How To Become a CPA in Mississippi: Step By Step Guide
Mississippi, nicknamed the Magnolia State, is home to a wide variety of historical monuments and museums. Best known for its magnolias, catfish, and Bluegrass music, the state also boasts large agriculture and forestry industries.
With a cultured history and significant agricultural importance, MS is a great state for accountants to start their professional careers. Accounting professionals are always in demand in the Magnolia State.
Before you begin your professional CPA career in Mississippi, you’ll first need to meet the minimum qualifications. Let’s take a look at the MS CPA requirements, so you can better understand how to take the CPA exam and become a licensed CPA in Mississippi.
Minimum Mississippi CPA Requirements for Certification
Hopeful CPA candidates must complete each of the following basic requirements to take the CPA exam and become a licensed certified public accountant in Mississippi:
- Must have a social security number
- Must be a Mississippi state resident
- Have a bachelor’s degree
- Show proof of 1-year professional work experience
- Minimum Age: not required
- US Citizenship: not required
Unlike in other states, there is no age limit to becoming a CPA in Mississippi. Likewise, the state does not require candidates to take or pass international programs.
Mississippi CPA candidates also do not have to be US citizens. Candidates do, however, have to complete all 150 college credit hours before they are eligible to sit for the exam.
Mississippi CPA Certification Education Requirements
The CPA board requires aspiring CPAs to have completed at least 150 semester hours of college or university education to be allowed to sit for the Uniform CPA exam. The academic credentials should be from an accredited institution with a high concentration on accounting.
Of the 150 semester hours, 48 semester hours should entail upper-level accounting and business-related coursework. Accounting course work should be a minimum of 24 hours of the 48 hours and include the following.
- Financial Accounting
- Auditing
- Taxation
- Management/Cost Accounting
- Government/Not-for-Profit Accounting
It’s important to contact the MS State Board of Accountancy before you apply to sit for the exam to make sure your educational credits meet the minimum Mississippi CPA requirements.
If your college credits don’t get approved, you will not be allowed to sit for the exam and you will have to re-apply for it in the future after you have completed enough approved college courses. Keep in mind that Mississippi does allow CPA candidates to use their CPA exam materials for college credit as long as the course was taken through an MS accredited university.
Mississippi CPA Exam Requirements
Taking and passing the uniform CPA examination has to be the most challenging step to becoming a Mississippi’s certified public accountant. Only candidates who meet the education requirements are allowed to sit for the uniform CPA exam.
Aspiring CPAs looking to do the CPA exam must send all their official college or university transcripts for verification to the Board office. Successful applications are communicated to follow by authorization in the form of a Notice to Schedule.
With the Notice Schedule,’ aspiring CPAs can move forth to apply and schedule a CPA exam. However, for an application to be confirmed, one must first pay the required CPA exam fees.
MS CPA Exam Costs & Fees
The total cost of taking the uniform CPA exam in Mississippi is $743 plus an initial application fee of $150. Here is a list of the CPA exam fees per section:
- Auditing and Attestation (AUD): $195.35
- Business Environment and Concepts (BEC): $176.25
- Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR): $195.35
- Regulation (REG): $176.25
- Application Fee: $150
The re-examination fee varies depending on the number of sections one is taking. It’s a good idea to only apply for CPA exam sections that you will be able to sit for in the next six months, as your NTS will expire after that and you will have to pay an additional application fee to be issued another NTS.
Mississippi CPA License Requirements
In order to apply for a CPA license in Mississippi, aspiring CPA candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Have completed 150-semester hours of college or university education
- Have taken and passed the Uniform CPA exam
- Have taken and passed the Ethics exam
- Have fulfilled the board’s work experience requirement
Prospective CPA’s meeting the following CPA license requirements can download and fill out the complete Application for CPA license and accompany it with all documents showing proof of the same. The application form with the supporting documents should be mailed to the Mississippi board of accountancy.
Once the board receives and verifies all the documents and ascertains everything is in order, licensure would be approved, allowing one to practice as a CPA in the state.
AICPA Ethics Exam
In addition to taking the CPA exam, aspiring CPA’s must be ready to take and pass the Ethics exam as one of the requirements for licensure in Mississippi. The cost of taking the Ethics exam is $149, which is not as rigorous as the CPA exam. However, candidates must score a minimum of 90% for a pass.
Work Experience Requirements
While taking and passing the uniform CPA exam is crucial to becoming a CPA in Mississippi, aspiring accountants also need to accrue sufficient work experience before applying for a license. The state requires a full year of full-time employment to account for work experience.
Likewise, aspiring CPAs must work under the supervision of licensed CPAs. Similarly, candidates must demonstrate significant competencies in either of the following fields.
- Accounting and Auditing
- Management Advisory
- Financial Advisory
- Taxation
The work experience can be paid or volunteered work accrued within five years to filling for a CPA license.
Mississippi CPA License Application & Renewal
The board requires all licensed CPAs to satisfy continuing professional education requirements to maintain licensure. The CPE requirements include 40 hours of CPE every 12 months.
Mississippi CPA Salary
The average annual salary for licensed CPAs in Mississippi is $67,000, with a beginning salary of about $49,000. However, the salary can rise to as much as $100,000 a year, depending on one’s level of professional experience, place of work, or responsibilities.
Licensed CPAs can work in various fields in the magnolia state to perform various accounting duties. While most organizations, firms, corporations, and government agencies have finance departments finding accounting jobs is easy.
Steps to Become a CPA in Mississippi
Becoming a licensed CPA would be a good career choice in the magnolia state. The process of becoming a CPA in Mississippi is includes the following steps:
- Getting an education in the state
- Taking and passing the uniform CPA exam
- Taking and passing the Ethics exam
- Gaining the necessary work experience
- Applying for the Mississippi CPA license
- Continuing with CPE education
Additional Mississippi CPA Resources
Here are several resources you can use to learn how to take the CPA exam in Mississippi and become a certified public accountant.