Certified Public Accountant (CPA) / Alabama
2026 data Alabama board official source

Alabama Certified Public Accountant (CPA) License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

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Provides accounting and auditing services. Requires Uniform CPA Exam.

What the Alabama data shows for Certified Public Accountant (CPA)s

To practice as a certified public accountant (cpa) in Alabama, the state licensing board requires board-approved training, a passing score on Uniform CPA Examination, and 1 year of supervised work experience. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Alabama's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours".

Upfront cost is $190, with renewal running $159 on a 2-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 80 hours of continuing education per 2-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

For certified public accountant (cpa)s, the reciprocity picture is: CPA mobility: practice rights in all 55 US jurisdictions.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
22/100
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Alabama

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$190
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$80/yr
$159 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
40.0 hrs/yr
80 hours every 2 years
Experience Required F
1 year
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Alabama

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Uniform CPA Examination
Required
Initial License Fee
$190
Renewal Fee
$159
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
80 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
1 year

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) All Alabama licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Alabama licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Alabama? ▼
Alabama requires, passing an exam (Uniform CPA Examination), and an initial fee of $190. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Alabama? ▼
Alabama licenses certified public accountant (cpa)s who complete its requirements (1 year of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Alabama licensing board.
Can I transfer my Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license to Alabama from another state? ▼
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licenses generally reciprocate as follows: CPA mobility: practice rights in all 55 US jurisdictions. Interstate licensing compacts cover many professions and can further ease a move between states. The Alabama licensing board can confirm the current rules for your credential.
Does Alabama require a background check for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for certified public accountant (cpa) licensing in Alabama. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Alabama? ▼
Alabama ties continued certified public accountant (cpa) licensure to 80 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $159 renewal fee.

Related Guides

What to do with this certified public accountant (cpa) license

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Alabama, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a certified public accountant (cpa)-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Alabama licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.