Exam Tips

How to Become a Licensed CPA in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is one of a few states that still operate a two-tiered CPA certification process where you are issued a certificate as soon as you pass your exam. Then you must fulfill the rest of the requirements to actually obtain either a CPA license or a PA, public accountant, license. Both of these permits have different requirements as well as different legal abilities.

Let’s take a look at what you need to do to take the exam and get licensed.

Oklahoma CPA Exam Requirements

In order to be eligible to sit for the exam in Oklahoma, candidates must meet the following personal qualifications and educational requirements.

  • No minimum age limit
  • Not Required to be a US citizen
  • Must be an OK resident
  • Valid Social Security Number Required
  • OK does participate in the International Examination Program

Educational Requirements to Sit

Oklahoma is a strict state that requires a bachelor’s degree with 150 semester hours be completed before you can sit for the exam. Here is the required course breakdown:

 

Bachelor’s Degree or (at least 150 semester hours) including:

  • 30 credit hours of upper level Accounting courses including financial and managerial accounting, and auditing.
  • 9 credit hours of upper level General Business courses like Economics, Finance, and Management.

At least 76 out of the 150 credits must be upper level courses. This means that intro, 100 level, and principles classes will not count toward the 76-hour requirement. These must be made up of intermediate and advanced courses.

Exam Fees

The total cost to take the CPA exam in Oklahoma is $779.08 including an initial one-time $50 application fee. The cost for each section is listed below.

 

AUD – Audit $192.03
FAR – Financial Accounting and Reporting $192.03
BEC – Business Environment and Concepts $172.51
REG – Regulation $172.51

 

The fees are typically based on the duration of the exam. That’s why the FAR and AUD exams cost the most.

IMPORTANT – Don’t try to get ahead of yourself and register for all four sections at once. Your notice to sit (NIT) will expire if you don’t take the exam in 6 months and you will have to re-register. The bummer is you will have to pay again in order to register. Re-registration application fees are $50, so only sign up for the exams that you are ready to sit for in the next 6 months.

CPA License Requirements

The CPA exam process is involved and usually overwhelming for first time applicants. Don’t worry. You will make it! Applying for the test is just the first step in becoming a CPA in OK. It’s kind of like a right of passage. We have all done it and know what you are going through. After you pass the exam, here is what you need to do before you can legally call yourself a Certified Public Accountant. Here is the basic process.

Pass the Exam

You’ll have to pass all four sections of the exam with a score of at least 75 in an 18-month period.

Paperwork

Submit all the required paperwork to the state board usually includes transcripts, license application, and proof of work experience.

Fees

Pay the license/certification fees with your application.

Ethics Exam

Take and pass the Oklahoma Professional Ethics exam. The AICPA exam is not required.

Additional Education

Since you are required to complete entire 150 credit hours requirements before you take the exam, no additional requirements need to be met afterward.

Work Experience Requirements

Oklahoma’s one-year work experience qualification is standard among most states. You will need to complete:

1-year or 2,000 hours of general accounting and auditing skills in Public Accounting, Private Industry, Government, or Academic teaching supervised and verified by a CPA in good standing.

More Exam Resources and Information

I know that applying to sit, gathering your paperwork, and taking the exam is extremely involved especially if you attended more than one college. Keep in mind, the Oklahoma state board will need proof of all of your education. You will have to send in transcripts from every college you’ve attended if more than one.

Contacting the state board during the application process is always a good idea. You can find out what they have on file and what they need to approve your application. Nothing is worse than finding out they need something after the fact.

 

Things can get lost or forgotten about. It happens. Unfortunately, most state boards rarely notify you that something is missing. This happened to me. My transcripts actually got lost in the mail. I had to send them twice from one of my colleges! It was a major pain.

Directly contacting the board is the easiest way to confirm that they have everything they need before you get too far along in your application.

Here is the contact info for the state board.

Oklahoma State Board of Accountancy

Oklahoma CPA Application Forms

    • 201 N.W. 63rd Street Suite 210
    • Oklahoma City, OK 73116

 

  • Phone: 614-466-4135
  • Fax: 614-466-2628