CPA Exam Requirements Arkansas – Overview
Educational Hours Required for Exam	120 Semester Hours
Educational Hours Required for Licensure	150 Semester Hours
Residency Required	U.S. citizen or legal resident
Degree Required	Bachelor’s or Master’s
Minimum Age	19
Application Fee	$50.00 + ($75 – $120)
Additional Requirements	Arkansas Board of Accountancy Site

Arkansas CPA Exam Requirements

Before you can sit for the CPA exam in Arkansas, you must first meet the Arkansas CPA requirements established by the state board. These requirements ensure you have the necessary foundation in accounting, business courses, and ethics.

Educational Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited institution.
• 30 semester hours of upper-level accounting courses and 30 hours in business courses other than accounting. These may include financial accounting, management accounting, federal taxation, auditing, not-for-profit accounting, and accounting information systems.
• Each accounting or business component course must be completed with a minimum grade of C or above.

Candidates should demonstrate knowledge across multiple subject areas, including accounting ethics, accountancy law, and management advisory concepts.

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Arkansas CPA Exam Fees

Applicants for the Arkansas CPA Exam must submit the initial application fee and exam section fees to CPA Examination Services.

Initial Application Fee:

• First-time applicants: $50.00

Exam Application Fee:

• 1 section: $75.00
• 2 sections: $90.00
• 3 sections: $105.00
• 4 sections: $120.00

Exam Section Fee:

• $254.80 per section

All CPA exam applications must be submitted prior to scheduling.

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Scheduling for the CPA Exam in Arkansas

Once your application is approved, you’ll receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS) from the Board of Accountancy. The NTS is valid for one testing event or six months—whichever comes first.

You can schedule your exam section through Prometric at www.prometric.com/CPA or by calling 1-800-580-9648. Testing operates on a rolling schedule with no blackout dates.

Appointments are first-come, first-served, so plan early to secure your preferred location, date, and time.

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Preparing for the Arkansas CPA Exam

The CPA exam is known for its rigor, with an average pass rate near 50%. To prepare effectively, consider enrolling in a CPA Review Course that covers essential topics such as financial accounting, federal taxation, auditing, management accounting, and business advisory.

A structured review program helps candidates build consulting skills, understand accounting ethics, and improve the likelihood of successful completion of all exam sections.

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Arkansas CPA Exam Score Release

After completing each section of the Uniform CPA Examination, scores are released by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). You can view your scores online or elect to have them mailed.

Once you’ve passed all exam sections and met the experience requirements, submit your final application to the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy (Capitol Ave, Little Rock, AR) for your CPA license.

You’ll also need to complete:

• Ongoing continuing education requirements (CPE hours) each calendar year to maintain good standing
• The Arkansas Ethics Exam
• An FBI background check
• Documentation verifying experience requirements

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Summary

Meeting the CPA exam requirements in Arkansas involves education, testing, and ethics. By fulfilling all educational hours, paying the application fee, and passing the Uniform CPA Examination, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a licensed CPA in Arkansas.

The Certified Public Accountant designation opens opportunities in public accountancy, financial advisory, management advisory, and consulting services — making it a highly respected credential for accounting professionals.

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Additional Information

While we do our best to keep all of this information up to date, you are welcome to visit and or contact the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy with any other questions you might have.

Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy
Address: 900 W. Capitol, Suite 400 Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 682-1520 Fax: (501) 682-5538
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.asbpa.arkansas.gov
Application form: Arkansas CPA Application Form