Alaska no longer requires 150 semester hours. The state repealed that rule on January 1, 2026. You can now get licensed with a bachelor's degree that has an accounting concentration, plus two years of accounting experience.
The board has to find that experience satisfactory. You'll also complete an ethics course or exam from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants before you're licensed. If you're finishing a bachelor's soon, read the Alaska State Board of Public Accountancy's 2026 flyer to confirm which accounting courses count.
How to Get a CPA License in Alaska
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Alaska.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | Bachelor's degree or equivalent with an accounting concentration, with no 150-hour requirement | Two years of accounting experience satisfactory to the board | In effect since January 1, 2026 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Alaska
You need a bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration. That means 24 semester hours of accounting plus 9 semester hours of business law, economics, and statistics, computer science, or math. You can also sit with a bachelor's and 15 semester hours of accounting, or a bachelor's and 1 year of public accounting experience supervised by a CPA.
Coursework: 24 semester hours of accounting plus 9 of business law, economics, and statistics, computer science or math
Ethics Exam
Alaska's CPA exam includes an ethics course and open-book ethics exam, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Professional Ethics course for licensure, graded pass or fail; the board waives it if you passed an equivalent ethics exam in another state.
What Changed Recently
HB 121 repealed the 150-hour requirement effective January 1, 2026.
What Accountants Earn in Alaska
Accountants and auditors in Alaska earned a median of $83,460 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $72,230 and $102,460. About 2,190 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Alaska
None of the programs on our main rankings are based in Alaska. You can still study online with a school in another state. Before you enroll, check that its accounting and business courses match what the board asks for. Our best online accounting degrees are a good place to start.
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 Alaska stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Washington CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since November 20, 2025
- Oregon CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
- Hawaii CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since April 10, 2025
Check With the Alaska 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.