Colorado still requires 150 semester hours today. New routes open to applicants on January 1, 2027. They come from a law signed May 4, 2026. You'll be able to use a bachelor's degree with two years of experience.
You can also add 30 more semester hours and need one year, or use a postbaccalaureate degree with one year. Each new route needs a professional ethics course. Today's route needs one year of experience verified by a CPA.
Check the Colorado State Board of Accountancy for updates before you plan your coursework.
How to Get a CPA License in Colorado
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Colorado.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150-hour route | Bachelor's degree plus 150 semester hours of non-duplicative coursework | One year, at least 1,800 qualifying hours, verified by a CPA | In effect |
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | Bachelor's degree, a professional ethics course, and the exam | Two years of accounting-related experience | Starts January 1, 2027 |
| Bachelor's plus 30 hours | Bachelor's degree plus 30 more semester hours, a professional ethics course, and the exam | One year of accounting-related experience | Starts January 1, 2027 |
| Graduate degree plus 1 year | Postbaccalaureate degree, a professional ethics course, and the exam | One year of accounting-related experience | Starts January 1, 2027 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Colorado
You need a bachelor's degree or higher with at least 120 credit hours. That includes 27 semester hours of accounting and 21 semester hours of business administration.
Coursework: 27 semester hours of accounting (21 beyond introductory) and 21 of business administration to sit for the exam
Ethics Exam
Today you need 90 percent or better on the ethics exam from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, within two years before you apply. The new routes require a professional ethics course.
What Changed Recently
SB26-076 was signed May 4, 2026 and became law August 12, 2026. The new routes open to applicants on January 1, 2027.
What Accountants Earn in Colorado
Accountants and auditors in Colorado earned a median of $97,030 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $74,900 and $127,270. About 35,410 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Colorado
One program on our main rankings is based in Colorado. A degree from a school in the state is often the simplest way to match the board's coursework rules.
- Colorado State University Global, Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor'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 Colorado stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Arizona CPA requirements: bachelor's route starts January 1, 2027
- Kansas CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since April 23, 2026
- Nebraska CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since July 17, 2026
- New Mexico CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
- Oklahoma CPA requirements: bachelor's route starts November 1, 2026
- Utah CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since July 1, 2026
- Wyoming CPA requirements: no bachelor's route at this time
Check With the Colorado State Board of 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.