Alaska CPA Exam and License Requirements

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21 Aug, 2024

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    Alaska CPA Exam

    Alaska CPA (Certified Public Accountant) License is a state-issued legal document granting permission to practice accountancy. The state boasts of a relatively stable finance sector that weathered the COVID pandemic with ease and is likely to flourish in the coming years. So, it is the right time for CPA aspirants to meet the qualifying exam and other license requirements in Alaska to cash in on the lucrative opportunities triggered by the post-pandemic economic revival.

    Alaska CPA Exam & License Requirements

    The state authorizes the Alaska Board of Public Accountancy (ABPA) to issue the CPA license to entitled professionals. The license provides the public an assurance of the highest professional competence and ethical conduct of CPAs.

    Furthermore, the state observes a one-tier licensing pattern. Therefore, qualified candidates may simultaneously claim the CPA license and certificate after fulfilling the required pre-conditions. Note that Alaska also permits candidates to take the CPA Exam at international testing centers.  

    The Last Frontier is a wonderful place to bag the CPA license because of the laid-back licensure requirements. In addition, certified accountants can expect to earn an annual mean wage of $71,450, the second-highest in the country as per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). All in all, Alaska promises you a gratifying CPA career with a handsome salary and immense possibilities for professional advancement.  

    Now, let’s get you everything about the Alaska CPA exam and license requirements. 

    ParticularsDetails
    Licensing AgencyAlaska State Board of Public Accountancy (ABPA)
    Licensing Pattern1-tier
    Total Licensing CostCPA Examination Cost$1137.6
    Licensure Fees$500
    Total Cost$1589.6
    ResidencyNot required
    CitizenshipNot required
    Social Security NumberRequired
    EducationFor ExaminationBachelor’s degree with required coursework
    For License150 semester hours
    ExaminationPass the CPA Exam with at least 75 points on a scale of 0-99
    Experience2 years of accounting experience
    EthicsPass the AICPA Ethics Exam with at least 90%

    Contents

    Alaska CPA Exam Requirements

    Alaska CPA License Requirements

    Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

    Alaska Exam Information & Resources

    Alaska CPA Exam Requirements

    The Uniform CPA Examination is a 16-hour long online series of tests comprising four sections. Each one is 4 hours long with a passing grade of 75 points on a scale of 0-99. You have a rolling 18-month timeline to succeed in the licensure test. It starts from when you attempted the first cleared section. 

    The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) administers the exam in partnership with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). The test evaluates the preparedness and ability of a candidate to discharge duties as a CPA. 

    CPA Exam sectionsTestletsMultiple-choice QuestionsTask-based SimulationsWritten Communication Tasks
    Auditing & Attestation (AUD)5728-
    Business Environment & Concepts (BEC)56243
    Financial Accounting & Regulation (FAR)5668-
    Regulation (REG)5768-

    Eligibility Requirements

    Alaska exam applicants must fulfill the following requirements.

    ParticularsRequirements
    General RequirementsAt least 19 years of age
    Good moral character
    Educational RequirementsPathway 1Pathway 2Pathway 3Pathway 4
    Pre-requisitesDegree & accounting concentrationDegree & AccountingDegree in progress & AccountingDegree & qualifying experience
    Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) from a regionally authorized instituteRequiredRequiredApplicant within 18 semester hours of completing a bachelor’s degreeRequired
    Accounting Hours24 semester hours15 semester hours15 semester hours-
    Other Coursework3 semester hours in business law---
    3 semester hours in economics
    3 semester hours in college-level math, statistics &/or computer science
    Public Accounting Experience---1 year of CPA-supervised experience
    CPA Exam Eligibility Criteria - Alaska

    After satisfying the eligibility criteria, you must submit the CPA exam application, applicable fees, and documentation to CPA Examination Services (CPAES). Please refer to the NASBA portal for the complete procedure. 

    Applicants with a degree and qualifying experience must submit a Verification of Supervised Work Experience Form and a Verification of Licensure for CPA Supervisor Form along with the initial application. 

    You may also avail NASBA Advisory Evaluation service to detect any inadequacies in your education before the final submission. 

