CPA in New York
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for NY. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, New York.
Jobs (NY)
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route How to become a cpa in New York
To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New York, you must meet the requirements set by the New York State Board for Public Accountancy. This typically involves completing 150 semester hours of education, including a bachelor's degree with specific accounting and business coursework, passing the Uniform CPA Examination, and accumulating 2000 hours (one year full-time or two years part-time) of supervised accounting experience. New York also offers reciprocity for CPAs licensed in other states, provided they meet comparable licensing criteria and experience requirements.
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Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for New York. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist New York requirements
| Licensing body | New York State Board for Public Accountancy |
| State license | Required |
| Education | Bachelor's degree with 150 semester hours |
| Experience | 2,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Uniform CPA Examination ($1,100) |
| Application fee | $427 |
| Renewal | Every 3.0 years |
| Continuing education | 120.0 hours per cycle |
| Reciprocity | NY offers reciprocity for CPAs from comparable states, requiring active license and experience verification.Reciprocal states: New York offers reciprocity for CPA licenses from other states with comparable licensing requirements. Applicants must have an active license and certify at least 4 years of acceptable post-licensure experience within the last decade, or qualify through the 120-semester hour pathway if licensed before August 1, 2009, and unable to certify experience. |
| Notes | Minimum age is 21 years old. New York has specific coursework distribution requirements: 33 semester hours in accounting and 36 in general business. An alternative pathway requiring a bachelor's degree and 2 years of experience will be effective November 21, 2026. No separate ethics exam is required for initial licensure. Experience can be met in 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time. |
Source: New York State Board for Public Accountancy
Already licensed elsewhere and moving to New York? See whether New York 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
AI & tech impact
Many tasks in this career are susceptible to AI automation. Long-term career planning should account for potential disruption.
balance Is it worth it?
- check_circleNew York license required — clearer credential signal to employers
- warningElevated AI disruption risk
Compare CPA head-to-head
See all comparisons →Considering a CPA vs another career? Side-by-side breakdowns of pay, training time, and licensing.