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Passed CPA Exam Before Dec. 31, 2001

Question: I have a bachelor's degree and passed the exam before Dec. 31, 2001, and have more than two years of accounting experience, working for a CPA in public practice. Can I apply for a CPA certificate under the Pathway 1 rules?

Response: If your education includes a U.S. baccalaureate degree with a minimum of 24 semester units of accounting and a minimum of 24 semester units of business related subjects, you may apply for licensure under Pathway 1.

If you have a minimum of 150 semester units of study, which includes the baccalaureate degree and the 24/24 semester units indicated above, you may also apply for licensure under Pathway 2.

Question: I have 225 quarter hours of college credit. Some from a junior college and some four year (that is what shows up on my transcripts from my four year). I passed two parts then one and one. I never got less than a 50 percent on any part. I had my degree when I took the exam. I have the 24 accounting and business. Do I only qualify for Pathway 1 since I didn't take the third and fourth parts together?

Response: Yes, it appears that you meet the education and exam requirements of Pathway 2, requiring a two-year experience requirement.

Question: I passed the exam in 1996 does this apply to me?

Response: Yes. The new laws give you new options for applying for licensure. Both pathways allow an applicant to obtain a CPA license without completing attest experience. However, more education is needed than under the old requirements. Both pathways require that, at a minimum, an applicant have U.S. baccalaureate degree or the equivalent in foreign education, with 24 semester units of accounting and 24 semester units of business related subjects.

If you completed this education at the time you initially applied for the exam, you may complete the necessary experience and qualify under the new pathways at any time. If, at the time you initially applied for the Uniform CPA Exam, you had not completed this education, you may now obtain the additional units needed to qualify under either Pathway 1 or Pathway 2.

Question: I have passed all four parts of the CPA Exam, have a bachelor’s degree that includes 137 units and one year of experience, what are my options for qualifying for a CPA license?

Response: You can either complete on more year of experience or complete some additional education. To qualify for Pathway 2 licensing, which only requires one year of experience, you must have 150 units including 24 units of business related subjects and 24 units of accounting.

If you passed the November 2001 or a prior exam, you may still be licensed under Pathway 1 or Pathway 2. You will need a minimum of two years of experience for Pathway 1 or one year of experience for Pathway 2.

Like Pathway 2, Pathway 1 requires a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 24 semester units of accounting and a minimum of 24 semester units of business-related subjects. If you had this education when you initially sat for the exam, you may make up deficiencies and apply for a license.