Which state is best for CPA Exam?

Asked by: Gloria Farrell V  |  Last update: December 2, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (9 votes)

What State Is Best for the CPA License? If you want to take the CPA exam as early as possible with fewer requirements, Alaska is a good state to get your CPA license in because it allows candidates to sit while completing an undergraduate degree if within 18 hours of meeting bachelor's degree requirements.

What is the best state to get a CPA license?

10 best states for certified public accountants in 2025
  • New York. ...
  • Virginia. ...
  • Delaware. ...
  • Connecticut. ...
  • Massachusetts. Total Certified Public Accountant Jobs: ...
  • Maryland. Total Certified Public Accountant Jobs: ...
  • Pennsylvania. Total Certified Public Accountant Jobs: ...
  • North Carolina. Total Certified Public Accountant Jobs:

Which state has the easiest CPA test?

Colorado Requirements Overview:

With no requirement to be a US Citizen, a resident of CO, or a certain age, it makes Colorado one of the easiest states to sit for the CPA exam and become licensed. Be sure to follow each caption below to ensure that you are qualified to sit for the exam.

What is the hardest state CPA Exam?

How hard is the FAR CPA exam? The FAR section of the CPA Exam is hard because it's the most comprehensive of the 4 exam sections, and it has a lot of math questions that are mentally taxing to get through. It has the lowest pass rate of all 4 exam sections and is considered the hardest CPA Exam section.

Is the CPA Exam different in each state?

While the CPA Exam is the same for all candidates, other requirements may differ by jurisdiction. You should check with your specific Board of Accountancy for details.

Best State for CPA License: Industry & Non-Public Accounting

21 related questions found

Can I have a CPA license in two states?

Reciprocity between jurisdictions allows individual licensed CPAs to get a reciprocal license in another state if they move there. Mobility allows CPA who are licensed in one state to offer services to clients in another state.

What is the CPA Exam pass rate?

About half of the individuals who take the CPA Exam don't pass on their first attempt. According to the AICPA, the national average pass rate is 45-55%. Cumulative pass rates reported by the AICPA for the calendar year 2021 show that FAR had the lowest pass rate at 44.54% and BEC had the highest pass rate at 61.94%.

What is the most failed CPA Exam?

FAR CPA Exam Pass Rates

This follows typical trends as FAR has consistently had the lowest pass rate and is considered to be the hardest section of the exam. FAR contains a lot of dense information that can prove difficult for candidates to remember and apply on exam day.

Which state has most CPA?

Which states have the highest number of CPAs? States like California, New York, and Texas have the highest number of CPAs, reflecting their economic prosperity and concentration of businesses. How is technology affecting the CPA population?

How many hours to study for CPA?

The AICPA recommends that candidates spend between 300-400 hours to study for the entire exam CPA exam. Because we all learn differently, some sections will require more study hours than others due to the volume of material included in a section and how quickly one is able to grasp and retain the study material.

Which states require 150 hours for CPA?

In all states and jurisdictions except the U.S. Virgin Islands, CPA licensure requires 150 credit hours.

What school has the highest CPA pass rate?

Schools with Highest CPA Pass Rates
  • University of Pennsylvania: 90.9%
  • Rice University: 90.8%
  • University of Texas – Austin: 89.5%
  • Brigham Young University: 89.4%
  • Wake Forest University: 88.8%

Which CPA Exam is best to take first?

Regardless of which Discipline you select, Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) is the best exam to take first because it strengthens your foundation in financial accounting which will help on all exams.

What state do CPAs make the most money?

The employment location also has a bearing on the salaries of CPAs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the highest-paying states for CPAs in the U.S. are the District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and California, with average salaries ranging from $89,000 to $105,000 per year.

What states do not require a degree for a CPA?

All states require at least a bachelor's degree or 120 semester hours from an accredited college or university to be eligible. Only a handful of states allow candidates to become CPAs without an accounting degree; these are Hawaii, Maine, Alaska, Massachusetts, and Georgia.

Is the CPA Exam harder than the bar?

Yes, the CPA Exam is harder than the Bar Exam.

Both the CPA Exam and the Bar exam are notoriously difficult exams that require months of rigorous study and cover very different material. However, if you look at just the exam pass rate for first-time takers, then the CPA exam is harder, with only a 14 - 20% pass rate.

Which state is best for US CPA?

Conclusion. In 2025, states like New Hampshire, Illinois, and Washington continue to be the best choices for international CPA candidates due to their flexible educational, work experience, and residency requirements.

Where are CPAs most in demand?

Here are the top 10 American cities for accountants.
  • Washington D.C.
  • Chicago. ...
  • Houston. ...
  • Atlanta. ...
  • Dallas-Fort Worth. ...
  • Boston. ...
  • Philadelphia. ...
  • Denver. Enjoy the high life in the Mile High City where accountants are in high demand and command higher salaries than most. ...

What is the average age of a CPA?

Increase in Retirement: 75% of CPAs reached retirement age in 2020. The average age of a CPA in the US is 52–53 years old. Less Enrollment in Accounting Graduates: Enrollment in accounting programs has declined, with 33% fewer first-time candidates sitting for the CPA exam in 2021 than in 2016.

Which is the hardest CPA Exam?

Among the three core sections, FAR has a reputation for being the hardest, and it typically has the lowest pass rate. AUD and REG tend to be middle of the road.

How many people pass CPA on first try?

You've probably heard quite a bit of intimidating details about how hard it is — it's long, it requires hundreds of hours of study time, it's so difficult that the average CPA Exam passing rate for first-time candidates is only 50%.

How many times can I fail the CPA?

Unlimited Retakes: You can retake the CPA exam sections as many times as needed. However, you must pass all sections within 18 to 30 months after passing the first section.

Is CPA harder than MCAT?

The CPA exam is widely regarded as the most challenging professional examination for a few reasons. Its length, number of topics, and technical details covered typically rank it harder than the BAR and MCAT.

Is a 75% on the CPA Exam passing?

CPA Exam Scoring Process: The CPA exam is scored using a weighted combination of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and task-based simulations (TBSs). Minimum Passing Score: You need a scaled score of 75 to pass, which doesn't necessarily mean answering 75% of questions correctly.

Can you be an accountant without a CPA?

While all CPAs are accountants, not all accountants are CPAs. In fact, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and CPA licensure data, only about 50% of accountants in the United States are actively licensed CPAs.