CPA in Montana

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

Median annual salary

$74,400

trending_down -8.9% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Montana.

engineering

4,680

Jobs (MT)

monitoring Strong

+4.6%

10-yr job growth

payments

$1,250

Est. total cost

schedule

1-3 years post-bachelor's degree (exam must be passed within a rolling 18-month period)

Time to complete

route How to become a cpa in Montana

To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Montana, candidates must meet specific education, examination, and experience requirements set by the Montana Board of Public Accountants. This typically involves holding a bachelor's degree with 150 semester hours, including specific accounting and business coursework, or, starting January 1, 2026, a bachelor's degree with relevant coursework and one year of experience. Candidates must pass the Uniform CPA Examination and the AICPA Ethics Exam, and complete 2,000 hours of qualifying accounting experience within three years of applying for licensure. Montana offers reciprocity for CPAs licensed in substantially equivalent jurisdictions.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $48,730

25th percentile $61,490

50th (median) $74,400

75th percentile $93,360

90th (experienced) $121,140

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

checklist Montana requirements

Licensing body	Montana Board of Public Accountants
State license	Required
Education	Bachelor's degree with 150 semester hours, including 24 semester hours of upper-level accounting courses and 24 semester hours of general business courses. Starting January 1, 2026, a new pathway allows for a Bachelor's degree with required accounting and business coursework and 1 year of relevant experience.
Experience	2,000.0 hours
Exam	Uniform CPA Examination ($1,423)
Application fee	$150
Renewal	Every 1.0 year
Continuing education	120.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Minimum age: None. No U.S. citizenship or Montana residency required. Must pass the AICPA Ethics Exam. Experience must be completed within three years preceding the application date.

Source: Montana Board of Public Accountants

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

~$1,250 investment ÷ $74,400 median salary

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

psychology

Wondering if a cpa career is the right fit?

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Frequently asked questions

What are the steps to becoming a cpa in Montana? expand_more

Montana requires cpas to complete the required education (Bachelor's degree with 150 semester hours, including 24 semester hours of upper-level accounting courses and 24 semester hours of general business courses. Starting January 1, 2026, a new pathway allows for a Bachelor's degree with required accounting and business coursework and 1 year of relevant experience.), gain 2,000.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the Uniform CPA Examination, and submit your application ($150 fee).

Is a cpa license required in Montana? expand_more

You cannot practice as a cpa in Montana without a state license from Montana Board of Public Accountants. The required exam is the Uniform CPA Examination.

How much does a cpa make in Montana? expand_more

In Montana, the median pay for cpas comes to $74,400/year. That's 9% below the national median of $81,680. New cpas start around $48,730; seasoned professionals can reach $121,140.

What's the total cost to get cpa certified in Montana? expand_more

The full cost to enter the field runs about $1,250, factoring in exam fee ($1,423) and application fee ($150) and required training.

How quickly can I become a cpa in Montana? expand_more

The typical timeline in Montana is 1-3 years post-bachelor's degree (exam must be passed within a rolling 18-month period). This includes completing education, gaining any required experience, and passing the licensing exam.

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

Montana requires 120.0 hours of continuing education every 1.0 year to maintain your cpa license.