To become a licensed CPA in the United States, students must complete 150 semester hours of education including core accounting courses, gain one year of accounting experience, and pass the CPA exam. This uniform standard helps protect the public interest by promoting high-quality services and allows CPAs to easily work across state lines, virtually and in person.
In a letter to the AICPA, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) clarifies how reducing the education requirement for licensure