Learn How to Become a Licensed Certified Public Accountant In Oregon
Oregon, often called the Beaver State, is know for its natural resources, beautiful coast lines, and vast forests. Ranked #2 in infrastructure, OR has one of the fastest-growing job markets with historic-low unemployment rates.
Oregon is an ideal state to start your career as a certified public accounting. With its history of fiscal stability and increase in job growth, OR has a huge demand for accountants and financial professionals.
To begin your accounting career in Oregon, you will need to complete the minimum qualifications. Let’s look at the OR CPA requirements and what you’ll need to complete to sit for the CPA exam and become a licensed CPA in Oregon state.
Minimum Oregon CPA Requirements for Certification
Aspiring CPA candidates must fulfill the following minimum CPA requirements to take the CPA exam and become a licensed certified public accountant in Oregon:
- Have a social security number
- Complete 150-hours of college education
- Minimum Age: not required
- US Citizenship: not required
- Oregon Residency: not required
Unlike other states, Oregon is quite lenient on their CPA requirements. There is no age limit, no US citizenship test, or State residency test to become a CPA in Oregon.
This makes OR a great state for international CPA candidates to take the exam and become licensed. Especially since OR is a border state.
Oregon CPA Education Requirements
The Oregon accountancy board requires aspiring CPAs to complete 150 credit hours of college or university education to take the CPA exam in the State of Oregon.
The 150 college credit hours should be make up of both accounting and business coursework.
Accounting Coursework
CPA candidates must complete at least 24 credit hours of accounting courses including:
- Finance
- Managerial accounting
- Auditing
- Taxation
General Business Coursework
Likewise candidates must also complete 24 credit hours in general business courses:
- Economics
- Management
- Marketing
- Business law
Candidates can take CPA coursework online or in community colleges as long as credits are transferred to a four-year institution. Likewise, the education requirement must be attained in an accredited institution.
International candidates who graduated from foreign institutions must have their courses evaluated by an accrediting agency. It’s important to have your education credit approved before you apply for the exam. This way you will know if your Oregon CPA requirements are fulfilled before you have to pay any application fees.
Oregon CPA Exam Requirements
Aspiring CPAs who meet the above-listed education requirements can apply to take the Uniform CPA exam. Remember, you are required to finish all 150 credit hours before you are eligible to sit for the CPA exam.
The application process entails submitting the following documents to the Oregon Board of accountancy:
- Complete college transcripts
- Official photo ID
- Social Security Number
- Application fees
Once your CPA exam application is accepted, the board will issue you a Notice to Schedule, which is essentially a green light to apply and schedule a CPA exam with a Prometric testing center.
CPA Exam in Oregon
The CPA exam involves the following sections:
Financial Accounting and Reporting: A section designed to examine CPAs competencies in financial reporting frameworks. Candidates are also examined on their ability to compare statements from various reporting standards.
Auditing And Attestation: The section tests candidates’ knowledge of various auditing processes and international standards.
Regulation: The Ethics part of the CPA exam that evaluates CPAs competencies in professional and legal responsibilities.
Business Environment and Concepts: The fourth section examines candidates’ knowledge of various business concepts and international business.
OR CPA Exam Costs & Fees
In Oregon, the cost of sitting the entire four sections of the CPA exam is $743 plus an initial $100 application fee. The re-examination registration fee is $100 and varies depending on the number of section one is sitting for.
- 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: $100
You are required to pass all four sections of the exam within an 18 month window. If your time elapses, you will need to retake an exam section even if you already passed it. You will also be required to pay an additional application and re-testing fee.
Oregon CPA License Requirements
Once you’ve completed all of the CPA requirements, you can apply for your CPA license. Before you can become a certified public accountant in OR, you must meet the following requirements set by the Oregon State Board.
- Complete a bachelor’s degree (150 credit hours)
- Pass the CPA exam
- Pass the AICPA ethics exam
- Complete a 12-month work experience program
Candidates who meet the above requirement can download and fill the Application for Issuance of CPA Certificate or the CPA License and Permit to Practice Public. Once filled, the application form should be submitted with all the documents showing proof that the CPA requirements have been fulfilled.
The board normally takes two to three weeks to process a CPA license application. Once an application is approved, the board will send a notification by mail plus an invoice for the initial license fee. The permit fee is $159 and $165 for those requesting a large wall certificate.
AICPA Ethics Exam
Aspiring CPAs who sit and pass the Uniform CPA exam must also take the AICPA exam to obtain an Oregon CPA License. The open-book test is one of the easiest parts of your CPA journey. However, candidates must score more than 90% for a pass.
Work Experience Requirements
The next step to pursuing your CPA licensure completing a work experience program required by the accountancy board. In Oregon, aspiring CPAs must complete a minimum of 2,080 hours or 12 months of work experience focusing on accountancy.
The work experience requirement should be completed under a licensed CPA in any of the following sectors:
- Private accounting
- Public accounting
- Government department
- Non-government
- Academia
Your work experience should cover the following fields of focus: tax practice, consulting services, internal audits, and personal financing planning.
Oregon CPA License Application & Renewal
Once a CPA license is issued, holders must renew the certificate every other year. Your license can be renewed through the Oregon State Board website by submitting the following documents:
- CPA renewal application
- CPA renewal fees
- CPE certifications
As part of the renewal process, candidates must have completed 80 hours of continuing professional education during each two year renewal period.
Oregon CPA Salary
The average Oregon CPA salary is $73,180 per year according to the Department of Labor in Oregon. Salaries vary depending on the location, level of the work experience and education with the Portland and Vancouver areas having the highest employment salaries for CPAs earning an average of $75,140.
Licensed CPAs can work in the various fields across the robust Oregon economy. For instance, there are career opportunities as fund accountants tasked with managing allocated funds for donations, grants, and tax payments.
Likewise, licensed CPAs can pursue careers as cost estimators tasked with predicting raw material and workforce costs in the vast manufacturing and agricultural industries.
Licensed holders can also work as financial analysts and forensic accountants.
Steps to Become a CPA in Oregon
Here is a list of step to become a CPA in Oregon:
- Getting an education in the state
- Talking and passing the Uniform CPA exam
- Taking and passing the AICPA Ethics Exam
- Completing 1-year work experience in accounting
- Continuing education in the state
Additional Oregon CPA Resources
Here are a number of resources to show you how to take the CPA exam in Oregon and become a certified public accountant.