[WendyW]

Hi Guys,

I’m wondering at what point in my quest to become a CPA do I have to choose/declare which state I want to be licensed in?

Do I do this before I take the CPA Exams? In other words, when I sign up with Prometric to take the exam, am I signing up for a particular state’s exam?

Or can I write the CPA exams first, and then choose the state later? (The exams are “Uniform”, so I guess that means that they’re identical regardless of which state you’re pursuing licensure for?)

FAR 66 FAIL Feb 2015
FAR 79 PASS May 2015
BEC 89 PASS Aug 2015
AUD 83 PASS Nov 2015
REG 76 PASS Feb 2016

Applying for non-reporting Massachusetts CPA license

[Skrier]

@WendyW…you will need to decide what state you want to be licensed in prior to sitting for the exam. You will need to apply to the state you want to be licensed in order to take the exam. Once you have taken the exam you can transfer your license to another state based on their requirements. Hope this helps!

AUD- 84
FAR- 75
REG- 78...I am DONE!!!
BEC- 79

[Skrier]

@WendyW…you will need to decide what state you want to be licensed in prior to sitting for the exam. You will need to apply to the state you want to be licensed in order to take the exam. Once you have taken the exam you can transfer your license to another state based on their requirements. Hope this helps!

AUD- 84
FAR- 75
REG- 78...I am DONE!!!
BEC- 79

[WendyW]

Is this because different states have different requirements for sitting the exam?

When I sign up with Prometric to take the exam, am I signing up for a particular state's exam, or does everybody sign up for the same exam?

FAR 66 FAIL Feb 2015
FAR 79 PASS May 2015
BEC 89 PASS Aug 2015
AUD 83 PASS Nov 2015
REG 76 PASS Feb 2016

Applying for non-reporting Massachusetts CPA license

[WendyW]

Is this because different states have different requirements for sitting the exam?

When I sign up with Prometric to take the exam, am I signing up for a particular state's exam, or does everybody sign up for the same exam?

FAR 66 FAIL Feb 2015
FAR 79 PASS May 2015
BEC 89 PASS Aug 2015
AUD 83 PASS Nov 2015
REG 76 PASS Feb 2016

Applying for non-reporting Massachusetts CPA license

[Shan]

@WendyW–Hey there, I agree with Skrier-before you sit for the tests, it is not necessary to make a final decision on the state of your license, BUT, you may have to check if you are qualified for the tests in certain states. Like me, I was sitting for MA test, so according to MA's requirement, I had to evaluate my foreign degree through CED and to make sure it met 150 hours credit requirement. Then I can sit for test. But like Maine, it would have different requirements for the people who can sit for the tests.

The link here is telling you the requirements for different states–
After you pass the exams, you can pick the state that you apply for the license. Different states have different requirements, some may require ethical tests, some may require working experience. So I guess, if you are thinking about taking tests, you can pick the state that you are qualified already and after you pass the exam, you can make the licensing decision then.

Created with Compare Ninja

AUD-73, 73, 73, 79!!
BEC-77!
FAR-60, 83!
REG-66, 72, 75!

MA CPA license

[Shan]

@WendyW–Hey there, I agree with Skrier-before you sit for the tests, it is not necessary to make a final decision on the state of your license, BUT, you may have to check if you are qualified for the tests in certain states. Like me, I was sitting for MA test, so according to MA's requirement, I had to evaluate my foreign degree through CED and to make sure it met 150 hours credit requirement. Then I can sit for test. But like Maine, it would have different requirements for the people who can sit for the tests.

The link here is telling you the requirements for different states–
After you pass the exams, you can pick the state that you apply for the license. Different states have different requirements, some may require ethical tests, some may require working experience. So I guess, if you are thinking about taking tests, you can pick the state that you are qualified already and after you pass the exam, you can make the licensing decision then.

Created with Compare Ninja

AUD-73, 73, 73, 79!!
BEC-77!
FAR-60, 83!
REG-66, 72, 75!

