Georgia CPA Requirements
Everything you need to become a CPA in Georgia
Key Facts
- ✓120-credit pathway available since January 1, 2026 (HB 148)
- ✓150-credit and master's degree pathways also available
- ✓2 years experience required under 120-credit pathway
- ✓Can sit with a bachelor's degree and 24 accounting credits (effective 1/1/2026); no business hours required to sit
- ✓80 hours of CPE required every 2 years
*Georgia offers a 120-credit pathway (HB 148) with additional experience requirements. See Licensure Pathways below for details.
International Candidates: Georgia does not require a Social Security Number (SSN), making it a popular choice for international CPA candidates.
Education & Experience Requirements
Verify Before Applying: Requirements shown are for informational purposes and may have changed. Always confirm current requirements with the official state board before beginning your application.
Education Requirements
- •Must include auditing and tax courses
Experience Requirements
- ✓Public accounting
- ✓Private industry
- ✓Government
Exam Eligibility
Licensing & CPE
Exam vs. Licensure: Georgia requires different credit thresholds to sit for the CPA exam versus obtaining your license. You can begin testing with 24 accounting credits, but must complete 30 for full licensure. Business credits: 0 to sit, 18 for licensure. Total credits: 120 to sit, 150 for licensure.
Licensure Pathways
Traditional 150-Credit Pathway
- •150 semester hours with accounting concentration
- •30 hours accounting above elementary level, 24 hours business
- •1 year of accounting experience
120-Credit + Experience Pathway
Effective: January 1, 2026
- •Bachelor's degree with accounting and business concentration
- •2 years of accounting experience
- •Concentration details prescribed by Georgia State Board of Accountancy
Master's Degree Pathway
Effective: January 1, 2026
- •Master's degree in accounting or taxation
- •1 year of accounting experience
Georgia State Board of Accountancy
Georgia State Board of Accountancy
Application Tips
- 1.Verify current requirements on the official state board website before applying
- 2.Have official transcripts sent directly from your educational institution
- 3.Allow 4-6 weeks for application processing
- 4.Keep copies of all submitted documents for your records
Georgia CPE & License Renewal
Frequently Asked Questions
Education Programs for Georgia
23 programs meet CPA education requirements in Georgia. Browse by category to find the right fit.
Online MAcc
10Arizona State University
AACSBOnline Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
AACSBiMSA (Online Master of Science in Accountancy)
Western Governors University
ACBSPMaster of Science in Accounting
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
AACSBMaster of Accountancy (MAcc) Accelerated Online
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
AACSBOnline Master of Accounting (MAC)
Auburn University
AACSBOnline Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
Liberty University
ACBSPOnline MS in Accounting
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
AACSBOnline Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
Texas A&M University
AACSBFlex Online MS Accounting (Mays)
University of Georgia
AACSBOnline Master of Professional Accountancy
Campus MAcc
6University of Michigan
AACSBMaster of Accounting (MAcc)
University of Texas at Austin
AACSBMaster in Professional Accounting (Traditional MPA)
University of Notre Dame
AACSBMS in Accountancy
Wake Forest University
AACSBMS in Accountancy
Vanderbilt University
AACSBMaster of Accountancy
University of Southern California
AACSBMaster of Accounting
150-Hour Pathways
3Related Resources
Planning your CPA journey in Georgia? These guides can help.
Ready to Start Studying?
Find the perfect CPA review course for your Georgia CPA journey.