CPA exam and license requirements in Mississippi
Mississippi requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Licensure requires 150. Administered under the Mississippi State Board of Public 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Candidates in Mississippi sit under the rules of the Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy.
How many credit hours do you need for a CPA license in Mississippi?
Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
The CPA exam in Mississippi costs $262.64 per section, a $150 application fee. Four sections at $262.64 is $1,050.56 in section fees alone. These are Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi gives candidates a 30-month window to pass all four CPA exam sections. The clock starts when the first section is passed.
Does Mississippi require a CPA ethics exam?
Mississippi: No separate ethics exam (neither AICPA nor state) is required for initial licensure; ethics is met only through ongoing CPE (4 hours per 3-year period, including 1 hour on Mississippi accountancy law).
What work experience is required for a CPA license in Mississippi?
Mississippi requires one year of experience through full-time employment, gained within three years of passing the exam, under the supervision of a CPA licensee.
Who regulates CPAs in Mississippi?
CPAs in Mississippi are regulated by the Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy. Its published requirements are at https://www.msbpa.ms.gov.
Recent changes and notes for Mississippi
- Residency required: applicant must be a Mississippi resident or maintain a regular place of business in the state.
- Since July 1, 2016, candidates may sit with a bachelor's degree and 120 semester hours (150 is required only for licensure).
- Education must include 48 upper-division accounting/business hours including 24 accounting hours, with at least 3 hours each in financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and AIS.
- State-administered (not a NASBA CPAES state); initial exam application/processing fee is $150.
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://www.msbpa.ms.gov/licensing-exams. Requirements change; confirm with the Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy before applying.