CPA exam and license requirements in Louisiana
Louisiana requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Licensure requires 150. Administered under the State Board of Certified Public Accountants of Louisiana. 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Candidates in Louisiana sit under the rules of the State Board of Certified Public Accountants of Louisiana.
How many credit hours do you need for a CPA license in Louisiana?
Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
The CPA exam in Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana gives candidates a 30-month window to pass all four CPA exam sections. The clock starts when the first section is passed.
Does Louisiana require a CPA ethics exam?
Louisiana: Louisiana requires no separate ethics exam for initial licensure; licensees complete a Board-approved ethics course in each even-numbered year as CPE.
What work experience is required for a CPA license in Louisiana?
Louisiana requires one year of full-time (or 2,000 hours part-time) experience in accounting, attest, tax, advisory, or consulting work verified by a licensed CPA; the new bachelor's-only pathway requires two years.
Who regulates CPAs in Louisiana?
CPAs in Louisiana are regulated by the State Board of Certified Public Accountants of Louisiana. Its published requirements are at https://cpaboard.state.la.us.
Recent changes and notes for Louisiana
- Residency required to sit only: continuous physical presence in Louisiana for at least 120 days in the year before the exam application; not required for the license itself.
- NASBA CPA Examination Services processes the exam application; the Board issues the certificate/license.
- Act 653 (HB 548), effective Aug 1, 2026, adds a bachelor's (accounting concentration, about 120 hrs) + 2-years-experience pathway alongside the 150-hour/1-year route.
- A candidate who sits before reaching 150 hours must complete them by Dec 31 of the fifth year after passing or the scores are voided.
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://cpaboard.state.la.us/becoming-a-cpa. Requirements change; confirm with the State Board of Certified Public Accountants of Louisiana before applying.