New Hampshire CPA Exam and License Requirements

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New Hampshire CPA Exam

New Hampshire CPA (Certified Public Accountant) License is a globally-recognized accounting certification for qualified professionals. The state's vibrant economy provides high-paying jobs, low taxes, and good quality of life for working professionals. By satisfying the stipulated exam and other license requirements, New Hampshire CPA candidates can set themselves up for a fulfilling life and a rewarding career in the state.

New Hampshire CPA Exam & License Requirements

New Hampshire Board of Accountancy (NHBA) is the statutory authority that bestows the CPA license and governs the profession in the state. Its goal is to ensure licensed professionals measure up to the high standards set by the state for the practice of the CPA profession.

The U.S. jurisdiction pursues a one-tier licensing system. It means that no CPA certificate is granted upon successful exam completion. Instead, NHBA directly issues the license after the mandatory preconditions are met. The state also participates in the administration of the CPA Exam at international Prometric test centers.

The Granite State has a dynamic economy resulting from a judicious mix of a well-educated workforce and a strong economic base. Moreover, the state has a diverse mix of industries making it less susceptible to economic downturns following a single industry failure.

Thus, the state provides CPAs with a wide range of options to kick-start their professional journey and ensure steady career growth. So, to embark on this journey as a New Hampshire candidate, first understand the state-specific CPA exam and license requirements.

ParticularsDetails
Licensing AgencyNew Hampshire Board of Accountancy (NHBA)
Licensing Pattern1-tier
Minimum AgeNone
ResidencyNot required
U.S. CitizenshipNot required
Social Security NumberRequired
Education RequirementFor Examination120 semester hours with a bachelor’s degree
For License150 semester hours with a bachelor’s degree
Examination RequirementPass all exam sections within 18 months with at least 75 points in each
Experience Requirement1 year
Ethics RequirementNone

Contents

New Hampshire CPA Exam Requirements

New Hampshire CPA License Requirements

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

New Hampshire Exam Information & Resources

New Hampshire CPA Exam Requirements

The Uniform CPA Examination is a four-part computer-assisted licensure test. Each four-hour-long section analyses your accounting proficiency and competency in detail.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), and Prometric regulate the exam process.

Candidates must gain all passing scores within 18 months from when they sat for the first qualified exam section. Ensure to pass each section with at least 75 points on a scale of 0-99.

ParticularsDetails
CPA Exam sectionsAuditing & Attestation (AUD)
Business Environment & Concepts (BEC)
Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR)
Regulation (REG)
Regulatory BodyAICPA
NASBA
Prometric
Duration4-hour long
Testlets (per section)5
Exam FormatOnline
Passing Score75 points on a scale of 0-99 (per section)
Exam Timeline18 months from the testing date of the first cleared section
Question TypesMultiple-Choice Questions
Task-Based Simulations
Written Communication Tasks

Eligibility Requirements

New Hampshire exam applicants must:

  • Hold at least a baccalaureate degree from a recognized, accredited institution
  • Earn 120 semester hours with:
    • Minimum 30 semester hours in accounting subjects like financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, and taxation
    • Minimum 24 semester hours in business subjects except accounting
New Hampshire CPA Exam Education Requirements

The candidates can use the NASBA Advisory Evaluation service to figure out any academic deficiencies in their education. After meeting all requirements, submit the exam application to CPA Examination Services (CPAES). For details of the complete process, kindly visit the NASBA portal.

Fees

Let’s view the fee structure for New Hampshire applicants.

Particulars  Examination FeesFirst-time Applicant FeesRe-exam Applicant Fees
Application Fee-$245-
Registration Fee--$160
Exam sections---
AUD$238.15--
BEC$238.15--
FAR$238.15--
REG$238.15$952.6$952.6
Total Fees$952.6$1,197.6$1,112.6

New Hampshire does not have any clause to request a Notice-to-Schedule (NTS) extension or back out from the CPA exam. Only applicants in extraordinary situations may request a limited exam fee rebate or an NTS extension.

Both examination and application fees are non-refundable. Therefore, candidates must only sign up for the exam sections that are feasible to take within the next six months. After that, the NTS will be perceived as invalid, resulting in exam fees forfeiture.

Required Documents

CPAES requires the submission of the below-mentioned documents.

DocumentsSubmission
Official school transcripts (may be submitted electronically)Institution
International Evaluation Summary with International transcriptsApplicant or NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES)
Testing Accommodations Request FormApplicant

Please note that CPAES does not acknowledge photocopied documents and regards them as unofficial.   

