CPA exam and license requirements in Georgia
Georgia requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Licensure requires 150. Administered under the Georgia State Board of Accountancy. Last reviewed 2026-08-10.
- Credit hours to sit
- 120
- Credit hours to license
- 150
- Exam fee per section
- $262.64
- Exam credit window
- 30 months
- State ethics requirement
- See below
How many credit hours do you need to sit for the CPA exam in Georgia?
Georgia requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Candidates in Georgia sit under the rules of the Georgia State Board of Accountancy.
How many credit hours do you need for a CPA license in Georgia?
Georgia requires 150 semester credit hours for CPA licensure. That is 30 more than the 120 needed to sit, so candidates can begin testing before completing the licensure requirement.
How much does the CPA exam cost in Georgia?
The CPA exam in Georgia costs $262.64 per section, a $96 application fee, a $96 education evaluation fee. Four sections at $262.64 is $1,050.56 in section fees alone. These are Georgia board and NASBA fees and exclude review course costs and any re-take fees.
How long do you have to pass all four CPA exam sections in Georgia?
Georgia gives candidates a 30-month window to pass all four CPA exam sections. The clock starts when the first section is passed.
Does Georgia require a CPA ethics exam?
Georgia: No ethics exam or course is required for initial licensure; ethics is met only through CPE (4 ethics hours per 2-year renewal, including 1 hour on Georgia laws and rules).
What work experience is required for a CPA license in Georgia?
Georgia requires one year (2,000 hours) in public accounting, industry, government, or academia verified by an active CPA; two years under the new bachelor's-in-accounting pathway.
Who regulates CPAs in Georgia?
CPAs in Georgia are regulated by the Georgia State Board of Accountancy. Its published requirements are at https://gsba.georgia.gov.
Recent changes and notes for Georgia
- HB 148 (Public Accountancy Act of 2025), signed May 9, 2025, effective Jan 1, 2026: bachelor's-in-accounting (120 hrs) + 2 years, or master's-in-accounting + 1 year; traditional bachelor's + 150 + 1 year remains.
- To sit: bachelor's with 120 hours including 24 accounting hours above the elementary level.
- 150-hour licensure: 30 accounting hours above elementary + 24 general business hours.
- No residency requirement; NASBA CPAES processes exam applications while the Georgia Board grants the license.
Studying for the CPA exam
PocketCPA covers all six CPA exam sections with 5,443 questions, each cited to the specific standard or statute it tests, and 1,012 lesson pages written from primary source text. A full-length FAR mock exam is free and needs no account.
Source: https://gsba.georgia.gov/licensure. Requirements change; confirm with the Georgia State Board of Accountancy before applying.