Florida still requires 150 semester hours to get licensed. A 2026 bill would have added a bachelor's plus two years route. It passed the Senate 35 to 0 but died in the House on March 13, 2026.
To sit for the exam, you need 120 semester hours. That includes 24 upper-division accounting hours and 24 general business hours. For a license, you need one year of experience verified by a CPA. If you're finishing a bachelor's, ask the Florida Board of Accountancy how your courses count toward the 150 hours.
How to Get a CPA License in Florida
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Florida.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150-hour route | At least 150 semester hours, including a bachelor's or higher degree with a concentration in accounting and business | One year of work providing accounting, attest, tax or consulting services, verified by a CPA | In effect |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Florida
You need 120 semester hours. That includes 24 upper-division accounting hours and 24 general business hours, with at least 21 of the business hours upper-division.
Coursework: 24 upper-division accounting and 24 general business hours to sit for the exam
What Changed Recently
SB 364 would have added a bachelor's plus two years route. It passed the Senate 35 to 0 on January 29, 2026 and died in messages in the House on March 13, 2026.
What Accountants Earn in Florida
Accountants and auditors in Florida earned a median of $79,250 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $62,730 and $103,140. About 91,000 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Florida
9 programs on our main rankings are based in Florida. A degree from a school in the state is often the simplest way to match the board's coursework rules.
- University of South Florida, Accountancy and Analytics: #6 of 100 bachelor's accounting programs
- Florida State University, Bachelor of Science in Accounting: #7 of 100 bachelor's accounting programs
- University of Florida, Bachelor of Science in Accounting: #10 of 100 bachelor's accounting programs
- Florida International University, Bachelor of Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Florida Atlantic University, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- University of Central Florida, Accounting (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration): one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Florida International University, Master of Accounting: #6 of 50 master's accounting programs
- University of Florida, Master of Accounting: #12 of 50 master's accounting programs
- Florida Atlantic University, Master of Accounting: #19 of 50 master's accounting programs
See every program we rank in the state on our Florida accounting programs page.
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 Florida stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Alabama CPA requirements: bachelor's route proposed for October 15, 2026
- Georgia CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
- South Carolina CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since June 30, 2025
Check With the Florida 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.