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

Arkansas Certified Public Accountant (CPA) License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

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Provides accounting and auditing services. Requires Uniform CPA Exam.

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

Arkansas sets the entry bar for certified public accountant (cpa)s at board-approved training and a passing score on Uniform CPA Examination, with 1 year of supervised work experience expected. A background check is a standard part of the process, and applicants must be 18 or older. The credential is administered under Arkansas's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours".

Upfront cost is $159, with renewal running $135 on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 80-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: CPA mobility: practice rights in all 55 US jurisdictions.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
25/100
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Arkansas

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
$159
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden D
$68/yr
$135 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 Arkansas

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Uniform CPA Examination
Required
Initial License Fee
$159
Renewal Fee
$135
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 Arkansas licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Arkansas licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Arkansas? ▼
Arkansas requires, passing an exam (Uniform CPA Examination), and an initial fee of $159. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Arkansas? ▼
Certification as a certified public accountant (cpa) in Arkansas means clearing the state's checklist plus 1 year of work experience, and a passing exam score. The Arkansas licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license to Arkansas from another state? ▼
For certified public accountant (cpa)s, the reciprocity landscape looks like this: CPA mobility: practice rights in all 55 US jurisdictions. Many professions are also covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability between states. Contact the Arkansas licensing board to confirm how it applies to your specific credential.
Does Arkansas require a background check for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the certified public accountant (cpa) licensing process in Arkansas. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Arkansas? ▼
Arkansas ties continued certified public accountant (cpa) licensure to 80 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $135 renewal fee.

Related Guides

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

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Arkansas, 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 Arkansas 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.