The AICPA Uniform CPA exam is challenging on its own, but this process is complicated further by each state also having its own set of requirements to fulfil so as to sit the exam. To make this process easier, we have compiled a detailed overview of what the Nevada State Board of Accountancy requirements. This should prove helpful if you are planning to either sit for the CPA exam, transfer your existing credits or CPA license to Nevada, or to maintain your existing Nevada CPA license. As these requirements are subject to change, we recommended confirming all information with the Nevada State Board of Accountancy to make sure you qualify, and to verify that the charges have not been updated since this piece was published.

Age

Nevada has no minimum age requirement to sit the CPA exam.

Residency

There is a legal residency requirement in Nevada.

Citizenship

There is no citizenship requirement for the state of Nevada.

Education

Nevada has a credit requirement of 120 semester hours from a college or university education with an accounting concentration or equivalent to sit the exam. Otherwise, the Nevada will accept a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with proof of completing the following subjects:

Accounting (21 semester hours):

  • Financial Accounting (Intermediate I, II, III or advanced): 9 semester hour credits
  • Cost Accounting: 3 semester hour credits
  • Auditing: 3 semester hour credits
  • Federal Income Tax: 3 semester hour credits
  • Business Law: 3 semester hour credits

Educational requirements for licensure

  • Accounting (30 Semester hours) above the introductory level, including:
    • Financial Accounting (Intermediate I, II, III or advanced): 9 semester hour credits
    • Cost Accounting: 3 semester hour credits
    • Auditing: 3 semester hour credits
    • Federal Income Tax: 3 semester hour credits
  • Business (24 semester hours) at the graduate or undergraduate level, including:
    • Business Law (3 semester hours)
    • Business subjects (24 hours) at the undergraduate or graduate level, which must cover the following subjects:
      • Behavior of Organizations
      • Business Finance
      • Business Law
      • Computers Data
      • Processing Economics
      • Ethics in Business
      • Management Marketing
      • Oral Communication
      • Quantitative Applications in Business Statistics
      • Communication Legal & Social Environment

Foreign Educations

Accountants who graduated from international institutions must have their transcripts evaluated by the NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES). The evaluation service will then notify the applicant whether their education was found to be substantially equivalent to that of the Nevada State Board of Accountancy’s educational requirements. If not, they will be informed of which requirements need to be fulfilled. If they are found to be substantially equivalent, then the applicant can request the evaluation service to send an official copy of their evaluation to the NASBA CPA Examination Services (CPAES). The applicant must also request the Registrar’s of their educational institutions to send official, unopened copies of their transcripts to the NASBA CPA Examination Services (CPAES), along with certified translations of the documents where necessary.

Work Experience

CPA applicants need to fulfill one of the following work experience requirements before the can apply for Nevada CPA licensure:

  • 2 Years of full-time employment performing any combination of the approved tasks in a partnership, corporation, LLC or sole proprietorship engaged in the practice of public accounting
  • 4 years of full-time employment performing any combination of the approved tasks in a governmental or other industry position that is substantially equivalent to a position in the practice of public accounting
  • Or any combination of the above

All experience must be verified by a qualified CPA with a valid license who has who has knowledge about and a higher level of responsibility of the subject tasks and in accordance with all applicable professional standards. This can be completed part-time, where two years would total 4160 hours. Full details of acceptable work experience can be found here.

Ethics

Nevada requires applicants to take both the  Professional Ethics: The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Comprehensive Course and exam. This can be done at any time during the application process. This can be done either before or after taking the CPA exam. This must be done within three years prior to applying for licensure.

How to Apply for the CPA Exam in Nevada

  • Submit the online application form
  • Submit a copy of a passport-style photograph of your head and shoulders only that has been taken within the 3 months prior to application
  • Submit the request form to transfer exam credits from other states where necessary
  • Request the Registrars of all accredited colleges and universities submit official copies of their transcripts to state Board
  • Pay the application fee

Fees

Initial application fee$100.00
Auditing & Attestation (AUD)$226.15
Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR)$226.15
Regulation (REG)$226.15
Business Environment & Concepts (BEC)$226.15
Total$1,509.60

Re-examination application fee: $50.

Exam Fees are non-refundable and must be paid directly to NASBA. Most exams can be rescheduled. 

Locations

The Prometric Testing Center in either Reno or Las Vegas

How to Apply for a Nevada CPA License

Once you have passed all parts of your CPA exam with at least 75%, you will be eligible to apply for you CPA license.

