Colorado CPA Requirements

Colorado Requirements & Education Options

General Requirement

Applicants must be of good moral character.

Residency Requirement: Colorado residency is not required to sit for the CPA Exam or to apply for licensure. U.S. citizenship is also not required.

An examination candidate who passes all sections of the CPA Exam must meet Colorado’s education and experience requirements before applying for licensure.

Education/Experience Requirement

CPA Exam candidates in Colorado must complete a minimum of 120 semester hours of college education, including a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university recognized by the Colorado State Board of Accountancy, in order to sit for the CPA Exam.

The required education must include at least 27 semester hours in accounting coursework covering areas such as financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and accounting information systems. In addition, candidates must complete at least 21 semester hours in business-related subjects, which may include business law, economics, finance, management, marketing, statistics, or information systems, as recognized by the Board.

To obtain a CPA license in Colorado, an applicant must complete 150 total semester hours of college education, including the required accounting and business coursework described above.

In addition to the educational requirements, candidates must complete 1 year (1,800 hours) of qualifying professional experience in accounting under the supervision of a licensed CPA. The experience must include the application of accounting, auditing, or attestation skills, such as financial statement preparation, tax services, or consulting, as recognized by the Board.

A transcript from a post-secondary educational institution located outside the United States shall be certified by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s (NASBA) International Evaluation Service (NIES) or a credentialing agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc.