2026 data Maryland board official source

Maryland Certified Public Accountant (CPA) License Requirements

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

Provides accounting and auditing services. Requires Uniform CPA Exam.

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

Maryland 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 Maryland's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours".

The initial price tag is $348, and renewal costs $282 every 2 years. 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
12/100
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Maryland

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
$348
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$141/yr
$282 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 Maryland

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree with 150 credit hours
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Uniform CPA Examination
Required
Initial License Fee
$348
Renewal Fee
$282
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
80 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
1 year
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Maryland licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Maryland?
Maryland requires, passing an exam (Uniform CPA Examination), and an initial fee of $348. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Maryland?
Certification as a certified public accountant (cpa) in Maryland means clearing the state's checklist plus 1 year of work experience, and a passing exam score. The Maryland licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license to Maryland 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 Maryland licensing board can confirm the current rules for your credential.
Does Maryland require a background check for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensing?
Background screening is part of the certified public accountant (cpa) licensing process in Maryland. 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 Maryland?
Maryland ties continued certified public accountant (cpa) licensure to 80 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $282 renewal fee.

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

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Maryland, 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 Maryland 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.