Tennessee Requirements for Accounting Certifications
To work as a public accountant in the state of Tennessee, candidates must meet licensing requirements. Public accountants provide tax and auditing services to businesses and individuals. The certified public accountant also prepares financial statements and provides consulting services to businesses and individuals. A CPA may work in a private accounting firm, for a company or as a self-employed accountant.
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Education
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A certified public accountant in Tennessee must obtain a minimum of a bachelor's degree in accounting, which includes at least 150 semester hours in an accredited university or college. The state requires the education program include a minimum of 24 hours in accounting courses and 24 hours in business-related courses to qualify for licensure.
Uniform CPA Examination
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To obtain a license to work as a certified public accountant in Tennessee, the candidate must pass the Uniform CPA Examination. The examination tests the candidate's knowledge of auditing and attestation, financial accounting and reporting, regulation and business concepts. Students may take each of the four sections of the examination separately.
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Ethics Examination
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Tennessee requires certified public accountant candidates to pass an ethics examination offered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in order to qualify for certification in the state. The candidate must obtain a score of 90 percent or higher to qualify for certification in Tennessee.
Experience Requirements
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Tennessee certified public accountants must have field experience to qualify for certification. The state requires the candidate to have work experience in the 10 years before applying for certification. Certified public accountant candidates must have a minimum of 2,000 hours experience in a period of between one and three years. Experience may be in government, industry, public practice or academia, and must include providing services to clients in accounting, taxes, financial advice or auditing.
Continuing Education
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Certified public accountants in Tennessee must obtain 80 hours of continuing professional education every two years to renew their certification. The candidate must complete a minimum of 20 hours in one year during the renewal period. The state requires a minimum of 40 hours of continuing professional education in technical subjects including accounting and auditing, taxes, management and ethics. Accountants performing attest services must complete at least 20 of the technical hours in accounting and auditing. The state also requires the accountant to complete a minimum of four hours in ethics training, with one hour specific to Tennessee laws for public accountants.
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References
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