    Fees

    First-time applicants:

    ParticularsExamination FeesTotal Fees
    Application Fee-$185
    Registration Fee--
    Exam sections--
    AUD$238.15-
    BEC$238.15-
    FAR$238.15-
    REG$238.15$952.6
    Total Fees$952.6$1137.6

    Re-examination applicants:

    ParticularsExamination FeesTotal Fees
    Application Fee--
    Registration Fee-$90
    Exam sections--
    AUD$238.15-
    BEC$238.15-
    FAR$238.15-
    REG$238.15$952.6
    Total Fees$952.6$1042.6

    You can’t request a Notice-to-Schedule (NTS) extension or withdraw from the CPA exam. However, you may request a limited examination fee reimbursement or an NTS extension in dire situations. 

    Both examination and application fees are non-refundable. Thus, attempt the applied exam section(s) within the six-month NTS expiry period. 

    Required Documents

    Submit the following documents prior to applying for the CPA Exam.

    DocumentsSubmission Authority
    General Documents
    Educational transcripts (May be submitted electronically)Academic Institution
    Special Cases
    Certificate of Enrollment FormAcademic Institution
    International Evaluation ReportNASBA Internal Evaluation Services (NIES)
    Translated International transcriptsAcademic Institution or NIES
    Verification of Licensure for CPA Supervisor FormState Board Office
    Testing Accommodations Request FormYou
    Verification of Supervised Work Experience FormOffice of the licensed CPA

    Foreign credit transferred to the University of Alaska may be accepted without additional international evaluation. 

    Note that CPAES does not accept photocopied transcripts and considers them unofficial. Moreover, supervising CPAs licensed in Alaska need not submit the Verification of Licensure for CPA Supervisor Form. 

    Alaska CPA License Requirements

    To obtain the Alaska CPA License, you must:

    • Be of good moral character
    • Earn 150 semester hours
    • Score a minimum of 75 points in each of the four exam sections
    • Gain two years of relevant accounting experience
    • Pass the AICPA’s ethics exam with at least 90%

    Apply for the license through the Alaska state board. Moreover, applicants without an SSN must complete and submit the Request for Exemption from SSN Requirement Form to ABPA. For more information, please check the official website. 

    Ensure to attach the following documents with your application:

    • Licensure Fees
      • Initial application fee: $200
      • CPA license fee: $300
    • Official transcripts
    • Verification of experience
    • AICPA ethics exam certificate
    • Exam scores (if passed in another state)
    • License history (if previously licensed in other states)

    Education Requirements

    Alaska CPA licensure applicants must hold at least a baccalaureate degree (or equivalent) from a board-acceptable academic institute. Ensure to complete 150 semester hours with an accounting major or equivalent, including:

    • 24 semester (36 quarter) hours in subjects like:
      • Intermediate Accounting
      • Accounting Principles
      • Cost Accounting
      • Income Tax
      • Advanced Accounting
      • Auditing
      • Governmental Accounting
      • Accounting Theory
      • Detection of Fraud 
    • 9 semester hours (15 quarter hours) in:
      • Business Law
      • Economics
      • Statistics
      • Computer Science
      • Algebra, Calculus, or Mathematics

    Please note that a board-acceptable academic institute refers to either the University of Alaska or an institute accredited by a regional accrediting organization recognized by the University of Alaska.

    Alaska CPA License Educational Requirement

    Exam Requirements

    CPA aspirants have a rolling 18-month period to pass the CPA Examination successfully. It constitutes four sections with a passing grade of 75 points in each. Further details are mentioned in the Alaska Exam Requirements section. 

    Experience Requirements

    Candidates must gain two years of accounting experience deemed satisfactory to the board. In addition, an active CPA must verify the required employment. Note that one year of work experience (full-time or part-time) must include at least 2000 hours earned within the 1–4 years. 

    Here is the list of acceptable areas and services. 

    Acceptable AreasAcceptable Services
    IndustryAccounting
    GovernmentAttest
    Public PracticeCompilation
    AcademiaManagement Advisory
    -Financial Advisory
    -Tax, or
    -Consulting Skills & related training

    Ethics Requirements

    You must complete the AICPA ethics course and pass the exam with a score of at least 90%. Candidates who completed a substantially equivalent ethics examination from another licensing state don’t have to sit for this exam. 

    Let’s view all the details here. 

