Texas CPA Requirements (2026): Exam and License
Texas exam entry, license pathways, coursework, and fees, with researched changes for your 2027 plan.
Checkpoint 1
Can I take the exam?
24 upper-level
From August 1, 2026, Texas exam entry requires 24 upper-level accounting credits, increased from 21, together with a qualifying degree, 120 credits, and 21 upper-level business credits.
Check exam entryCheckpoint 2
Can I obtain the license?
Texas Pathway B became available August 1, 2026, pairing qualifying bachelor’s/120-credit education with two years of experience. Pathway A retains 150 credits with one year.
Degree, concentration, qualifying experience, and any additional application conditions must be checked together.
Review license choicesPermission to sit
Texas CPA Exam eligibility
From August 1, 2026, Texas exam entry requires 24 upper-level accounting credits, increased from 21, together with a qualifying degree, 120 credits, and 21 upper-level business credits.
- The 24 accounting credits include three credits each in financial/intermediate accounting, financial-statement auditing, taxation, and accounting information systems or data analytics, plus 12 selected accounting credits.
- Texas uses its own foreign-education evaluation process, including the board and its designated University of Texas at Austin process, rather than a universal commercial-evaluator route.
Map your transcript
Texas 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 from August 1, 2026 | 24 upper-level credits | 21 upper-level credits | Qualifying degree and 120 total credits |
| Pathway B certification | 27 upper-level credits: 12 specified and 15 selected | 24 upper-level credits, including the 3-credit ethics course | Includes the board-approved 3-credit ethics course; not identical to exam entry |
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
Texas CPA license pathways
Texas Pathway B became available August 1, 2026, pairing qualifying bachelor’s/120-credit education with two years of experience. Pathway A retains 150 credits with one year.
| Route / availability | Education | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Pathway A | Qualifying degree and 150 credits with Pathway A coursework | 1 year of qualifying experience |
| Pathway B | Qualifying bachelor’s degree and 120 credits with Pathway B coursework | 2 years of qualifying experience |
- Pathway B certification requires 27 accounting and 24 business credits, including the board-approved three-credit ethics course under the specified classification.
- Qualifying experience must satisfy Texas’s supervision and nonroutine-accounting work requirements. Passing the exam does not itself complete certification.
Dates that affect your decision
Planning for Texas CPA requirements in 2027
Texas’s August 2026 changes already support a 2027 plan. Keep Pathway A and B distinct and use the new exam course count today.
August 1, 2026
EffectiveExam accounting count increases
Use 24 upper-level accounting credits instead of the earlier 21-credit threshold.
August 1, 2026
EffectivePathway B becomes available
A qualifying 120-credit bachelor’s route with two years of experience joins Pathway A.
Worked planning example
Exam-ready coursework is not yet Pathway B coursework
Illustrative candidate scenario, not an eligibility determination.
Starting point
You have 24 upper-level accounting and 21 upper-level business credits, a qualifying degree, and 120 total credits.
What the rules mean
Those exam counts do not complete Pathway B’s 27-accounting/24-business certification grid or its ethics course and two-year experience requirements.
Next action
Make a separate certification transcript map, arrange qualifying supervised work, and choose your first section to prepare for.
From education to an appointment
How to apply and prepare in Texas
- 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
Texas 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.
Confirm current charges before paying
This review did not establish current application and exam-section amounts for Texas. Use the official application instructions below for the payment total and any additional licensing charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the Texas CPA Exam requirements in 2026?
- From August 1, 2026, Texas exam entry requires 24 upper-level accounting credits, increased from 21, together with a qualifying degree, 120 credits, and 21 upper-level business credits. The 24 accounting credits include three credits each in financial/intermediate accounting, financial-statement auditing, taxation, and accounting information systems or data analytics, plus 12 selected accounting credits. Texas uses its own foreign-education evaluation process, including the board and its designated University of Texas at Austin process, rather than a universal commercial-evaluator route.
- Does Texas require 150 hours for CPA licensure in 2026?
- Texas Pathway B became available August 1, 2026, pairing qualifying bachelor’s/120-credit education with two years of experience. Pathway A retains 150 credits with one year. Pathway A: Qualifying degree and 150 credits with Pathway A coursework; 1 year of qualifying experience. Pathway B: Qualifying bachelor’s degree and 120 credits with Pathway B coursework; 2 years of qualifying experience.
- How should I plan for Texas CPA requirements in 2027?
- Texas’s August 2026 changes already support a 2027 plan. Keep Pathway A and B distinct and use the new exam course count today.
- Are Texas exam eligibility and licensing the same?
- They are separate checkpoints. Those exam counts do not complete Pathway B’s 27-accounting/24-business certification grid or its ethics course and two-year experience requirements. Make a separate certification transcript map, arrange qualifying supervised work, and choose your first section to prepare for.
- What should I confirm before applying in Texas?
- Current board application and section charges were not reverified in this review. Confirm them using the current board payment instructions.
- Does a CPAPass account apply for my Texas 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 Texas 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.