CPA Eligibility

To sit for the CPA Examination in the State of Alabama, an individual must possess at least a baccalaureate degree that is accredited by one of the regional accrediting bodies, such as the organization that provides accreditation for the University of South Alabama – Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) – and have completed at least 120 semester hours of college work. The 120 semester hours must include at least 24 semester hours of general business courses other than accounting (i.e., marketing, management, finance, economics, etc.), and 24 semester hours of accounting courses specified by the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy. Upon passing the CPA Examination, undergraduate candidates must complete 9 additional semester hours of accounting, 3 additional semester hours of general business, and accumulate a total of 150 semester hours of coursework.

Additional requirements, including practical experience, are necessary in order to be licensed to practice public accounting. Contact the Chair of the Department of Accounting for more details.

*Other states: The University of South Alabama has not made a determination regarding whether the Master of Accountancy meets the educational requirements for any other states. State licensing requirements are always subject to change at the discretion of the state licensing board. We strongly recommend prospective students who plan to seek licensure in a state other than Alabama to check with the applicable state agency to confirm eligibility for licensure. State agency contact information is available from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, https://nasba.org/stateboards/