    ParticularsRequirements
    Course TitleProfessional Ethics: AICPA’s Comprehensive Course (For Licensure)
    Exam FormatSelf-study
    Course VendorAICPA
    Passing ScoreA minimum of 90%
    Question TypeMCQs
    Exam ModeOnline
    Exam FeeAICPA Members$189
    Non-AICPA Members$245
    Passing Score90%
    Availability1 year
    Course ContentIndependence Requirements
    Conceptual Framework
    Integrity, Objectivity, & Professional Conduct
    Ethics
    AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
    Ethics Interpretations
    Activities Dishonoring the Profession

    Continuing Professional Education (CPE)

    Alaska CPA titleholders must renew their licenses with 80 CPE credit hours every two years. The state accepts the CPE program credits offered by National Registry Sponsors. 

    Here is everything you must know about Alaska CPE Requirements. 

    Particulars Details
    Renewal Date of License December 31 (odd years)
    Reporting Period for CPE January 1-December 31 (Biennially) concluding on odd years
    General CPE Requirement 80 hours
    Minimum 20 hours annually
    Ethics Requirement 4 hours
    Credit Calculation Instruction Credit = Presentation + Preparation (maximum 2 times presentation)
    Repeat instruction is allowed only if the material is substantially challenged
    University/College Credit Courses 1 semester hour = 15 CPE hours
    1 quarter hour = 10 CPE hours
    Non-credit Courses 1 classroom hour = 1 qualifying hour
    Credit Limitations Other Organizations’ Programs Maximum 16 hours
    Instruction Maximum 30 hours
    Published Material Maximum 20 hours for authorship
    Other State Policies Grace Period   Licensees with 80 CPE hours but who have not met the 20-hour annual requirement must earn 8 extra CPE hours before or within 180 days after license renewal
    The extra 8 hours may not be used to fulfill the CPE requirements for subsequent license renewal
     

    Alaska has a well-structured tax system with no individual income or state sales tax. As a result, the state secured a third position in the Tax Foundation’s 2021 State Business Tax Climate Index. It certainly proves the tax-friendliness of the state.

    Also, the U.S. BLS lists Alaska’s nonmetropolitan areas among the top-paying places for accountants and auditors. Hence, Alaska is the ideal pick for candidates eyeing decent pay and a pro-tax environment.

    Besides, to become an Alaska CPA, you don’t have to reside in the state. Therefore, it gives foreign applicants a perfect opportunity to gain the title from anywhere globally. In a nutshell, the state permits you to pursue the profession without any extra baggage. 

    For the latest updates on the CPA exam and license requirements, keep checking the Alaska state board website. We wish you all the best on this extraordinary professional journey of yours! Learn more about CPE Credits for CPAs

    Alaska Exam Information & Resources

    1. Alaska Board of Public Accountancy (https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofPublicAccountancy.aspx)
    Anchorage

    Mailing/Physical Address

    550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1500
    Anchorage, AK 99501
    BoardOfPublicAccountancy@Alaska.Gov
    Fax:(907) 269-8156

    Juneau

    Mailing Address

    P.O. Box 110806
    Juneau, AK 99811-0806

    Physical Address

    333 Willoughby AVE, 9th FL
    State Office Building
    Juneau, AK 99801-1770

    Phone: (907) 465-2550
    Fax: (907) 465-2974

    2. Alaska Society of CPAs (https://www.akcpa.org/)

    2600 Cordova Street, Suite 211 Anchorage, Alaska 99503

    Phone:907-562-4334 or 1-800-478-4334

    Fax: 907-562-4025

    Email: akcpa@ak.net

    3. NASBA (https://nasba.org/)

    150 Fourth Ave. North

    Suite 700

    Nashville, TN 37219-2417

    Tel: 615-880-4200

    Fax: 615-880-4290

    4. AICPA (https://www.aicpa.org/)

    220 Leigh Farm Road

    Durham, NC 27707-8110

    Fax server: 800.362.5066

    Phone number: 888.777.7077

    This article is a guide to Alaska CPA Exam & License Requirements. We discuss Alaska CPA requirements, Alaska CPA Exam, fees, eligibility, and criteria. You may also have a look at the below articles to compare CPA with other examinations –