CPA exam and license requirements in Missouri
Missouri requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Licensure requires 150. Administered under the Missouri 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 Missouri?
Missouri requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Candidates in Missouri sit under the rules of the Missouri State Board of Accountancy.
How many credit hours do you need for a CPA license in Missouri?
Missouri 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 Missouri?
The CPA exam in Missouri costs $262.64 per section, a $100 application fee, a $96 education evaluation fee. Four sections at $262.64 is $1,050.56 in section fees alone. These are Missouri 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 Missouri?
Missouri gives candidates a 30-month window to pass all four CPA exam sections. The clock starts when the first section is passed.
Does Missouri require a CPA ethics exam?
Missouri: Requires passing a Board-acceptable professional-ethics exam; a score of at least 90% on the AICPA professional-ethics course/exam satisfies it.
What work experience is required for a CPA license in Missouri?
Missouri requires one year of accounting experience totaling at least 2,000 hours (full-time, or part-time spread over one to three years), verified by a licensed CPA.
Who regulates CPAs in Missouri?
CPAs in Missouri are regulated by the Missouri State Board of Accountancy. Its published requirements are at https://pr.mo.gov/accountancy.asp.
Recent changes and notes for Missouri
- Sit at 120 semester hours incl. 24 accounting + 24 business; traditional license needs 150 hours incl. 30 accounting + 30 business.
- Pending SB 1233 would add a bachelor's + 2-years-experience license route (no 150-hour rule); passed the legislature, awaiting the Governor's signature (deadline July 14, 2026), effective Aug 28, 2026 if enacted.
- Exam-credit window extended to 30 months effective Jan 1, 2024 (from 18 months).
- No residency requirement to sit; exam application $100, education evaluation $96 (NASBA CPA Examination Services).
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://pr.mo.gov/accountancy-cpa-examination.asp. Requirements change; confirm with the Missouri State Board of Accountancy before applying.