Alabama's board has approved a route with a bachelor's degree and two years of experience. It's proposed to take effect October 15, 2026, so it isn't open yet. To sit for the exam, you need a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college.
You also need 24 semester hours of upper-division accounting and 24 semester hours of business courses. The other routes add a master's degree or 30 more hours and ask for one year of experience. Check with the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy before October 15 to see if the new rules were adopted.
How to Get a CPA License in Alabama
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Alabama.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | Bachelor's degree, 24 upper-division accounting hours, and 24 business hours | Two years of supervised, full-time work in public accounting, industry, business, government or college teaching | Proposed for October 15, 2026 |
| Graduate degree plus 1 year | Bachelor's and master's degrees, 33 upper-division accounting hours, and 24 business hours | One year of supervised, full-time work | Proposed for October 15, 2026 |
| 150-hour route | Bachelor's degree plus 30 additional hours, 33 upper-division accounting hours, and 24 business hours | One year of supervised, full-time work | Proposed for October 15, 2026 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Alabama
You need a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college. You also need 24 semester hours of upper-division accounting and 24 semester hours of business courses.
Coursework: 24 upper-division accounting plus 24 business on the bachelor's route. 33 upper-division accounting plus 24 business on the others.
Ethics Exam
Alabama doesn't require an ethics exam for the certificate. Its rules list a bachelor's degree, the education hours, the exam and experience, and ethics comes up only in business courses and continuing education.
What Changed Recently
The board approved a route with a bachelor's degree and two years of experience. The rules are proposed to take effect October 15, 2026.
What Accountants Earn in Alabama
Accountants and auditors in Alabama earned a median of $74,880 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $60,840 and $95,870. About 24,300 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Alabama
2 programs on our main rankings are based in Alabama. A degree from a school in the state is often the simplest way to match the board's coursework rules.
- Auburn University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accountancy: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- University of North Alabama, Abroms and Associates Master of Accountancy: one of our 50 best master's accounting programs
CPA Requirements in Nearby States
Thinking about working across a state line, or studying in one state and licensing in another? Each state sets its own rules, so here's where the states near Alabama stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Florida CPA requirements: no bachelor's route at this time
- Georgia CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
- Mississippi CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since July 1, 2026
- Tennessee CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
Check With the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy
The board sets the rules and decides your application. We checked these requirements against official sources on October 12, 2026. Rules change, so confirm the details on the board's site before you apply.