CPA exam and license requirements in Texas
Texas requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Licensure requires 150. Administered under the Texas 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
- Rules of Conduct exam
How many credit hours do you need to sit for the CPA exam in Texas?
Texas requires 120 semester credit hours to sit for the CPA exam. Candidates in Texas sit under the rules of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.
How many credit hours do you need for a CPA license in Texas?
Texas 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 Texas?
The CPA exam in Texas costs $262.64 per section, a $15 application fee, a $20 education evaluation fee. Four sections at $262.64 is $1,050.56 in section fees alone. These are Texas 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 Texas?
Texas gives candidates a 30-month window to pass all four CPA exam sections. The clock starts when the first section is passed.
Does Texas require a CPA ethics exam?
Texas: Pass the Board's own open-book exam on the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct with a score of 85% or higher (a Texas exam, not the national AICPA ethics exam).
What work experience is required for a CPA license in Texas?
Texas requires one year (2,000 hours) of non-routine accounting work under a licensed CPA for the 150-hour Pathway A, or two years (4,000 hours) under the new 120-hour Pathway B.
Who regulates CPAs in Texas?
CPAs in Texas are regulated by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy. Its published requirements are at https://www.tsbpa.texas.gov.
Recent changes and notes for Texas
- New Pathway B (bachelor's degree, 120 semester hours, plus 2 years of experience) takes effect August 1, 2026 under SB 262; candidates may elect it early via a transition Election Form.
- Two-step fees: a one-time $20 Application of Intent (education/eligibility evaluation), then a $15-per-section Eligibility Application; NASBA section fees are separate.
- Sit at 120 semester hours including a bachelor's degree and 21 upper-level accounting hours (rising to 24 on August 1, 2026).
- No residency or citizenship requirement, but an SSN is required; passing score is 75 per exam section.
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.tsbpa.texas.gov/candidates/certification. Requirements change; confirm with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy before applying.