Requirements

South Carolina CPA Exam Requirements (2026)

South Carolina requires 150 semester hours and one year of experience. The South Carolina Board of Accountancy manages CPA licensing.

Quick answer

South Carolina requires 150 semester hours, 1 year of experience, and passing all 4 CPA exam sections. Overseen by the South Carolina Board of Accountancy.

150 hrs

Education

semester hours

1 yr

Experience

either

$75

Application Fee

state board

40 hrs

CPE

annual

Licensing Timeline

Steps to CPA License in South Carolina

1. Complete Education Requirements

Earn 150 semester hours with at least 24 hours of accounting coursework.

2. Apply for the CPA Exam

Apply through NASBA and the South Carolina Board of Accountancy.

3. Schedule and Pass the CPA Exam

Pass all four sections within 30 months.

4. Gain Professional Experience

Complete one year of supervised accounting experience.

5. Complete Ethics Requirements

Pass the AICPA Professional Ethics exam.

6. Apply for Your CPA License

Submit your license application to the South Carolina board.

Fee Breakdown

Fee estimates for South Carolina — verify current amounts at South Carolina Board of Accountancy
Fee TypeAmount
State Application Fee$75
Exam Fee (per section)$238
Total Exam Fees (4 sections)$952
Estimated Total (exam only)$1027

Your South Carolina CPA Checklist

0/6 complete
1. Complete Education Requirements

Earn 150 semester hours with at least 24 hours of accounting coursework.

2. Apply for the CPA Exam
3. Schedule and Pass the CPA Exam
4. Gain Professional Experience
5. Complete Ethics Requirements
6. Apply for Your CPA License

What makes South Carolina unique

  • South Carolina has standard 150-hour and one-year experience requirements.
  • Minimum age of 18 for CPA candidates.
  • Annual CPE of 40 hours with 2 hours of ethics.

Education Requirements

South Carolina requires 150 semester hours from an accredited institution, including 24 semester hours of accounting. The University of South Carolina and Clemson University offer strong accounting programs. By focusing on consistent, high-yield study habits and leveraging multi-dimensional diagnostics, you can systematically dismantle your exam anxieties. Committing to a daily pattern of active retrieval and careful error logging transforms how you study, driving your score steadily toward a passing result.

Coursework must cover financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting. This ensures that you do not waste precious hours re-watching identical lecture modules or re-reading long textbook chapters that you have already comprehended. Instead, our analytics pinpoint the exact wording tricks and cognitive patterns that cause incorrect answers under exam conditions, maximizing the value of your existing firm-sponsored curriculum. Each core and discipline section of the exam features its own unique testing style, specific cognitive demands, and Blueprint weightings. Adapting your study strategies to match these section-specific differences ensures that you do not waste effort on irrelevant details or miss high-yield concepts.

CPA Exam and Experience

South Carolina candidates apply through NASBA and test at Prometric centers in Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville. By focusing on consistent, high-yield study habits and leveraging multi-dimensional diagnostics, you can systematically dismantle your exam anxieties. Committing to a daily pattern of active retrieval and careful error logging transforms how you study, driving your score steadily toward a passing result.

One year of accounting experience under CPA supervision is required. South Carolina's growing economy provides increasing accounting opportunities. By focusing on consistent, high-yield study habits and leveraging multi-dimensional diagnostics, you can systematically dismantle your exam anxieties. Committing to a daily pattern of active retrieval and careful error logging transforms how you study, driving your score steadily toward a passing result.

Fees and Licensing

South Carolina's application fee is approximately $75. Total first-attempt costs are about $1,028. Many major public accounting firms and corporate employers maintain discretionary professional development funds that can be applied to targeted practice supplements. Presenting a clear, analytics-backed progress report to your learning manager can help justify the expense and secure firm-level sponsorship.

The state's affordable cost of living makes the CPA investment manageable. Many major public accounting firms and corporate employers maintain discretionary professional development funds that can be applied to targeted practice supplements. Presenting a clear, analytics-backed progress report to your learning manager can help justify the expense and secure firm-level sponsorship.

Continuing Professional Education

South Carolina CPAs must complete 40 hours of CPE annually, including 2 hours of ethics. By focusing on consistent, high-yield study habits and leveraging multi-dimensional diagnostics, you can systematically dismantle your exam anxieties. Committing to a daily pattern of active retrieval and careful error logging transforms how you study, driving your score steadily toward a passing result.

The South Carolina Association of CPAs offers CPE programming. Documentation should be retained for audit purposes. We believe advanced technology should serve to guide and clarify rather than to replace rigorous, active study habits. Employing a structured, expert-verified AI dialogue ensures that you get instant conceptual clarity without the risk of relying on unverified public search engines. Each core and discipline section of the exam features its own unique testing style, specific cognitive demands, and Blueprint weightings. Adapting your study strategies to match these section-specific differences ensures that you do not waste effort on irrelevant details or miss high-yield concepts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sit for the CPA exam with 120 hours in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina allows sitting with 120 hours, but 150 are needed for licensure.
What experience does South Carolina accept?
South Carolina accepts experience in public, industry, government, or academic accounting under CPA supervision.
What is South Carolina's CPE requirement?
South Carolina CPAs must complete 40 hours of CPE annually, including 2 hours of ethics.