Kentucky CPA Exam & License Requirements

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Kentucky CPA Exam

To legally practice public accounting in Kentucky, accountants must obtain the Kentucky CPA (Certified Public Accountant) License. The license ensures that only qualified professionals complying with state accounting standards hold themselves out as CPAs. To be licensed in Kentucky, CPA candidates must demonstrate that they have fulfilled certain education, exam, and other license requirements.

The state assigns the Kentucky Board of Accountancy (KBOA) to oversee the licensing process and advance the profession. It follows the one-tier licensing process. Thereby, applicants directly receive the CPA license after satisfying all the prescribed conditions without having to apply for a CPA certificate.

Kentucky is a prosperous state with a growing economy. Its advanced infrastructure, dedicated workforce, and geographical location foster an environment that facilitates business development. As a result, it has a prolific legacy in fields like AgriTech, Health Care, Automotive, Aerospace, and Manufacturing.

Thus, finance professionals can look forward to serving diverse industries in well-paying jobs and contributing to Kentucky’s burgeoning economy. With a promising job market, pleasant climate, open spaces, and low cost of living, Kentucky is a great place to live and pursue a career.

Here is an outline of the Kentucky CPA exam and license requirements.

Particulars	Details
Minimum Age	18 years
Kentucky Residency	Required
U.S. Citizenship	Not required
Social Security Number	Required
Education Requirement	For Examination	A bachelor’s degree with 120 semester hours
For License	150 semester hours with a bachelor’s degree
Examination Requirement	Score 75 points in each of the four exam sections
Experience Requirement	1 year
Ethics Requirement	None

Contents

Kentucky CPA Exam Requirements

Eligibility Requirements
Fees
Required Documents

Kentucky CPA License Requirements

Education Requirements
Exam Requirements
Experience Requirements

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

Kentucky Exam Information & Resources

Kentucky CPA Exam Requirements

CPA Exam is a computer-based series of four sections conducted to review a candidate’s prowess in comprehending and applying basic accounting and business concepts. Each section of CPA exam is four-hour long with a passing score of 75 points on a scale of 0-99.

Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR Exam)
Auditing & Attestation (AUD Exam)
Business Environment & Concepts (BEC Exam)
Regulation (REG Exam)

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) composes and evaluates the exam in co-operation with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and Prometric. Note that the Bluegrass State does not undertake the international administration of the CPA Exam.

Candidates must successfully conclude the test within 18 months following the date they passed the first section.

Eligibility Requirements

General Requirements

At least 18 years of age
Good moral character
Social Security Number

Educational Requirements

A baccalaureate or master’s degree from a board-recognized institution with an accounting major or equivalent, including:

27 semester hours in accounting courses with subjects like:
- Business
- Management
- Finance
- Marketing
- Economics
- Computers
- Statistics
- Accounting
12 semester hours in business courses with subjects like:
- Auditing
- Tax
- Accounting Standards
- Accounting Principles
- Accounting Processes

Kentucky CPA Exam Education Requirements

Candidates must apply through the Kentucky state board. For more information, please check the KBOA’s official website.

Fees

Initial applicants

Particulars	Examination Fees	Total Fees
Application Fee	-	$30
Registration Fee	-	-
Exam sections	-	-
AUD	$238.15	-
BEC	$238.15	-
FAR	$238.15	-
REG	$238.15	$952.6
Total Fees	$952.6	$982.6

Re-examination applicants

CPA Exam Sections	Exam Fees (per section)	Total Exam Fees (all sections)	Registration Fees	Total Fees
4 exam sections	$209.99	$839.96	$120	$959.96
3 exam sections	$209.99	$629.97	$90	$719.97
2 exam sections	$209.99	$419.98	$60	$479.98
1 exam sections	$209.99	$209.99	$30	$239.99

CPA aspirants must pay the application fees to the Kentucky Board of Accountancy. At the same time, the examination fees are payable to NASBA via the NASBA payment coupon within the 90-day validity period.

