CPA exam and license requirements in Rhode Island
Rhode Island requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Licensure requires 150. Administered under the Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Candidates in Rhode Island sit under the rules of the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy.
How many credit hours do you need for a CPA license in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
The CPA exam in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island gives candidates a 30-month window to pass all four CPA exam sections. The clock starts when the first section is passed.
Does Rhode Island require a CPA ethics exam?
Rhode Island: Pass the AICPA comprehensive professional ethics course exam with a score of at least 90.
What work experience is required for a CPA license in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island requires one year (1,820 hours) for Pathways 1 and 2, or two years (3,640 hours) for the new bachelor's-only Pathway 3, verified by a CPA licensed in any U.S. jurisdiction.
Who regulates CPAs in Rhode Island?
CPAs in Rhode Island are regulated by the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy. Its published requirements are at https://dbr.ri.gov/building-design-fire-professionals-board-accountancy/board-accountancy.
Recent changes and notes for Rhode Island
- H8128 (effective June 23, 2026) replaced the single 150-hour rule with three licensure pathways: bachelor's + master's + 1 yr, bachelor's + 30 hrs + 1 yr, or new bachelor's-only + 2 yrs.
- Board is housed within the RI Department of Business Regulation; one-tier; triennial renewal (June 30).
- Historically required 150 hours to sit; post-H8128 a bachelor's (120 hrs) with an accounting concentration suffices to sit.
- SSN required for licensure (not for the exam); NASBA lists no residency requirement.
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://dbr.ri.gov/building-design-fire-professionals-board-accountancy/board-accountancy. Requirements change; confirm with the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy before applying.