CPA Requirements for Alabama
A certified public accountant (CPA) is responsible for a wide range of duties, which include accounting, taxes, auditing and consulting. CPAs located in Alabama find work in corporations, non-profit organizations and the government. Most CPAs choose a specialty, such as tax matters, auditing financial statements or employee health care benefits. No matter what aspect of accounting a CPA is involved in, his main duty is to ensure that individuals and companies are paying their taxes and receiving their tax breaks.
-
Undergraduate Degree
-
According to the Becker Review, potential CPAs need to have graduated from an accredited college or university and completed a bachelor's degree with 150 hours. Every applicant needs to complete a minimum of 22 hours in accounting, 27 hours in business courses and three hours in business law.
Graduate Degree
-
If an applicant chooses to complete a graduate degree, she is required to finish with a degree in accounting from a college or university accredited by the Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.
-
Age and Residency
-
The Alabama State Board of Public Accounting shows that applicants must be at least 19 years of age and a resident of the United States. It is not required that an applicant has a job or office in the state, or even be a resident of the state of Alabama.
Fees
-
There are many fees that are required for individuals interested in becoming a CPA in Alabama. Prospective applicants are required to pay an initial application fee of $100, an audit fee of $235, a financial fee of $225, a regulation fee of $200 and a business fee of $190. The total cost of becoming a CPA is $950.
Exam
-
The Alabama CPA Exam consists of four sections, which include Auditing and Attestation, Business Environment and Concepts, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Regulation. Auditing and Attestation consists of documenting and evaluating information; while Business Environment and Concepts makes sure that prospective CPAs know about business structure and economic concepts. Financial Accounting and Reporting tests applicants on the concepts of financial statements and government entities. The Regulation section consists of business law and federal taxation responsibilities.
-