Iowa CPA Requirements

Iowa State Requirements & Education Options

193A—3.3(542) Accounting concentration. 3.3(1) A candidate will be deemed to have met the educational requirement if, as part of the 150 semester hours of education as outlined in Iowa Code section 542.5, the candidate has met one of the following four conditions: a. Earned a graduate degree with a concentration in accounting from a program that is accredited in accounting by an accrediting agency recognized by the board. b. Earned a graduate degree in business from a program that is accredited in business by an accrediting agency recognized by the board and completed at least 24 semester hours in accounting including courses covering the subjects of financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting. Such accounting hours shall not include elementary accounting or principles of accounting, internships or life experience. c. Earned a baccalaureate degree in business or accounting from a program that is accredited in business by an accrediting agency recognized by the board and completed at least 24 semester hours in accounting courses covering the subjects of financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting. Such accounting hours shall not include elementary accounting or principles of accounting, internships or life experience. d. Earned a baccalaureate or higher degree and completed the following hours from an accredited institution recognized by the board: (1) At least 24 semester hours in accounting courses above elementary accounting or principles of accounting covering the subjects of financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting, not including internships or life experience; and (2) At least 24 additional semester hours in business–related courses, not including internships or life experience. Elementary accounting hours that do not qualify under subparagraph 3.3(1)“d”(1) above may apply toward business–related courses. Quarter hours will be accepted in lieu of semester hours at a 3:2 ratio; that is, three quarter hours is equivalent to two semester hours. Internships and life experience hours may apply toward the total 150 hours’ requirement. 3.3(2) The board will consider correspondence study and study in other schools not meeting the above requirements on an individual basis if the candidate can provide evidence that such study would be acceptable for credit by a college or university recognized by the board; provided, however, that at least 18 of the required hours in accounting and at least 16 of the required hours in business–related subjects must be obtained in a college or university recognized by the board. 3.3(3) The applicant’s claim to college or university credits must be confirmed by an official transcript of credit issued by the institution in question. The applicant shall be responsible for having such transcripts sent to the board’s test administrator at the time of making application. The applicant shall also be responsible for having any institution not listed under rule 193A—3.2(542) furnish the board evidence that it meets the accreditation requirements of the board. 3.3(4) Graduates of foreign colleges or universities shall have their education evaluated by a foreign credentials evaluation advisory service specified by the board.