Discover how to become a CPA in New Jersey and join one of the largest Certified Public Accountant bodies in the U.S. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the state's CPA requirements.
As an aspiring CPA candidate in New Jersey, you must pass the CPA Exam, meet the educational and experience requirements, and pass an ethics exam. The New Jersey State Board of Accountancy (NJ State Board) is the principal body that administers the state’s CPA regulations in collaboration with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
You must fulfill specific educational and credit-hour requirements to meet New Jersey’s CPA Exam requirements to take the exam. This includes obtaining a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with at least 120 hours of general college-level credit. The credits must incorporate the following:
For a CPA license, you need a baccalaureate degree with at least 150 semester hours of general college-level credit. This must include 24 semester hours of accounting courses and 24 semester hours of general business courses.
Work Experience RequirementsYou must gain one year of full-time work experience in professional accounting or its equivalent, under a licensed CPA professional. You can work in public accounting, academia, a government agency, or private industry.
Self-practice will not be considered. If you're working part-time, the requirement increases to two years. After completing your experience, you must submit work experience documents to the NJ State Board.
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The educational evaluation fee for the New Jersey CPA Examination is $90, and the fee for each section, $344.80, is paid directly to the NASBA. After passing all the CPA Exam sections, gaining work experience, and meeting additional requirements, you can apply for a CPA license in New Jersey. The initial licensing fee is $65 and for a reciprocal license is $75. However, there are different ways in which you can apply for a CPA license in New Jersey.
| New Jersey CPA Exam Fees | ||
|---|---|---|
| Education Evaluation Application Fee | $90 | |
| Auditing and Attestation (AUD) | $364.80 | |
| Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) | $364.80 | |
| Regulation (REG) | $364.80 | |
| ISC/BAR/TCP | $364.80 | |
| Total: | $1,549.20 | |
[Information Systems and Controls (ISC), Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR), Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)]
Application by ExaminationThe New Jersey CPA license is valid for three years from the date of issue. To receive renewal notices and renew your license, you must have your mailing address updated. Renewing your license is an online process with a fee of $90. The renewal must be done before December 31 of the year of license expiry. You must also meet the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements during each renewal period.
CPE is an essential component of CPA licensure, as it keeps professionals updated with the latest developments and helps them brush up their skills in accountancy. Hence, every CPA license holder must meet the CPE requirements of 120 credit hours before renewing their license. Of the 120 credit hours, the following are mandatory:
Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New Jersey entails meticulous preparation and compliance with the state's specific requirements. The process involves several key steps, including registration for the CPA exam, strategically scheduling exam sections, and staying updated on score release dates.
AICPA declares the testing windows and CPA Exam score release dates. Usually, the scores are out within 48 hours of the target score release dates. Let us go through the application process and schedule your CPA Exam step-by-step.