New Hampshire CPA License Requirements

Check out the following pre-requisites to acquire the New Hampshire CPA License:

  • Social Security Number – Required
  • Education – 150 semester hours
  • Examination – At least 75 points in all 4 CPA Exam sections
  • Experience – 1 year

Apply for the license through NASBA’s Licensing Service. Here are the licensing fees:

  • Initial License - $150
  • Transfer of Grades - $150
  • Reciprocal License - $150

Further details are specified on the official website.

Education Requirements

Here is the list of education requirements:

  • At least a baccalaureate degree from a regionally or nationally authorized U.S. institution with 120 semester hours
  • A total of 150 semester hours with:
    • 30 semester hours in accounting subjects such as financial accounting, management accounting, taxation, and auditing
    • 24 semester hours in business subjects
New Hampshire CPA License Requirements

Note that you require only 120 semester hours to attempt the CPA Exam. At the same time, additional 30 semester hours are a prerequisite for CPA licensure.

Candidates with international education must get their credentials evaluated through NIES.

Exam Requirements

You must pass the Uniform CPA Examination or International Qualifications Exam (IQEX). This guide has detailed information on the CPA Exam. To know more, please check the New Hampshire Exam Requirements section.

Experience Requirements

New Hampshire CPA licensure applicants must complete one year of full-time or part-time work experience. In addition, they must gain the required employment in industry, public accounting, and/or government.

Let’s view all the details here.

ParticularsDetails
Required Work Experience1 year
Employment TypeFull-timeMinimum 1500 hours annually in audit and/or accounting skills
Part-time2080 hours annually with 1500 hours per year in audit and/or accounting skills
Experience gained within 6 years immediately before the application is receivedAcceptable for 2-year requirement
Experience gained within 5 years immediately before the application is receivedAcceptable for 1-year requirement
Qualifying AreasIndustry
Public accounting
Government
Experience VerificationCPA from the U.S.
Any foreign credential issued in a foreign nation in compliance with RSA 309-B:7, X, as regulated by NASBA and the state board
Experience gained outside of the U.S.Experience verification through NASBA Experience Verification Service

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

In New Hampshire, CPAs must gain 120 CPE credit hours every three years to renew their license. Note that the CPE credits earned through programs recommended by the National Registry Sponsors are acceptable.

Here lie all the details.

ParticularsDetails
License Renewal DateJune 30 (Triennially)
Based on the first letter of the last name
CPE Reporting PeriodJuly 1-June 30 (Triennially)
Renewal Fee$275
Required CPE hours120 hours (minimum 20 hours annually)
Ethics Requirement4 hours
Credit LimitationsInstructionMaximum 50% of total hours
Published MaterialsMaximum 50% of total hours
Credit CalculationInstructionCredit = Presentation + Preparation (Preparation is equal to 2 times presentation)
Partial CreditAcceptable after the first hour
University/CollegeCredit Courses1 semester hour = 15 CPE hours
Non-credit Courses1 classroom hour = 1 qualifying hour
Other State PoliciesCPE Credits Carryover  Maximum 60 hours allowed
Must not be used to meet the yearly minimum or ethics requirements

New Hampshire has a diversified industry with numerous employment opportunities in the manufacturing, information technology, business, and healthcare sectors. Needlessly, all these sectors demand the services of licensed accountants.

The state is also well-known for its relatively low poverty rates, as it provides countless economic benefits. Thus, it is an amazing place for CPAs to showcase their accounting prowess. So, gear up to qualify for the challenging CPA Exam and fulfill other license requirements to enter the New Hampshire labor force as a newly minted CPA.

Most importantly, keep renewing the license every three years to sustain its validity! Learn more about CPEs for CPA.

New Hampshire Exam Information & Resources

1. New Hampshire Board of Accountancy (https://www.oplc.nh.gov/board-accountancy)

7 Eagle Square

Concord, NH – 03301

Ph: (605) 271-2152

2. New Hampshire Society of CPAs

500 North Commercial Street,

Suite 502

Manchester, NH 03101

3. NASBA (https://nasba.org/)

150 Fourth Ave. North

Suite 700

Nashville, TN 37219-2417

Ph: 615-880-4200

Fax: 615-880-4290

4. AICPA (https://www.aicpa.org/)

Phone number: 888.777.7077

220 Leigh Farm Road

Durham, NC 27707-8110

Ph: +1.919.402.4500
Fax: +1.919.402.4505