South Dakota CPA Exam and License Requirements

Publication Date :

23 May, 2023

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South Dakota CPA Exam

South Dakota CPA (Certified Public Accountant) License is a formal authorization granted to competent accountants as per state laws. With a vibrant economy, pro-tax climate, and a healthy business community, the state offers endless opportunities to finance professionals. To be part of one of the largest financial service sectors in the U.S., CPA aspirants must satisfy the qualifying exam and license requirements of South Dakota.

South Dakota Board of Accountancy (SDBOA) is the recognized body for CPA licensure. The state board does not require candidates to apply for the CPA certificate. Instead, they can straightaway claim the CPA license after meeting all licensure preconditions. Hence, South Dakota (SD) is deemed as a one-tier state. Additionally, the U.S. province engages in the international CPA examination program.

South Dakota is a place with sound work ethics and enterprise-friendly laws resulting in an abundance of thriving industries. From the food science and production industry to Cybersecurity, CPAs can exhibit their skills in various sectors. So naturally, this opens countless doors for CPAs.

In addition, the state has the second-best tax climate throughout the nation and a well-funded state pension. As a result, working professionals are drawn to the state. Besides, being one of the best U.S. jurisdictions to do business also connotes sure shot success for the entrepreneurial CPA class.

Now that we know the prospects of CPAs in South Dakota, let’s dive deeper into its exam and license requirements.

Particulars	South Dakota CPA Exam Requirements	South Dakota CPA License Requirements
Age	Not Required	Not Required
Citizenship/Residency	Not Required	Not Required
Social Security Number	Not Required	Required
Education	150 semester hours	150 semester hours
Examination	Score at least 75 points in each of the four exam sections	Pass all for sections within 18 months
Experience	Not Required	1 year (or a minimum of 2000 hours)
Ethics Exam	Not Required	Pass AICPA Professional Ethics Exam with a minimum of 90%

Contents

South Dakota CPA Exam Requirements

Eligibility Requirements
Fees
Required Documents

South Dakota CPA License Requirements

Education Requirements
Exam Requirements
Experience Requirements
Ethics Requirements

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

South Dakota Exam Information & Resources

South Dakota CPA Exam Requirements

The Uniform CPA Exam is a computer-aided licensure test that verifies the deftness and efficiency of candidates to hold the CPA status. Candidates may apply for the exam within hundred days of completing the SD educational requirement.

The CPA exam partners include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), the state boards, and the Prometric.

The CPA exam has four sections that have to be passed within 18 months. Candidates must score at least 75 points on a scale of 0-99 in each section to pass. Moreover, the exam has a unique format encompassing multiple-choice questions (MCQs), task-based simulations (TBSs), and written communication tasks (WCTs).

CPA Exam Sections	Duration	Testlets	Question Types
MCQs	TBSs	WCTs
Auditing & Attestation (AUD)	4-hour	5	Yes	Yes	No
Business Environment & Concepts (BEC)	4-hour	5	Yes	Yes	Yes
Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR)	4-hour	5	Yes	Yes	No
Regulation (REG)	4-hour	5	Yes	Yes	No

Eligibility Requirements

CPA aspirants must obtain 150 semester hours, including:

A baccalaureate or graduate degree in accounting from a regionally approved academic institute, or
A board-approved course of study substantially equivalent to an accounting degree with:
- 24 undergraduate or graduate-level semester hours in accounting (including elementary accounting principles) and at least one course in subjects like:
  - Auditing
  - Intermediate or advanced accounting
  - Taxation
  - Cost Accounting
- 24 semester hours in undergraduate or graduate-level business courses (except accounting courses)

South Dakota CPA Exam Educational Requirements

Submit the exam application to the state board. Refer to the SDBOA website for more details.

Fees

The exam fees are payable to SDBA in U.S. dollars at the time of application. Therefore, ensure to draw all certified money orders or checks from a U.S. bank. Note that cash payment is unacceptable.

Particulars	Examination Fees	First-time Applicant Fees
Application Fee	-	$30
Exam sections	-	-
AUD	$268.15	-
BEC	$268.15	-
FAR	$256.15	-
REG	$268.15	$1,072.6
Total Fees	$1,072.6	$1,102.6

Candidates can’t withdraw from the CPA exam. All examination fees are non-refundable. Moreover, CPA aspirants have six months from the NTS issuance date to sit for the applied exam section(s).

Required Documents

SD state board requires the submission of the following documents.

