CPA exam and license requirements in New Jersey
New Jersey requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Licensure requires 150. Administered under the New Jersey 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
- Law & Ethics course
How many credit hours do you need to sit for the CPA exam in New Jersey?
New Jersey requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Candidates in New Jersey sit under the rules of the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy.
How many credit hours do you need for a CPA license in New Jersey?
New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
The CPA exam in New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey gives candidates a 30-month window to pass all four CPA exam sections. The clock starts when the first section is passed.
Does New Jersey require a CPA ethics exam?
New Jersey: Instead of the AICPA ethics exam, new licensees must complete a Board-approved four-credit New Jersey Law and Ethics course within six months of licensure.
What work experience is required for a CPA license in New Jersey?
New Jersey requires one year (about 1,750 hours) of public-accounting experience or its equivalent under the direction of a licensed CPA, or two years under the new bachelor's pathway.
Who regulates CPAs in New Jersey?
CPAs in New Jersey are regulated by the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy. Its published requirements are at https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/acc.
Recent changes and notes for New Jersey
- Alternative pathway effective Feb 11, 2026: bachelor's degree (about 120 hours) + 2 years experience in lieu of 150 semester hours.
- Both pathways require 24 accounting + 24 general business hours; the degree may be in any field of study.
- 120 credits + bachelor's degree needed to sit; passed scores do not expire once all four sections clear the 30-month rolling window.
- No New Jersey residency or U.S. citizenship requirement; exam application $96, education evaluation $96 (NASBA).
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.njconsumeraffairs.gov/acc. Requirements change; confirm with the New Jersey State Board of Accountancy before applying.