How to become a CPA in Colorado

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with an Accounting Concentration from Colorado State University is a major step in your education path toward a career as a CPA in Colorado.

To become a licensed CPA in Colorado the following requirements must be met:

  1. Successful completion of all four parts of the CPA exam;
  2. Completion of 150 semester hours (including a baccalaureate degree);
  3. 1,800 hours of qualifying work experience (note: students utilizing internship for course credit (ACT 487) may not use those hours towards the 1,800 hour requirement); and
  4. Completion of a written ethics exam on the Code of Professional an ethics exam.  

Education Requirements

To sit for the CPA Examination:

  1. A bachelor’s degree or higher and 120 semester hours
  2. 27 total semester hours of non-duplicative accounting coursework.  21 of these hours must be above the introductory level. 
    1. 3 semester hours must be an audit course that concentrates on U.S. GAAS (ACT441).
  3. 21 total semester hours of non-duplicative business administration coursework. 
    1. No more than 6 semester hours can be in any single subject area.  Hours in excess of the 6 hour maximum may count toward the 120 hour requirement.

To apply for the CPA license:

  1. A bachelor’s degree or higher plus 30 additional hours (150 total hours).
  2. 33 total semester hours of non-duplicative accounting coursework.  27 of these hours must be above the introductory level. 
    1. 6 of these hours must be in auditing (ACT 441 and ACT 541)
    2. 3 of these hours must be in accounting or business ethics (BUS 220 or ACT 540)
  3. 27 total semester hours of non-duplicative business administration coursework. 
    1. No more than 9 semester hours can be in any single subject area.  Hours in excess of the 9 hour maximum may count toward the 150 hour requirement.

Visit the Colorado State Board of Accountancy for details.

Refer to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy for information on other state requirements.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Accounting Concentration