To do so, you will need to:

  • Submit proof of meeting the bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution, as well as the 150-semester hour requirements
  • Request that the Registrars from all educational institution submit official copies of your transcript directly to the Board
  • Submit application form
  • Submit proof of pass a Board-approved ethics exam
  • Submit your fingerprint for a criminal background check.
  • Pay the $240 application fee
  • Submit an original copy of a recent 2”x2” photo (5.08×5.08cm)
  • Verification of passing the CPA exam sections if completed in another state
  • Submit proof of fulfilling experience requirements
  • Proof of passing the AICPA Ethics exam within the three years prior to application
  • Moral character references from non-relatives who can testify to your fiscal integrity
  • Reciprocal applicants must also submit proof of 20 CE within 12 months of submitting the application

Practice Privilege for Out-of-State License Holders

A CPA who holds an out-of-state license recognized as substantially equivalent to that of Nevada can practice in Nevada without applying for a state CPA license on condition that:

  • They have a valid CPA license that is recognized as being substantially equivalent to that of Nevada’s, or a foreign license that was issued by the appropriate authority that regulates public accountancy in the issuing country
  • Their principal place of business is in the state/country of licensure
  • Their license is valid and in good standing with the issuing body
  • They have completed at least 4 years’ worth of experience within the 10 years prior to applying for licensure
  • The individual will stop practicing in Nevada should the license expire in the issuing state

Reciprocal Application

Nevada recognizes interstate reciprocity of CPA licenses from jurisdictions that were considered to be of substantial equivalence to Nevada’s at the time that the license was issued. In order to apply for CPA license conversion, you will need to submit the CPA license application form with the stipulations listed above, as well as:

  • The submission of CPA exam grades by the issuing state board
  • A ‘Letter of Good Standing’ from all state boards from which you have received licensure
  • Proof of passing the CPA exam
  • Registration will only be required where the sole practitioner provides an attest service to a client whose home office is in the state of Nevada

International License Reciprocity:

Nevada may provide licensure to foreign license holders whose licenses are recognized as being substantially equivalent to that of Nevada’s. They will also need to meet the following criterion:

  • The foreign licensing authority also allows an individual who holds a valid CPA license issued by the board to obtain the foreign authority’s comparable designation
  • The foreign country offers similar reciprocity to Nevada
  • The license is still valid and in good standing with the issuing Board
  • They have accrued 4 years’ experience within the 10 years prior to the application to the Board
  • The issuing board that regulates the practice of accountancy is still active and functioning
  • The licensing requirements were considered to be substantially equivalent to Nevada’s at the time that the license was issued
  • This is done on a per-case basis

NTS Validation Period

You will receive your Notice to Schedule (NTS) upon paying for your Payment Coupon. You will have 6 months from the date of issuance in which to take the Nevada CPA exam, or the NTS will expire. You will then need to reapply for the exam. Therefore, before trying to save money by applying for multiple exams at once, make sure that you will be able to study for them and schedule them in beforehand.

License Renewal Requirements

Nevada CPA license holders are required to renew their licenses annually by December 31st. However, license holders are also required to complete 80 hours of continued professional education (CPE) biennially. This reporting period is determined by the year of licensure.

Other specifications are as follows:

  • Accounting and/or Auditing (8h) per year in which the applicant substantially practiced in work related to auditing, review, attestation or full disclosure compilation
  • Ethics (4h) biennially
  • A minimum of 20 hours of CPE must be completed annually
  • A maximum of 30 CPE can roll over to the next reporting period.
  • Proof must be submitted between January 1st – December 31st of each year
  • Exemptions will be made for out-of-state practitioners who hold a license in the other state and meet that state’s CPE requirements. However, if that state has no requirements, the license holder will need to meet those of Nevada

Renewal fee: $120 online, $140 offline

Late fee after January 31st -$100

Penalty fees for late CPE submissions:

  • CPE completed during the period January 1 – 31, 2022 – $100
  • CPE completed during the period Feb 1 – Mar 31, 2022 – $350
  • CPE completed during the period Apr 1 – May 31, 2022 – $850
  • CPE completed during the period Jun 1 – Jul 31, 2022 – $1600

Recognized methods of accruing CPE hours

  • Accredited college courses in accounting, business administration, and economics will equate to 15 CPE per semester hour of accreditation, or 10 CPE per quarter hour, or 1 CPE per 1 hour of non-accredited classes
  • A maximum of three CPE per hour of lecture time will be granted for an instructor. Repeat instruction within twelve months is only accepted if material is substantially changed and approved by the board.
  • Nevada accepts CPE earned through the National Registry of CPE Sponsors

Inactive license holders

Nevada CPA license holders can opt to change their license status to ‘inactive.’ This will allow them to maintain their license by paying the renewal fees, without the need to meet the CPE requirements. However, they will not be permitted to practice as a CPA until their license is made ‘active’ again. In order to switch their license status back, they will need to apply for reinstatement and meet the license renewal requirements stipulated above.

Expired license holders

In order to reactivate an expired or inactive license, you will need to submit an application form, as well as:

  • Proof of no criminal record
  • Proof of 40 CPE within the last 12 months
  • Pay the $250.00 Application Fee

State Board

Nevada State Board of Accountancy