[AM_SB]

Hi All,

The process for choosing up a state to sign up in their accounting jurisdiction is confusing me a little bit and I am looking for some answers.

Basically I have a Bachelor Degree in accounting from a University in Abu Dhabi with 129 Credit hours + an MBA in Management and leadership + I am a CMA from IMA US. Furthermore, I am currently living in Abu Dhabi UAE and planning to move to Canada in 2021. So, I am thinking in registering in the Michigan Jurisdiction as Toronto is close to Michigan. My questions are:

1- On NASBA website they are saying that I need to have completed a curriculum required for a baccalaureate degree consisting of not less than 120 semester hours with a concentration in accounting, but on Becker’s website they are saying that I need to have 150 credit hours? Does that mean I need 120 credit hours to sit on the exam and 150 hours to be licensed?

2- Supposing that I can only do the exams in the US, can I register in Colorado as a Jurisdiction and do my exams in Michigan?

Thank you for reading my post and answering it in advance,
Amer Al Sbiei

[Aleks]

The 120 credit requirement is to sit for the CPA exam and the 150 requirement is to license. This however may not be the case because I believe there may be a couple stated that allow to license with less credits and more experience. Most states require the 150 to license and 120 to sit for the exam. The jurisdiction you pick will be where you are going to practice out of as a CPA, you should be able to test anywhere that the test is available regardless of your jurisdiction. For example, I am in the NYS jurisdiction but have tested in NYS, PA, and VT. Hope this helps.

[AM_SB]

Thank you Aleks for your reply,

[monikernc]

Check Montana for jurisdiction. NASBAs website will have the info you need for education assessment, exams and license. Montana works for a lot of international candidates. You can contact the Montana Board directly too with questions.
Good luck!

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[ellabella]

I would start by contacting the AICPA chapter in the state of your choice. Also, consider calling a professor at a college in the state that you're thinking to pursue licensure in. They can help you evaluate your credentials. Another piece of advice: make sure that you use a good review (I use UWorld Roger CPA). That will give you a solid footing in passing the exam.

[AGI]

I don't know Canada well enough, but currently you can take the CPA exam in Canada until June 2021.

Does Canada take US license? In order for Canadian to work in US, you will need a sponsor.

I'm just wondering won't it be more beneficial if you get Canadian charter instead? Because as international, Canadian charter is being accepted more worldwide. Like UK, Australia, etc. And US license only works in …Maybe 9 countries.

Sorry. I'm off the topic.

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

[monikernc]

To answer your other question, you can test anywhere regardless of what state approves you for exams. Again, go with Montana. Keep us posted on how you proceed.

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

[AM_SB]

It is overdue but thank you all for your feedback.

I paid 350$ to NASBA for them to evaluate my Bachelor Degree and suggest jurisdictions, they came back to suggesting the following states for CPA Licensure:

1 – Washington
2 – Alaksa
3 – New Mexico

I have some basic questions (Excuse my ignorance in this topic and for some reason I am not able to understand this whole registration thing) and thank you in advance for answering them:

1 – By CPA Licensure, it means that I can both sit for the exam and get a Licensed?
2 – In Washington state, to get licensed I must have Complete at least 2,000 hours of public-accounting work. What do they mean by that? I should have worked for at least 2,000 hours in an Auditing firm? Personally, I have 12 years of full time accounting experience in private contracting company (does that qualify)?

Thank you in advance,
Amer Al Sbiei

[monikernc]

NASBA International https://nasba.org/internationalexam/

NASBA State Boards of Accountancy https://nasba.org/stateboards/

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]

I wrote a long post in response and see it has disappeared. If you really do want a US CPA even though you are moving to Canada which uses Chartered Accountants and different standards then…
To summarize to my lost post:
You have to be approved for exams then once you have passed all 4 exams within 18 months you have to apply and be approved for a license. You may also have to take an ethics exam or meet an ethics requirement.
Many states will let you test with 120 hours and a certain number of hours in accounting.
All states require 150 hours for a license.
Each state has its own rules for the initial license. Before you spend anymore money go to the board website above for each of the states that NASBA suggested and find out what the rules are for exams, experience, licensing and ethics.
Go to the international page above to find out in what states you can take exams once you are approved as an international candidate – not all states participate.
Once approved for exams by a state you can test anywhere that internationals are allowed to test. If you are in UAE you can see where to test in the Middle East on the International page.
I think NASBA only provides 3 compatible states but there may be more. I urge you to look at Montana, too.
Experience is only evaluated for the license. Some states require that you acquire the experience under the direct supervision of a licensed CPA. Some accept any licensed CPA who can attest to your work, others require a CPA licensed in that same state. Read the state’s rules. Some states require the experience to be continuous, or within a certain period of time..Read the state’s rules.
One more thing, if your plans change, you can transfer your exam grades to another state who will accept your application for an initial license. Once you have a CPA license you can apply to other states for a license through reciprocity and substantial equivalency if you have to move.
You have to be licensed in the state where live and work to use the CPA designation.
Good luck. Keep us posted.

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

[AM_SB]

Thank you a lot for reply monikernc

[monikernc]

You’re welcome. I will be interested in hearing how you progress and would love to understand why you want a US CPA if moving to Canada from UAE.

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]

Adding the AICPA page on the topic: https://www.aicpa.org/becomeacpa/cpaexam/forcandidates/internationalapplicants.html

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

[Author]

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