CPA in Mississippi

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for MS. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$64,170

trending_down -21.4% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Mississippi.

engineering

6,940

Jobs (MS)

monitoring Strong

+4.6%

10-yr job growth

payments

$1,200

Est. total cost

schedule

Varies (NTS valid for 6 months)

Time to complete

route How to become a cpa in Mississippi

To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Mississippi, you must meet the requirements set by the Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy. This includes holding a bachelor's degree with 150 semester hours of education, passing the Uniform CPA Examination, and completing one year (2080 hours) of supervised work experience. Additionally, applicants must undergo a background check and pass an AICPA ethics exam.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $43,090

25th percentile $51,860

50th (median) $64,170

75th percentile $87,170

90th (experienced) $115,350

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Mississippi. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Mississippi requirements

Licensing body	Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy
State license	Required
Education	Bachelor's degree with 150 semester hours, including 48 semester hours of upper-division or graduate-level accounting and business-related courses (with a minimum of 24 hours in accounting, including 3 hours each in Financial Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Management/Cost Accounting, and Government/Not-for-Profit Accounting).
Experience	2,080.0 hours
Exam	Uniform CPA Examination ($1,279)
Application fee	$150
Renewal	Every 1.0 year
Continuing education	40.0 hours per cycle
Reciprocity	Mississippi offers reciprocity for CPAs from substantially equivalent jurisdictions, with mobility privileges available.Reciprocal states: Mississippi offers reciprocity to CPAs licensed in other jurisdictions if the jurisdiction is substantially equivalent to Mississippi's requirements or if the individual's qualifications are substantially equivalent. Applicants for reciprocal licenses are not required to reside or have a place of regular business in Mississippi. Those with a principal place of business outside Mississippi may practice under mobility/practice privilege if their license is from a substantially equivalent jurisdiction and they meet certain criteria.
Notes	Minimum age: None. Requires a background check for initial and reciprocal licenses. Must be a resident of Mississippi or have a place of regular business in the state. Must have a valid Social Security Number. An AICPA ethics exam is also required for licensure.

Source: Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy

Already licensed elsewhere and moving to Mississippi? See whether Mississippi recognizes an out-of-state credential — with the tier and pathway for all 50 states — in our CPA license reciprocity guide.

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+4.6%

Faster than average

Annual openings

124,200

Nationwide per year

Total employment

1,579,800

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

error High exposure 1.48/1.00

Many tasks in this career are susceptible to AI automation. Long-term career planning should account for potential disruption.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

Rough payback period

0 months

~$1,200 investment ÷ $64,170 median salary

check_circleMississippi license required — clearer credential signal to employers
warningElevated AI disruption risk

psychology

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Frequently asked questions

How do you get certified as a cpa in Mississippi? expand_more

To become a cpa in Mississippi, you need to complete the required education (Bachelor's degree with 150 semester hours, including 48 semester hours of upper-division or graduate-level accounting and business-related courses (with a minimum of 24 hours in accounting, including 3 hours each in Financial Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Management/Cost Accounting, and Government/Not-for-Profit Accounting).), gain 2,080.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the Uniform CPA Examination, and submit your application ($150 fee).

Do I need a license to work as a cpa in Mississippi? expand_more

Yes, Mississippi requires a state license to practice as a cpa. The licensing body is Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy. You must pass the Uniform CPA Examination.

How much does a cpa make in Mississippi? expand_more

The median cpa salary in Mississippi is $64,170 per year. — 21% under the $81,680 national average. Wages range from $43,090 (10th percentile) up to $115,350 (90th percentile).

How much does it cost to become a cpa in Mississippi? expand_more

Between exam fee ($1,279) and application fee ($150), expect to invest around $1,200 in total to get started.

How many months or years does cpa certification take in Mississippi? expand_more

Expect to spend Varies (NTS valid for 6 months) from start to finish in Mississippi — covering coursework, supervised experience, and examination.

What's required to renew a cpa license in Mississippi? expand_more

To keep your license active, Mississippi mandates 40.0 CE hours every 1.0 year.