Once the Notice-to-Schedule (NTS) is issued, CPA aspirants must schedule the section(s) via Prometric within the next six months.

Required Documents

Here is the listing of all the necessary documents.

Note that the college transcripts must be originals and not forwards or copies. Also, e-transcripts are acceptable only if emailed directly from the institution.

Kentucky CPA License Requirements

Check out the following Kentucky CPA licensure prerequisites.

Particulars	Requirements
Minimum Age	18 years
Education	150 semester hours
Uniform CPA Examination	A minimum of 75 points in all 4 exam sections
Experience	1 year
Social Security Number	Required

Candidates must be one of the following:

U.S. citizenship
Foreign citizenship with legal U.S. residency
Employed in accounting or attest position in the U.S.-based office of a foreign post-secondary institute, company, or public accounting firm.

Submit the licensure application to the Kentucky state board within five years of successful CPA Exam completion. Ensure to attach the associated documents and fees (money order or check for $100). Refer to the KBOA website for the complete procedure.

Education Requirements

Candidates must obtain 150 semester hours of education before applying for the CPA License. It encompasses:

27 semester hours of accounting
12 semester hours of business courses

For more details, kindly visit the Eligibility Criteria section.

Exam Requirements

CPA aspirants must ensure successful CPA Exam completion within the rolling 18-month period. In addition, it requires them to score a minimum of 75 points in each of the four exam sections. Kindly check the Kentucky CPA Exam Requirements section for detailed information.

Experience Requirements

Applicants must complete one year (2000 hours) of work experience verified by an active CPA in an accounting or auditing position. Ensure to gain the preferred employment within five years (before or after) of passing the CPA Exam.

The acceptable hours exclude any holiday time or leave. Applicants or the verifying CPA may submit the Certificate of Experience for multiple employment locations. Note that the verifying CPA need not be their supervisor or colleague.

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

Kentucky CPA licensure requires renewal every two years with the required CPE credit hours. Note that it is not mandatory to earn the required hours through state board-registered or NASBA’s National Registry of CPE Sponsors.

Here lies all the related information.

Particulars	Details
License Renewal Date	August 1
Even License Number	Even Years
Odd License Number	Odd Years
CPE Reporting Period	January 1-December 31 (Biennially)
Even License Number	Even Years
Odd License Number	Odd Years
Required CPE hours	If the licensee worked for a minimum of 3000 hours in a public accounting firm	80 hours
If the licensee worked for less than 3000 hours in a public accounting firm	60 hours
If the licensee is employed in education, industry, or government	60 hours
If the licensee worked for a minimum of 3000 hours in a public accounting firm starting in the 2022-2023 reporting period	40 hours in technical fields of study
If the licensee worked for less than 3000 hours in a public accounting firm starting in the 2022-2023 reporting period	30 hours in technical fields of study
Ethics Requirement	2 hours (included in the basic requirement of 80 or 60 hours)
Other Requirements	Attest or compilation services per year	8 hours
Personal Development	Maximum 8 hours (if 80 hours are required)
Maximum 12 hours (if 60 hours are required)
Credit Limitations	Instruction	Maximum 60% of total hours
Published Materials	Maximum 25%
Credit Calculation	Instruction	1 CPE hour for each contact hour
Partial Credit	The course must be a minimum of 1 CPE hour in length
Other State Policies	The principal place of the licensee’s business has CPE requirements	Meet state-specific CPE Requirements
The principal place of the licensee’s business does not have CPE requirements	Meet Kentucky CPE Requirements

Almost every business, government agency, and individual relies upon CPAs to sustain and augment their financial status. Needlessly, their job prospects and market demand are pretty high compared to non-licensed accountants.

CPA aspirants must ensure to start their licensure prep as soon as possible. The Kentucky licensure process requires a detailed understanding of license requirements, including the CPA Exam, education, and experience. Consultation with academic counselors and keeping a check on the KBOA website may help in the process.

Moreover, applicants can also get a KBOA membership. It will offer them several networking and development opportunities to bolster their portfolio. You may learn more about CPE Credits for CPA.