Georgia's new rules took effect January 1, 2026. You can now get licensed with a bachelor's degree that includes the required accounting and business hours, with no 150-hour total. That route needs two years of experience.
The other routes are a bachelor's with 150 semester hours or a master's in accounting or tax. Those need one year. A CPA must supervise your experience. If you're finishing a bachelor's, check the Georgia State Board of Accountancy to see which route fits your plan.
How to Get a CPA License in Georgia
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Georgia.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150-hour route | Bachelor's degree with 150 total semester hours | At least one year, supervised by a CPA | In effect since January 1, 2026 |
| Graduate degree plus 1 year | Master's degree in accounting or tax | At least one year, supervised by a CPA | In effect since January 1, 2026 |
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | Bachelor's degree with the required accounting and business hours, with no 150-hour total | At least two years, supervised by a CPA | In effect since January 1, 2026 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Georgia
You need 24 semester hours of accounting to sit for the exam. That rule took effect January 1, 2026.
Coursework: 24 semester hours of accounting to sit for the exam. The license needs 30 accounting and 18 business hours.
Ethics Exam
Georgia doesn't require an ethics exam or course for the license. Ethics comes up only as continuing education, with 4 hours at renewal since 2024.
What Changed Recently
HB 148 (2025) added new pathways. The requirements took effect January 1, 2026.
What Accountants Earn in Georgia
Accountants and auditors in Georgia earned a median of $81,900 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $64,830 and $109,110. About 44,020 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Georgia
3 programs on our main rankings are based in Georgia. A degree from a school in the state is often the simplest way to match the board's coursework rules.
- University of Georgia, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- University of Georgia, Master of Accountancy: one of our 50 best master's accounting programs
- Mercer University, 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 Georgia stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Alabama CPA requirements: bachelor's route proposed for October 15, 2026
- Florida CPA requirements: no bachelor's route at this time
- North Carolina CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
- South Carolina CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since June 30, 2025
- Tennessee CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
Check With the Georgia 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.