Agent in finance. Methodology notes live on our methods page.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) first fee
$257
Top quartile, highest
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) renewal
$211
Top quartile, highest
Board gates for Certified Public Accountant (CPA): exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , CE on 51/51 (avg 80 hrs/cycle) . Stack that against Debt Collector / Insurance Agent before calling this license soft or hard.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA): nationwide coverage neighbours
Coverage band
- Security Alarm Installer · 51 states
- Amusement Ride Operator · 51 states
- Animal Breeder · 51 states
- Arborist / Tree Surgeon · 51 states
Cheapest vs priciest jurisdiction for Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
A $444 fee spread for the same credential
Initial licensing fees in New Hampshire ($ 50) and California ($ 494) bracket the field, a 9.9× spread for identical practice rights.
NH
New Hampshire
$50 initial licensing fee
CA
California
$494 initial licensing fee
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) boards vs Debt Collector / Insurance Agent - state table
51 statesWhat to do with this
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.
- Compare Certified Public Accountant (CPA)'s requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
- #13 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
- Initial fees for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) range from $50 (NH) to $494 (CA) -- check whether your license transfers before assuming you'd need to pay again. Reciprocity guide
Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.
Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.