Documents	Submission Authority
Official school transcript(s)	Candidate or academic institute
International Evaluation Summary with International Transcripts	Academic & Credential Records, Evaluation & Verification Service (ACREVS Inc.)
Center for Applied Research, Evaluation, & Education, Inc.
Educational Perspectives
Educational Records Evaluation Service
Foreign Academic Credentials Service, Inc.
International Education Research Foundation
Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES)
Testing Accommodations Request Form	Candidate

South Dakota CPA License Requirements

South Dakota CPA licensure applicants must attain the below-mentioned requisites.

Note that the character references may not be relatives, and applicants must have known them for at least one year. Apply through the state board within three years of completing the CPA Exam successfully. Please check the SDBOA official portal for further details.

Let’s view the fees payable to SDBOA.

Particulars	Fee Amount
Licensure Fees (if applying between August 1-January 31)	$50
Licensure Fees (if applying between February 1-July 31)	$25
Late Fee (if applying after 90 days of becoming eligible for licensure)	$50

Education Requirements

CPA aspirants must earn 150 semester hours with a baccalaureate or graduate degree in accounting from an authorized academic institute or a board-approved course of study substantially equivalent to an accounting degree. In addition, ensure to complete the required coursework in accounting and business administration. Refer to the Eligibility Criteria section for more information.

Exam Requirements

SD CPA licensure applicants must score a minimum of 75 points in all four exam sections. They have 18 months to complete the test. For more information, kindly visit the South Dakota Exam Requirements section.

Experience Requirements

Candidates must gain one year of accounting experience through public accounting, private industry, academia, or government agency employment. The required experience may be full-time or part-time with at least 2000 hours earned during the 1–3 year period. Moreover, it must be verified by an active CPA.

The qualifying services incorporate attest, accounting, management advisory, tax, financial advisory, or consulting. To perform attestation services, candidates must complete 375 hours in audits, compilation, or review in any combination.

Ethics Requirements

South Dakota CPA licensure applicants must complete the “Professional Ethics: The AICPA’s Comprehensive Course” with at least 90%. They must attempt the exam within 90 days of obtaining the required experience. Ensure to submit the order form as per the specified instructions in it.

Here lies all the related information.

Particulars	Details
Course Title	Professional Ethics: The AICPA’s Comprehensive Course (For Licensure)
Where to order the course from?	South Dakota CPA Society
Passing Score	A minimum of 90%
Exam Cost	If mailed within the U.S.	$120
If mailed outside the U.S.	$140
When to attempt the exam?	Within 90 days of gaining the relevant experience
Exam Mode & Format	Online
Self-Study
Course Availability & Level	1 year
Basic
Key Topics	Ethics Interpretations
Conceptual Framework
Integrity, Objectivity, & Professional Conduct
Activities maligning the CPA profession
AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
Independence Requirements
Ethics

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

SD CPA titleholders must obtain 120 CPE credit hours over a rolling three-year period. Note that candidates can get the necessary credits from the following resources:

Programs presented by the National Registry of CPE Sponsors
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) website
Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) Government Auditing Standards
Guidance on GAGAS Requirements for Continuing Professional Education Publication

Let’s check out all the details.

Particulars	Details
License Renewal Date	August 1 (Annually)
CPE Reporting Period	July 1-June 30 over a rolling 3-year period
Total CPE hours required	120 hours over a rolling 3-year period
20 hours per year
Credit Limitations	Self-Study & Nano Learning	Must be from the NASBA-approved provider
Instruction (college/university courses)	Maximum 60 hours
Published Materials	Maximum 50% of hours required in a reporting period
Subject Areas	Maximum 24 hours of motivational/behavioral courses
Credit Calculation	Instruction	Credit = Presentation + Preparation
Partial Credit	Accepted in 0.2 and 0.5 increments
University/College	Credit Courses	1 semester hour = 15 CPE hours
1 quarter hour = 10 CPE hours
Non-credit Courses	Actual classroom time spent
Other State Policies	Programs contributing directly to the professional competence of a CPA or PA are eligible for CPE credit
Personal Development credits are acceptable if they improve or maintain a CPA’s competence
Nonresident Certificate Holders Exemption	Principal place of business with CPE requirements	Meet state-specific CPE requirements
Principal place of business without CPE requirements	Meet South Dakota CPE requirements

There are numerous eminent certifications for accountants across the industry. Nevertheless, the CPA license takes the cake due to its global recognition and countless job opportunities. This well-acclaimed label takes a professional’s career to the highest peak of success.

Procuring the certification in the second most business-friendly state across the U.S. is undoubtedly the most brilliant move. Needlessly, earning the CPA licensure and working in SD will confirm a smooth start to your professional journey.

Therefore, begin with checking out the state-specific CPA exam and license requirements from the South Dakota board website. For more details, check out the AICPA and NASBA websites too. Learn more about CPE Credits for CPA