Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Wisconsin is an exciting and rewarding endeavor. This certification is recognized as one of the highest professional achievements in the accounting field, reflecting a commitment to excellence in education, ethics, and practice. To qualify for the Uniform CPA exam, candidates must meet specific educational and professional standards set by the Wisconsin Accounting Examining Board.
The entire CPA licensure process typically takes around six years, including education and work experience. Thus, it’s essential as an aspiring CPA to plan your academic and professional paths carefully.
| CPA Exam Requirements Wisconsin – Overview | |
| Educational Hours Required for Exam | 120 Semester Hours |
| Educational Hours Required for Licensure | 150 Semester Hours |
| Residency Required | Not required |
| Degree Required | Bachelor’s or Master’s |
| Minimum Age | Not required |
| Application Fee | $430.99 – $1,179.96 as per number of sections |
| Additional Requirements | Wisconsin Board of Accountancy Site |
CPA Exam Requirements Wisconsin
Wisconsin CPA Exam Education Requirements
The Certified Public Accountant certification is one of the most prestigious professional certifications available. It indicates that the accountant has satisfied a demanding set of educational, professional, and ethical standards. In addition, candidates must pass the rigorous CPA exam in order to earn the distinction of this credential. Before candidates can sit for the exam, they must satisfy their Wisconsin CPA Exam requirements and qualifications.
Each state has its own set of eligibility requirements for the CPA exam, which should not be confused with licensing requirements. Below we will be discussing the requirements for the state of Wisconsin.
- A total of 120 Semester hours, including a bachelor’s degree
- 24 semester hours in accounting excluding introductory courses
- 24 semester hours in business courses excluding accounting courses
- 3 semester hours in business law
Wisconsin CPA Exam Fees
Candidates can take one or more sections of the exam at a time and must pay the following fees to CPA Examination Services at the time of application:
- 4 examination sections: $1,179.96
- 3 examination sections: $930.97
- 2 examination sections: $680.98
- 1 examination section: $430.99
Scheduling the CPA Exam in Wisconsin
Upon successful state application, candidates will receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS), which is valid for one testing event or six months, whichever comes first. The NTS lists the section(s) that the candidate is approved to take, as well as the deadline for testing. An examination appointment cannot be scheduled without a valid NTS. Once candidates receive their NTS, they can then contact Prometric to schedule the examination. All scheduling, rescheduling, or cancellation of testing appointments is done through Prometric.
The CPA Exam is no longer administered via “testing windows” with “blackout dates.” Instead, there is rolling testing. Candidates may schedule their exam appointment at www.prometric.com/CPA or alternatively by calling Prometric at 1-800-580-9648.
Note: Appointments are based on a first-come, first-served basis. This means that you will want to schedule your exam as soon as possible for the best chance to get your preferred location, date, and time. You must have your exam scheduled at least 6 days prior to the exam date, which also means there is no “walk-in” testing.
Preparing for the CPA Exam
Currently, the average pass rate for any given section of the exam is about 50%, which is a great indicator of the exam’s difficulty. This is where a great CPA Review Course is instrumental. CPA Review Courses have been preparing accounting professionals to pass the exam for years. Just about every accountant that has become a CPA utilized a review program. In other words, they are a worthy investment.
CPA Review Courses have been preparing accounting professionals to pass the exam for years. Just about every accountant that has become a CPA utilized a review program. In other words, they are a worthy investment.
Wisconsin CPA Exam Score Release
Upon completing each section of the exam, candidates can obtain their scores online after NASBA has released the information. They can also elect to have exam scores mailed to them.
Additional Information
While we do our best to keep all of this information up to date you are welcome to visit and/or contact the Wisconsin Board of Accountancy with any other questions you might have.
Wisconsin State Board of Public Accountancy
Address: 4822 Madison Yards Way Madison, WI 53705
Phone: (608) 266-2112 Fax: (608) 267-3816
Email: [email protected]
Web: dsps.wi.gov
Application form: Wisconsin CPA Application Form