[someaccountant]

I would appreciate any info that anyone could provide from experience in taking the CPA exam in a state and then transferring to another state.

More specifically, I live in Alabama and am looking at taking the CPA exam through Georgia so I can start right after i finish my MBA this fall. I did have a few questions that I can’t seem to find direct answers from either state.

1. If I register through Georgia, do I physically have to take each section in the state?

2. If I pass the CPA in Georgia, do I need to meet Georgia license requirements first before transferring (reciprocity) or can I transfer to Alabama and then meet Alabama experience requirements to get licensed?

Any tips are appreciated.

FAR - 84!
REG - 76!
AUD - 80!
BEC - August 2013

[katiekanton]

Hey, I have no advice for you, but just wanted to see if you were ok after the tornadoes. My family's from the ‘ham.

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[katfid54]

I can answer question #1, but I don't know about question #2 (you'll presumably need to look at the Alabama board's reciprocity requirements to answer that question).

As for your first question, I live in Texas, but am testing through Illinois. You can absolutely take all of your exams near where you live–no need to travel to Georgia. That's the great thing about the CPA exam being “uniform”–it doesn't matter where you actually TAKE the exam!

IL Candidate
FAR - 75
BEC - 84
REG - 59, 83
AUD - 50, 74, 69, 89!

[someaccountant]

Katie, I live in the ‘ham and all of my family was safe from the tornadoes. However, it did come about 1/8 mile from my in-laws house. Crazy stuff for January weather.

@katfid54. Thanks for the tip. I figured that was the case as it is uniform exam. From what I've found from the Alabama board, I think I can transfer once I pass or meet Georgia's licensing requirements.

FAR - 84!
REG - 76!
AUD - 80!
BEC - August 2013

[LittleMoe]

I am taking the exam “under GA law” but I am in AL. I know that I can take any or all parts of the exam under GA law and then transfer the credits to AL. You don't need to meet GA licensure requirements. Just transfer the your test credits to AL and then you just have to meet AL licensure requirements to be licensed. You can also physically take the exam in AL even though you are going through GA.

Since I have an MBA in Gen Business, I have to meet the education requirements and I found out after applying through AL that I am 3 hours short in Tax. Long story short, I just decided to sit for as much as I can get in though GA, take the tax class over the summer while studying for REG and just transfer over any credits I have earned once I meet all of AL requirements.

Good luck!!

AUD 4/12/12 79
FAR 5/29/12 76
REG 8/2/12 82
BEC 8/30/12 72 Retake 10/18/12 76!!! DONE!!!!
ExamMatrix, Wiley Books, NINJA notes and audio
LICENSED ALABAMA CPA 11/30/12

[someaccountant]

@LittleMoe

I had envisioned the same plan as I won't finish my last two accounting classes until December. I figured I would sit through GA and then transfer any credits to AL before finishing. Good luck to you too

FAR - 84!
REG - 76!
AUD - 80!
BEC - August 2013

[LittleMoe]

@someaccountant

Taking the test through GA was actually recommended to me by the Accounting Chair at Troy. I contacted her when I was having a minor mental breakdown after finding out that I was 3 hours short. I swear I finished all the classes I needed the last time I went back to school!!!

If it helps your feelings, she said that they recommend it to people in the MBA program there all the time. That way, you can begin to sit for the exam as you finish up the classes you need to get licensed. I figure if it is recommended to others by them, it should be a pretty common practice.

AUD 4/12/12 79
FAR 5/29/12 76
REG 8/2/12 82
BEC 8/30/12 72 Retake 10/18/12 76!!! DONE!!!!
ExamMatrix, Wiley Books, NINJA notes and audio
LICENSED ALABAMA CPA 11/30/12

[Author]

Replies