Step By Step How to Become a CPA in Ohio (2022)

Individuals looking to work as a Certified Public Accountant in the US must get a CPA license from their respective state.

Each state has a board for the licensure process that dictates the process for licensure. For aspiring CPAs, it is crucial to follow these steps to become licensed.

In Ohio, the Accountancy Board of Ohio overlooks the licensure procedure for CPAs. The steps to getting a CPA license are similar across all states. However, the conditions differ according to each board’s requirements.

Therefore, candidates must follow the Accountancy Board of Ohio’s requirements to get their CPA license in Ohio.

How to become a CPA in Ohio?

Aspiring CPAs in Ohio must follow the same steps as in other states. First, they must acquire a formal education.

During this process, they must meet the specific requirements set by the board. Then, they must take and pass the Uniform CPA Exam.

Once they do so, they must then work to gain practical experience. During this process, they must also meet some requirements set by the board.

Educational Requirements

Acquiring formal education is crucial for understanding the fundamentals of accounting. Candidates must learn all the basics to help them pass the upcoming exam. During this process, they must meet the following requirements from the Accountancy Board of Ohio.

• Candidates must complete 150 college credits and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Candidates already enrolled in or graduated from a university can also apply. However, they must ensure the board will accept their credits.
• Candidates who are at least 18 years old can apply for the process. They must also maintain a permanent place of residence in Ohio. Alternatively, those residing in another state but have full-time work in Ohio can apply.
• For candidates who have acquired educated outside the US, the board will need an official evaluation of their credits or transcript.
• Candidates must opt for the right classes during their educational period. They must go through one of the following paths during their 150 semester hours of education.
  • Receive a bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) or recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the Accountancy Board of Ohio (ABO). It must include the following.
    • At least 30 semester hours of accounting education with at least one course in each of the following.
      • Auditing (Internal auditing is not eligible for this requirement)
      • Financial Accounting
      • Management Accounting
      • Professional ethics and responsibilities
      • Taxation
  • Receive an accounting graduate degree from a school accredited by AACSB or recognized by CHEA.
  • Receive a business graduate degree from a school accredited by AACSB or recognized by CHEA with at least 30 hours of undergraduate or 18 hours of graduate accounting credits. It must also include at least one course in each of the following subjects.
    • Auditing with coverage of GAAS
    • Financial Accounting
    • Management Accounting
    • Professional ethics and responsibilities
    • Taxation
• Alternatively, 150 hours of a general college education may also qualify. However, candidates must have a score of at least 620 on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

Uniform CPA Exam

The next process for candidates is to take and pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Candidates must complete the following steps to take the exam.

• They must apply to take the exam through the Certified Public Accountants Examination Services (CPAES).
• They must send the application to the CPAES with the following.
  • Their official transcripts
  • $140 examination fee.
  • Examination fees.
• They must schedule their exam through Prometric in one of the approved locations. However, they must have received their Notification to Schedule first.
• They must get at least 75% on each section to pass.

Experience Requirements

Candidates must also meet some experience requirements before applying for their CPA license. It includes the following provisions.

• Candidates must obtain the required experience of at least one year with the following criteria.
  • It must be in a public accounting firm, government, business, or academia.
  • It can be in Ohio or any other state.
  • It must be verified by a licensed CPA or a comparably qualified accountant with an independent auditor credential. The supervisor must be familiar with the candidate’s work and experience.
• Candidates must complete the Record of Experience Form. They must also provide the Experience Verification Form to their supervisor, who must send it directly to the board.

Summary

Given below is a summary of how to become a CPA in Ohio.

• Candidates must obtain formal education from an accredited university or college. They must also meet the requirements set by the Accountancy Board of Ohio during this period.
• They must take and pass their Uniform CPA Exam.
• They must gain experience, which meets the requirements set by the Accountancy Board of Ohio.
• They must apply for their Ohio CPA License.

References

1. “Accountancy Board of Ohio” – https://www.acc.ohio.gov/
2. “Licensing” – https://acc.ohio.gov/Licensing
3. “Resources” – https://acc.ohio.gov/Resources
4. “Ohio | NASBA” – https://nasba.org/exams/cpaexam/ohio/