Maine CPA Exam
Maine CPA (Certified Public Accountant) License is the highest credential in the field of accounting in the Pine Tree State. Maine’s Board of Accountancy (BOA) specifies a set of exam, experience, and other CPA license requirements for licensure. The state provides abundant job opportunities for licensed accounting professionals as finance is recognized as one of its largest industries.
The state pursues the one-tier licensing approach. Hence, there is no separate CPA Certificate. Instead, candidates are certified and licensed at once after completing the necessary prerequisites. The state also undertakes the administration of the CPA exam internationally.
Let’s take a detailed look at the Maine CPA exam and license requirements.
| Particulars | Licensure Details |
| Licensing System | 1-tier |
| Licensing Authority | Maine Board of Accountancy |
| Minimum Age Requirement | None |
| U.S. Citizenship Requirement | Not Required |
| Minnesota Residency Requirement | Not Required |
| Social Security Number Requirement | Not Required |
| Education Requirement (for CPA license) | 150 semester hours with a bachelor’s degree |
| Education Requirement (for CPA Exam) | A baccalaureate degree with 120 semester hours |
| Exam Requirement | Score a minimum of 75 points in each of the four exam sections |
| Experience | 2 years |
| Ethics Exam | None |
Maine CPA License Requirements
Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
Maine Exam Information & Resources
Maine CPA Exam Requirements
The computer-based CPA Exam is comprised of four sections, each four-hour long. Each has a passing grade of a minimum of 75 points on a scale of 0-99. The professional examination scrutinizes a candidate’s proficiency and readiness to perform as a CPA.
Maine exam applicants must conclude the test within 18 months. It starts from the testing date of their first passed section. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) coordinates with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and state boards to conduct the examination at designated Prometric testing centers.
The exam format involves five testlets with three question types. All four sections comprise Multiple-choice Questions (MCQs) and Task-based Simulations (TBSs). While BEC also covers Written Communication Tasks (WCTs).
- Regulation (REG Section)
- Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR Section)
- Auditing & Attestation (AUD Section)
- Business Environment & Concepts (BEC Section)
Eligibility Requirements
General Requisites
- Good reputation and character
Educational Requisites
At least a baccalaureate degree from a regionally authorized academic institution acceptable to the board with:
- Minimum 120 semester hours of college-level education
- At least 15 semester hours in one or more of the following topics:
- Financial Accounting & Reporting for Business Organizations
- Auditing & Attestation Services
- Financial Accounting & Reporting for Government & Not-for-profit Entities
- Managerial or Cost Accounting
- Fraud Examination
- Financial Statement Analysis
- Taxation
- Internal Controls & Risk Assessment
- Accounting Research & Analysis
- Accounting Information Systems
- Tax Research & Analysis
- Ethics relevant to the practice of public accounting
- Minimum 3 semester hours in auditing and attestation services
Apply for the exam through CPA Examination Services (CPAES) with the associated fees and documents. Refer to the NASBA portal for the complete process.
Here lies the deadline to fulfill the requirements:
| Particulars | Deadline |
| Educational Requirements (except Accounting & Auditing courses) | Within 120 days of attempting the first exam section |
| Accounting & Auditing courses | At the time of application |
| Required Documentation (if requirements are met) | CPAES must receive it within 45 days of submitting the application |
Candidates may also request NASBA Advisory Evaluation to spot any academic inadequacies in the education before the final submission.
Fees
Let’s check out the fee structure.
| Particulars | Examination Fees | First-time Applicant Fees | Re-exam Applicant Fees |
| Application Fee | – | $170 | – |
| Registration Fee | – | – | $85 |
| Exam sections | – | – | – |
| AUD | $238.15 | – | – |
| BEC | $238.15 | – | – |
| FAR | $238.15 | – | – |
| REG | $23815 | $952.6 | $952.6 |
| Total Fees | $952.6 | $1,122.6 | $1,037.6 |
Maine offers no clause to withdraw from the exam or request the current Notice-to-Schedule (NTS) extension. Only critical situations are an exception to request an NTS extension or receive a limited examination fees rebate.
Please note that both examination fees and application fees are non-refundable. From the date of their NTS, candidates have six months to attempt the applied exam section(s).
