[Nery]

In 1991 I finished a 4 year tech certification in Havana Cuba on Accounting (it counted as a highschool degree by International accreditations).
Since 1998 (the year that I escape from Cuba and came to live in the USA) I have been working in the accounting field doing Accounts payables, receivables, coding invoices, billing customers, reconciling bank accounts, doing Inventory month end reconciliations, for a variety of industries. I became an american Citizen in 2012.
In 2014 I finished an accredited BS program (by southern Associations of colleges and schools-commissions on colleges) from Barry University. My Bachelor degree of science’s major is administration with an HR specialization.
I finished with 165 credits Cum Laude.
I live in Orlando Florida, I’m 49 years old.
I want to become a CPA but have no idea of the pattern to follow, I read that Alaska is the easiest state (they do not require an accounting degree as prerequisites to sit for the CPA exam). I do not want to reinvent the wheel, I’m too old to start from zero (I know you will understand). Can I get certified as a CPA from Alaska and practice in Florida? What programs are out there for someone like me? I know I need accredited accounting classes, how many classes and which are those clases? What is the shortest and effective path to obtain my CPA license goal?
Thank you for all your help

[monikernc]

You have to be licensed in the state where you work and want to “hold out” as a CPA.
Florida requirements look fairly typical except the intro to financial and intro to managerial accounting course don’t count. http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/certified-public-accounting/education-requirements/
I don’t know if your accounting education from Cuba will count. I will say a lot has changed since you finished that program. Those courses will not help you pass the exams.
Like you I had a bachelor’s in a business major other than accounting so I went back to school and in 3 semesters of part time coursework took the 9 additional courses I needed – I needed 10 for 30 hours and had one and decided to repeat two because a lot of time had transpired and standards had changed. It wasn’t horribly expensive because I did all undergraduate.
You can find courses online.

AUD - 93
BEC - 82
FAR - 76
REG - 88

How have you been?
Ninja book and MCQs and the forum, all first try! 2016
Licensed State of Montana April Fool’s Day 2020
State of Colorado June 2020 - AICPA Ethics 93
Experience was the worst part of the journey for me. You?
If you want things to change you have to do something different.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[monikernc]

Alaska does have some unique pathways that may allow you to take the exam but licensing requirements all require a minimum number of accounting courses.
You mention accounting experience but do you have any under the supervision of a licensed CPA?

Alaska

If you are going to continue to live and work in Florida you should work towards getting licensed there. Florida has a pathway for getting a license there once you are licensed elsewhere. Requirements for exams are different than requirements for a license so read through both. NASBA may be able to answer more of your questions and you can always read each state ‘s rules on their state accounting board’s website.

I started out as a NC candidate, transferred my exam scores to Montana and got licensed there, then applied for and received a license in CO where I live and work. The journey can take some twists and turns. The exams are changing too.

Good luck. You can do this but it will take time and money. If you focus and you are patient and stay on track you will succeed. It will be worthwhile, challenging and satisfying.

AUD - 93
BEC - 82
FAR - 76
REG - 88

How have you been?
Ninja book and MCQs and the forum, all first try! 2016
Licensed State of Montana April Fool’s Day 2020
State of Colorado June 2020 - AICPA Ethics 93
Experience was the worst part of the journey for me. You?
If you want things to change you have to do something different.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[AGI]

I think it also matters if you worked under a CPA throughout all those years. In NY there's something call 15 years experience pathway, which if you've worked under a CPA for 15 years (full time) than the state board will waive your education. All you have to do is pass the exam and no additional experience is required. They don't even want to see your transcript.

I am not sure if other state have similar policies.

NY - CPA

New York - NYC
Passed CPA Exam (11/2014)
In search for a position in NYC that will fulfills the license requirement.

[Author]

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