US CPA Eligibility

Everything You Need to Know About CPA Eligibility

The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a globally recognized qualification that enables professionals to provide accounting and financial advisory services, conduct audits, and take on leadership roles in finance, compliance, and business strategy.

The CPA credential is governed by the U.S. State Boards of Accountancy, ensuring high professional and ethical standards across the accounting profession.

Becoming a CPA is more than just clearing exams - it also involves meeting the educational and experience requirements set by individual U.S. states.

Regulatory Overview

Who Regulates the US CPA?

The US CPA is recognized worldwide and is regulated by the U.S. State Boards of Accountancy — ensuring the highest level of professionalism, ethics, and expertise in the accounting field.

The CPA Exam is created and managed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), in coordination with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).

Each U.S. state has its own eligibility criteria for CPA applicants. While these requirements may differ from one state to another, they generally include a combination of:

Educational qualifications (specific credits in accounting and business)
Completion of the CPA examinations
An ethics assessment
Verified professional work experience

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Eligibility Criteria

US CPA Eligibility: Educational Requirements

To appear for the US CPA Exam, candidates must meet specific academic criteria set by the U.S. State Boards of Accountancy. These requirements can vary slightly depending on the state, but the goal is the same — to ensure that you have the right educational foundation to excel in the CPA journey.

Most states generally require:

A bachelor's degree in accounting, commerce, or business
A minimum of 120 credit hours of education (equivalent to 4 years of college study)

Note: In the U.S., 1 year Indian Education = 30 credit hours. Therefore, 120 credits represent a typical 4-year Bachelors US Equivalency.

With Simandhar Education's dedicated evaluation support, you'll receive personalized guidance end-to-end, assess your academic credits and meet the CPA eligibility requirements till you're licensed.

US CPA Eligibility for Indian Students

Most Indian graduation programs provide ~90 academic US credits, which may not fully meet US CPA eligibility. Here's how to bridge the gap and become eligible with guidance from Simandhar Education.

Here's how different Indian qualifications typically align with US credit hours.

B.Com (3 years)

90 CREDITS

B.Com + M.Com

150 CREDITS

B.Com + Qualified CA

150 CREDITS

B.Com + Simandhar 40 Credit per year Bridge Program

120–150+ CREDITS

Note: Many Indian degrees fall short of the U.S. 120-credit or 150-credit requirement. Hence, additional education or bridge programs are often needed.

At Simandhar Education, we make this process simple. Our exclusive credit evaluation and 40-credit bridge solutions are designed to help Indian students meet both exam and licensing requirements, ensuring a seamless path to becoming a US CPA.

Steps to Get Licensed as a US CPA

You've cleared (or are clearing) the exams — now complete the final steps to become a licensed US CPA. Follow this guided checklist to finish strong.

Step 1 of 5

Complete Your 4 US CPA Exams

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3 Core Subjects (AUD, FAR, REG)
1 Discipline Subject (choose one track)

Meet 150 Credit Hours of Education

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To qualify for the CPA license, you must complete 150 credit hours. This typically covers your bachelor's degree plus additional post-graduate or bridge coursework.

Simandhar's 30-Credit Bridge Program helps Indian students reach 150 credits smoothly and become license-ready.

Relevant Work Experience

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Complete 1–2 years of verified work experience under a licensed CPA.

Common areas include:

Public Accounting
Auditing
Taxation
Finance or Compliance

Simandhar's placement support and Big 4 partnerships help you find the right opportunities.

Ethics Exam (in Some States)

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Certain U.S. states require an Ethics Exam to ensure CPAs uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.

Apply for the License

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With Simandhar Education, you get end-to-end guidance—from exams to full licensure—so your global career journey stays on track.

Need help choosing the right state board?

We'll evaluate your profile and map the fastest route to licensure.

Your Journey

Start your CPA with Simandhar Education

Step 1

Check your Eligibility with Simandhar Education

Step 2

US CPA Evaluations with NASBA

Step 3

Apply for State Board (State board Eligibility)

Step 4

Sit for Exams

Step 5

CPA License Application and Certification

Begin Your Journey

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