Tennessee CPA Requirements
How to become a CPA in the state of Tennessee…
The CPA Exam may be tough, but meeting the eligibility criteria is no less challenging than passing the examination. Each state has different rules and regulations for the CPA examination and licensing. On this page, you’ll find all the necessary information on Tennessee’s CPA policies.
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Semester Units
in Application fees
Hours of Experience
Residency or
Citizenship Requirements
International Exam Program
Ethics Exam
Credit Requirements: Tennessee CPA Exam applicants don’t need to meet the 150-credit requirement, but they must have a Bacchalaureate or higher degree with a minimum of 18 semester hours in upper-division accounting courses.
Minimum degree: Baccalaureate or higher.
Additional Requirements: None.
Educational Requirement: Tennessee CPA license candidates must meet the 150-credit educational requirement, including at least 30 hours in accounting courses (24 hours in upper-division courses) and 24 hours in business courses.
Experience Requirements: Candidates must earn at least 2,000 hours of professional experience in government, public, industry, or academia accounting practice within ten years preceding the application date.
Ethics Exam: Yes – applicants must sit for the AICPA Ethics Exam. A Score of 90% or higher is required.
Social Security Requirements: Yes
Participates in International Exam Program: Yes
Minimum Age: 18 years.
Citizenship: Tennessee does not have a citizenship or residency requirement for CPA licensing.
More Requirements: None.
Tennessee State Board of Accountancy
615-741-2550
Department of Commerce and Insurance
500 James Robertson Pkwy
Nashville, TN 37243-0565
(615) 741-2241
Tennessee CPA licenses must be renewed on a biennial basis by the end of the calendar year.
Tennessee CPAs must complete 80 hours of CPE over a two-year rolling period, with at least 20 hours each year. Out of 80 CPE hours, 40 hours must be in technical fields of study, including at least 20 hours in Accounting and Auditing, and two hours must be in accounting-specific ethics.
Please see the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy or Tennessee Society of CPAs page for more information.
You can find a comprehensive guide on the state’s CPA examination and licensing requirements and process here.
Note: Please read the state’s public accountancy rules and regulations here.
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