MA CPA license

[tough_kitty]

As far as Prometric locations – that doesn't matter. My friend applied to take the exam in WA but she moved to CA and is taking exams here. However, her license will be issued with the state of WA unless she decides to transfer prior to applying for an actual license. Then, she will have to meet CA requirements.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

As far as Prometric locations – that doesn't matter. My friend applied to take the exam in WA but she moved to CA and is taking exams here. However, her license will be issued with the state of WA unless she decides to transfer prior to applying for an actual license. Then, she will have to meet CA requirements.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Skrier]

Wendy, yes each state has different requirements for qualifying to sit for the exam and licensing. In order to schedule with Prometric you need a notice to schedule, this is provided by NASBA generally through your state board, if you apply in a NASBA state. Everyone takes the same CPA exam, meaning the content for each section is uniform, however the selection of questions will vary from candidate to candidate. Does this make sense?

AUD- 84
FAR- 75
REG- 78...I am DONE!!!
BEC- 79

[Skrier]

Wendy, yes each state has different requirements for qualifying to sit for the exam and licensing. In order to schedule with Prometric you need a notice to schedule, this is provided by NASBA generally through your state board, if you apply in a NASBA state. Everyone takes the same CPA exam, meaning the content for each section is uniform, however the selection of questions will vary from candidate to candidate. Does this make sense?

AUD- 84
FAR- 75
REG- 78...I am DONE!!!
BEC- 79

[W_HAMILTON]

This is a question I've been wondering about.

I have a home state that was where I grew up and where I've spent most of my life, but I don't necessarily want to work here. Once I pass my CPA, I'm up to move just about anywhere in the Eastern time zone for a job.

Should I go ahead and get licensed in my home state so that I can say I am a CPA when applying for jobs, and then just get another CPA license in the state where I work? Or should I wait to get fully licensed until I find a job and then get licensed in that state?

If you are working for a Big 4 firm, does it really matter WHERE you are licensed as a CPA, as long as you are a CPA? I know that when I worked at a Big 4 before, I did a lot of traveling; even if I were a CPA in my home state, I wouldn't have been a CPA in about 1/4 of the locations I actually ended up working at since they were out-of-state.

REG - 93 (7/30/13)
BEC - 90 (8/19/13)
AUD - 98 (8/31/13)
FAR - 84 (10/19/13)

[W_HAMILTON]

This is a question I've been wondering about.

I have a home state that was where I grew up and where I've spent most of my life, but I don't necessarily want to work here. Once I pass my CPA, I'm up to move just about anywhere in the Eastern time zone for a job.

Should I go ahead and get licensed in my home state so that I can say I am a CPA when applying for jobs, and then just get another CPA license in the state where I work? Or should I wait to get fully licensed until I find a job and then get licensed in that state?

If you are working for a Big 4 firm, does it really matter WHERE you are licensed as a CPA, as long as you are a CPA? I know that when I worked at a Big 4 before, I did a lot of traveling; even if I were a CPA in my home state, I wouldn't have been a CPA in about 1/4 of the locations I actually ended up working at since they were out-of-state.

REG - 93 (7/30/13)
BEC - 90 (8/19/13)
AUD - 98 (8/31/13)
FAR - 84 (10/19/13)

[tough_kitty]

I think it depends on the type of assignments you do as a CPA. And it's always better to be a CPA already when you are applying for jobs. You can always get a license in another state once you get a job and stop renewing your license in the state you left.

This link might help: https://www.cpamobility.org/ ….I didn't have enough time or personal interest to study it in detail….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

I think it depends on the type of assignments you do as a CPA. And it's always better to be a CPA already when you are applying for jobs. You can always get a license in another state once you get a job and stop renewing your license in the state you left.

This link might help: https://www.cpamobility.org/ ….I didn't have enough time or personal interest to study it in detail….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[W_HAMILTON]

Thanks for the information, tough_kitty 🙂

REG - 93 (7/30/13)
BEC - 90 (8/19/13)
AUD - 98 (8/31/13)
FAR - 84 (10/19/13)

[Author]

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