Becoming a licensed New Jersey CPA requires dedication and a clear understanding of the necessary qualifications. To qualify for licensure, you must have a comprehensive foundation in accounting principles and practices.
By understanding the key steps, you can effectively navigate your path to getting your CPA license in New Jersey, positioning yourself for a successful career in accounting.
| CPA Exam Requirements New Jersey – 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 | 18 |
| Application Fee | $225.00 |
| Additional Requirements | New Jersey Board of Accountancy Site |
CPA Exam Requirements in New Jersey
Here are the essential requirements to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New Jersey.
New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey.
- A total of 120 Semester hours, including a bachelor’s degree
- 24 semester hours in accounting courses
- 24 semester hours in general business courses
New Jersey CPA Exam Fees
$225 for the initial application. 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:
- Auditing and Attestation (AUD): $224.99
- Business Environment and Concepts (BEC): $224.99
- Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR): $224.99
- Regulation (REG): $224.99
Scheduling the CPA Exam in New Jersey
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. 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.
New Jersey 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
New Jersey mandates that candidates complete one year (or 1,750 hours) of supervised experience in public accounting or a related field, under the guidance of an actively licensed CPA. This intensive and diversified experience must encompass tasks in auditing or accounting. Moroever, New Jersey CPAs must complete an ethics exam and fulfill Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements to maintain their licensure, including 4 hours focused on New Jersey Law and Ethics.
While we do our best to keep all of this information up to date, you are welcome to visit and or contact the New Jersey Board of Accountancy with any other questions you might have.
New Jersey State Board of Public Accountancy
Address: 124 Halsey Street, 6th Floor PO Box 45000 Newark, NJ 07101
Phone: (973) 504-6380 Fax: (973) 648-2855
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.njconsumeraffairs.gov
Application form: New Jersey CPA Application Form