Required Documents
Submit the below-mentioned documents separately or along with the application.
| Particulars | Submission |
| General Requirements | – |
| Official school transcript(s) (maybe submitted electronically) | Academic Institution |
| Notarization Form | Applicant |
| Photo Form | Applicant |
| Three Reference Letters | Applicant or Reference |
| Special Cases | – |
| Certificate of Enrollment | Applicant or Academic Institution |
| International Evaluation Summary (with international transcripts) | An applicant or NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES) or Foreign Academic Credentials Service, Inc. |
| Testing Accommodations Request Form | Applicant |
Note that reference letters may be provided by persons unrelated to the applicant. Only one of the letters may be submitted by an instructor or employer. Also, know that CPAES does not accept photocopies of transcripts or evaluations and considers them unofficial.
Maine CPA License Requirements
The Maine state board issues the CPA License to professionals who meet the following qualifications:
- Good moral character
- Earn 150 semester hours of education
- Pass each of the four CPA Exam sections with at least 75 points
- Gain two years of relevant work experience
CPA aspirants must file the licensure application with the Maine BOA. Ensure to attach the required fees and work experience verification form. Further details are specified in the state board’s official portal.
Please note that the U.S. jurisdiction also conducts a criminal background check on the applicants. The table below outlines the applicable fees.
| Fees | Amount |
| License fee | $35 |
| Criminal background check fee | $21 |
| Annual license renewal fees | $35 |
Education Requirements
You must gain 150 semester hours with at least a four-year baccalaureate degree from the state board-acceptable college or university, including basic courses in accounting and auditing.
The initial 120 semester hours are the pre-requisite to sit for the CPA exam. Hence, the remaining 30 semester hours are required for licensure.
Exam Requirements
Maine CPA licensure applicants must pass the Uniform CPA Exam within the rolling 18-month period. The passing grade for each of the four exam sections is 75 points. For more information, kindly check the Maine Exam Requirements section.
Experience Requirements
Here lie the experience requirements.
| Particulars | Details |
| Required Work Experience | 2 years |
| Experience Supervision | Under the direction of an active CPA |
| Qualifying Skills | Accounting or auditing skills |
| Qualifying Area | Licensed public accounting firm |
| Scope of Experience | Apply accounting or auditing skills involving financial reports issuance & any one of the following: |
| Provision of management advisory | |
| Financial Advisory or consulting services | |
| Furnishing of Advice on tax matters | |
| Preparation of tax returns | |
| Equivalent activities (defined by the Maine Board Statute) |
Continuing Professional Education (CPE)
You must renew the Maine CPA License annually after reporting 40 CPE credit hours. You can obtain the required hours through programs offered by the NASBA National Registry of Sponsors.
Let’s view all the details here.
| Particulars | Details | |
| License Renewal Date | September 30 (Annually) | |
| CPE Reporting Period | October 1-September 30 (Annually) | |
| Required CPE hours | 40 hours | |
| Ethics Requirement | 4 hours in every three years | |
| Credit Calculation | Instruction | Credit = 3 times presentation |
| No credit for preparation | ||
| Partial Credit | Half credits are acceptable after the first hour | |
| Credit Limitations | Instruction | Maximum 50% of total hours |
| Non-technical Subjects | Maximum 50% of total hours | |
| Published Materials | Maximum 50% of total hours | |
| Fields of Study | Limitations on specific subject areas | |
| Other State Policies | Carryover | Maximum 20 hours |
| Can’t be used for Ethics Requirements |
This esteemed title offers the opportunity to kick-start your career in varied fields. For example, you may work in entertainment, criminal investigation, technology, travel, environment, and several other sectors.
With no minimum age, citizenship, residency, or social security number requirement, it is easy to avail of the license in Maine. Also, the state has relatively simple CPE requirements to sustain the license.
So, gear up for the Maine CPA Exam as soon as you graduate to save time and fulfill all the other license requirements to join the league of esteemed professionals! To learn more, do have a look at CPE credits for CPA
Maine Exam Information & Resources
1. Maine Society of CPA
Mailing address:
Patricia Brigham, Executive Director
Maine Society of CPAs
PO Box 17735
Portland, Maine 04112-8735
Ph: 207.761.0925
Email: trish@mecpa.org
2. Maine Board of Accountancy (https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/)
Mailing address:
Department of Professional & Financial Regulation
35 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333
Ph: (207) 624-8500
Fax: (207) 624-8690
3. NASBA (https://nasba.org/)
150 Fourth Ave. North
Suite 700
Nashville, TN 37219-2417
Ph: 615-880-4200
Fax: 615-880-4290
CPAES
800-CPA-EXAM (800-272-3926)
International: 615-880-4250
cpaexam@nasba.org
4. AICPA (https://www.aicpa.org/)
Phone number: 888.777.7077
220 Leigh Farm Road
Durham, NC 27707-8110
Fax server: 800.362.5066
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