How to Become a CPA in Minnesota: Requirements, Exam and Salary
| 6 Min Read
Becoming a certified public accountant (CPA) in Minnesota is one of the most direct paths to a high-earning, stable career in accounting. The credential opens doors to senior roles in public accounting, corporate finance, government and academia — and Minnesota recently made that path more accessible by updating its licensure requirements to allow candidates to sit for the CPA exam with 120 credit hours rather than the traditional 150, lowering the barrier to entry for aspiring accountants in the state.
Southwest Minnesota State University’s (SMSU) online BS in Accounting program is built to prepare students for the education requirements of CPA licensure in Minnesota. Whether you are just starting your accounting degree or nearing graduation, understanding the steps ahead helps you plan a realistic timeline.
CPA Requirements in Minnesota
Becoming a CPA in Minnesota requires meeting three requirements: education, examination and work experience — known as the three Es of licensure. All three are set by the Minnesota Board of Accountancy (BOA), which is the state licensing authority. Once all three Es are complete, you apply to the BOA for your CPA certificate. Here is what each requirement involves.
Education
The education requirement has two levels. To sit for the CPA exam, you need a bachelor’s degree with at least 24 accounting credits from an accredited institution. To qualify for licensure, Minnesota has historically required 150 semester hours (or 225 quarter hours), including 48 credits in accounting and business-related subjects. That exceeds a standard 120-credit bachelor’s degree, so many candidates complete a fifth year of coursework or a master’s degree.
Minnesota made a significant change effective January 1, 2026. The 2025 state legislature passed two new pathways to licensure. According to the Minnesota Board of Accountancy, candidates can now qualify with either a bachelor’s degree plus two years of experience, or a master’s degree plus one year of experience. The existing 150-credit path remains valid but is set to sunset on June 30, 2030.
Examination
All CPA candidates must pass the Uniform CPA Examination, developed and scored by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The exam has four sections: three mandatory core sections (Auditing and Attestation, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Taxation and Regulation) and one discipline section that you select.
You can apply to sit for the exam up to 180 days before graduation and take it within 90 days of your expected graduation date. All four sections must be passed within a rolling 30-month window that starts when you pass the first section. Minnesota also requires candidates to pass the AICPA Professional Ethics course within six months of applying for licensure.
Experience
After passing the exam, you need at least 2,000 hours of supervised work experience. That experience must be completed in no less than one year and no more than three years, according to the Minnesota Society of CPAs.
Eligible settings include public accounting, industry, government and education. Your experience must be verified by a licensed CPA who has direct knowledge of your work. Under the new 2026 pathways, the experience requirement increases to two years for candidates using the 120-credit bachelor’s degree path.
How Long Does It Take to Become a CPA?
Most candidates complete the full path to CPA licensure in five to six years. That typically includes four years for a bachelor’s degree, up to one year for any additional credits needed, and one to two years for the exam and experience requirement.
The timeline varies based on how quickly you pass the exam sections and how soon you begin accumulating work experience. Minnesota allows candidates to sit for the exam before graduation, which means you can start before you finish your degree. That early exam option can shorten the overall timeline by several months.
Under the new 2026 pathway requiring a bachelor’s degree plus two years of experience, the timeline may shift slightly depending on when you begin your supervised experience. Candidates who start an accounting role immediately after graduation and pass the exam efficiently can still reach licensure within the five-to-six-year window.
How Much Does a CPA Make in Minnesota?
CPAs in Minnesota earn competitive wages that consistently exceed the national average for accountants. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national median annual wage for accountants and auditors was $81,680 in May 2024. Minnesota’s mean annual wage for the same occupation was $92,240 based on Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2024 data — a meaningful premium over the national figure.
The state employs approximately 30,400 accountants and auditors, with the Twin Cities metro area offering the highest concentration of jobs and the highest compensation levels. Earning your CPA credential is one of the strongest factors driving salary growth in the field. Licensed CPAs typically earn more than non-licensed accountants at every experience level, and the gap widens as careers advance.
What Is the CPA Exam and How Do I Prepare?
The CPA exam is a four-section test developed by the AICPA and administered nationally by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) through Prometric testing centers. Eligibility requirements — including credit hours, education credentials and residency rules — are set at the state level, meaning Minnesota’s standards apply specifically to candidates seeking licensure in Minnesota.
To apply for the exam in Minnesota, you create an account through NASBA and submit transcripts to NASBA CPA Examination Services. The education evaluation fee is $93, and each exam section carries a fee of $355.64. Once NASBA verifies your eligibility, you receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS) giving you a six-month window to sit for that section.
Most candidates use a dedicated CPA review course to structure their study. The exam is challenging — strong preparation typically requires several hundred hours of study across all four sections. Starting early and building consistent study habits into your schedule is the most reliable way to pass each section on your first attempt.
How Does an Accounting Degree Prepare You for CPA Licensure?
A bachelor’s degree in accounting provides the academic foundation that CPA licensure requires. The core coursework — financial accounting, managerial accounting, auditing and taxation — maps directly to the content tested across the four exam sections.
Beyond credit hours, a strong accounting degree builds the analytical and technical skills that licensed CPAs use every day. Courses in audit procedures prepare you for the AUD exam section. Tax coursework supports the REG section. Financial accounting and reporting courses build the knowledge base for the FAR section.
SMSU’s program is designed with these outcomes in mind. Students develop accounting competencies across all the major subject areas while gaining the credit hours needed to qualify for the CPA exam under Minnesota’s requirements.
Begin your path to CPA licensure with the SMSU Online BS in Accounting and build the academic foundation employers are looking for.
About SMSU’s Online BS in Accounting
Southwest Minnesota State University’s Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting is designed for students who want to build a strong foundation in accounting while maintaining flexibility in how and where they study. The program covers core accounting subjects including financial accounting, auditing, taxation and managerial accounting — aligned with the credit and coursework requirements for CPA licensure in Minnesota.
SMSU’s online format allows students to complete coursework on their own schedule without relocating or pausing their careers. Graduates are prepared to pursue entry-level and advancing roles in public accounting, corporate finance, government and industry. Learn more about the SMSU Online BS in Accounting.