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

Iowa Certified Public Accountant (CPA) License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Provides accounting and auditing services. Requires Uniform CPA Exam.

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

Becoming a licensed certified public accountant (cpa) in Iowa means clearing a defined set of hurdles: board-approved training, a passing score on Uniform CPA Examination, and 1 year of supervised work experience, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Iowa regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours".

Budget $135 to get started, plus $116 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 80 hours of continuing education are due every 2-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

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
29/100
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Iowa

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
$135
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden D
$58/yr
$116 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 Iowa

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Uniform CPA Examination
Required
Initial License Fee
$135
Renewal Fee
$116
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 Iowa licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Iowa licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Iowa? ▼
In Iowa, the license path calls for, a passing score on Uniform CPA Examination, and a $135 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Iowa? ▼
Certification as a certified public accountant (cpa) in Iowa means clearing the state's checklist plus 1 year of work experience, and a passing exam score. The Iowa licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license to Iowa from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for certified public accountant (cpa)s: CPA mobility: practice rights in all 55 US jurisdictions. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Iowa licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Iowa require a background check for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for certified public accountant (cpa) licensing in Iowa. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.
What are the continuing education requirements for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Iowa? ▼
Licensed certified public accountant (cpa)s in Iowa must complete 80 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $116.

Related Guides

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

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Iowa, 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 Iowa 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.