Georgia CPA Requirements (2026): Exam and License
Georgia exam entry, license pathways, coursework, and fees, with researched changes for your 2027 plan.
Checkpoint 1
Can I take the exam?
24 accounting
Georgia’s exam accounting requirement changed to 24 credits on January 1, 2026. Exam admission must be distinguished from the larger licensing concentration.
Check exam entryCheckpoint 2
Can I obtain the license?
Georgia lists three licensing combinations, with 30 accounting and 18 business credits and route-specific experience.
Degree, concentration, qualifying experience, and any additional application conditions must be checked together.
Review license choicesPermission to sit
Georgia CPA Exam eligibility
Georgia’s exam accounting requirement changed to 24 credits on January 1, 2026. Exam admission must be distinguished from the larger licensing concentration.
- Use NASBA’s current degree and transcript instructions to establish the complete exam-entry option.
- The 30 accounting and 18 business licensing totals should not be substituted for the exam checkpoint.
Map your transcript
Georgia accounting and business coursework
Read each row as a separate checkpoint. Course level, required subjects, degree status, and exceptions can matter as much as the total. The board or designated evaluator determines which courses qualify.
| Checkpoint | Accounting | Business / related subjects | Degree and other conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam accounting | 24 credits from January 1, 2026 | Check NASBA’s complete exam option | Degree and transcript evaluation remain applicable |
| License | 30 credits | 18 credits | Selected qualifying degree and experience combination |
Collect the evidence
Degree award, official transcript, course descriptions, and any required evaluation.
Map accepted subjects
Separate accounting, business, ethics, and other required subjects without assuming overlap.
Resolve the exact gap
Ask about the disputed course or condition before paying for another class or application.
Education plus experience
Georgia CPA license pathways
Georgia lists three licensing combinations, with 30 accounting and 18 business credits and route-specific experience.
| Route / availability | Education | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| 150-credit route | Qualifying bachelor’s degree and 150 credits | 1 year / 2,000 hours |
| Accounting or tax master’s route | Qualifying master’s degree | 1 year / 2,000 hours |
| Bachelor’s route | Qualifying bachelor’s degree | 2 years / 4,000 hours |
- The 150-credit and qualifying accounting/tax master’s routes use one year and 2,000 hours; the bachelor’s route uses two years and 4,000 hours.
- Qualifying experience is full-time and must satisfy the board’s recency rule, including completion no more than one year before application.
Dates that affect your decision
Planning for Georgia CPA requirements in 2027
For 2027, the useful planning question is how your degree, course concentration, full-time work, and recency fit together.
January 1, 2026
EffectiveNew exam accounting threshold
Use 24 accounting credits for the published exam checkpoint instead of an older count.
Worked planning example
A bachelor’s graduate choosing an experience route
Illustrative candidate scenario, not an eligibility determination.
Starting point
You have the licensing concentration and are comparing another 30 credits with a longer period of qualifying work.
What the rules mean
Georgia’s bachelor’s route requires two years and 4,000 hours. The shorter routes have different education requirements, and all routes have experience timing conditions.
Next action
Map the intended work completion and application dates before choosing the route; keep exam preparation moving alongside that plan.
From education to an appointment
How to apply and prepare in Georgia
- 1
Confirm the application owner
Use the official exam instructions linked above to identify the board or designated exam service. Exam and license applications may go to different owners.
- 2
Prepare the education record
Arrange official transcripts and any required evaluation, degree evidence, course descriptions, identity, and state-specific records. Resolve the exact eligibility question before paying.
- 3
Apply for a section you can prepare for
After the responsible authority confirms eligibility, follow its section application and payment instructions. Keep the actual application and examination charges separate.
- 4
Use the Notice to Schedule
Check the authorized section, name, and expiration on the NTS. Book the testing appointment through the official scheduling process within that authorization.
- 5
Complete the exam and license file
Pass AUD, FAR, REG, and one Discipline, then complete the selected license route’s education, experience, ethics, and documentation requirements. Track each official deadline separately.
This sequence organizes your planning. The state-specific facts and exceptions in the sections above take priority; the official application instructions establish the required filing order.
Budget separate charges
Georgia CPA exam and application fees
These are individually sourced charges, not a complete licensing budget or an official 2027 fee schedule. Evaluation, section applications, testing, ethics, background checks, international testing, rescheduling, and licensing can be separate costs.
| Charge | Published amount | What it covers | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education evaluation | $96.00 | Evaluation charge listed by NASBA. Foreign-education evaluation may be separate. | Verify this charge |
| Exam section application | $96.00 | Follow the jurisdiction’s section-application rules. Do not assume one application charge covers all four sections. | Verify this charge |
| Each exam section | $268.59 | One section’s examination charge, separate from its application charge. | Verify this charge |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the Georgia CPA Exam requirements in 2026?
- Georgia’s exam accounting requirement changed to 24 credits on January 1, 2026. Exam admission must be distinguished from the larger licensing concentration. Use NASBA’s current degree and transcript instructions to establish the complete exam-entry option. The 30 accounting and 18 business licensing totals should not be substituted for the exam checkpoint.
- Does Georgia require 150 hours for CPA licensure in 2026?
- Georgia lists three licensing combinations, with 30 accounting and 18 business credits and route-specific experience. 150-credit route: Qualifying bachelor’s degree and 150 credits; 1 year / 2,000 hours. Accounting or tax master’s route: Qualifying master’s degree; 1 year / 2,000 hours. Bachelor’s route: Qualifying bachelor’s degree; 2 years / 4,000 hours.
- How should I plan for Georgia CPA requirements in 2027?
- For 2027, the useful planning question is how your degree, course concentration, full-time work, and recency fit together.
- Are Georgia exam eligibility and licensing the same?
- They are separate checkpoints. Georgia’s bachelor’s route requires two years and 4,000 hours. The shorter routes have different education requirements, and all routes have experience timing conditions. Map the intended work completion and application dates before choosing the route; keep exam preparation moving alongside that plan.
- What should I confirm before applying in Georgia?
- Confirm the accepted transcript subjects, qualifying experience evidence, current application instructions, and charges using the official sources linked in this guide. The board or its designated evaluator makes the eligibility decision.
- Does a CPAPass account apply for my Georgia license?
- No. CPAPass provides CPA Exam practice and study planning. The state board and its designated services evaluate education, approve exam applications, and issue licenses or permits.
Evidence and review dates
Official Georgia requirements sources
Core research date: . Licensing review date: . Proposed rules, effective dates, and unresolved details remain labeled in the relevant sections. Official authorities decide eligibility; this guide helps you prepare the questions and records.