Hawaii made the 30 extra semester hours optional in April 2025. You now need a bachelor's degree with at least 18 semester hours of upper-division or graduate accounting or auditing. You also need two years of professional experience in public accountancy.
The board can accept equivalent private or government experience. If you skip the 30 extra hours, you can add 12 months of public accounting experience instead. That brings the total to about three years. Check with the Hawaii Board of Public Accountancy on what experience counts.
How to Get a CPA License in Hawaii
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Hawaii.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's plus 30 hours | Bachelor's degree with at least 18 semester hours of upper-division or graduate accounting or auditing, plus 30 additional semester hours | Two years of professional experience in public accountancy | In effect since April 10, 2025 |
| Bachelor's plus extra experience | Bachelor's degree with at least 18 semester hours of upper-division or graduate accounting or auditing | Two years of professional experience, plus 12 more months in public accounting only | In effect since April 10, 2025 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Hawaii
You need a bachelor's degree. It must include 18 semester hours of upper-division or graduate accounting or auditing courses.
Coursework: 18 semester hours of upper-division or graduate accounting or auditing to sit for the exam. The license form lists 24 accounting hours.
Ethics Exam
Hawaii doesn't require an ethics exam or course for the license. Ethics comes up only as continuing education at renewal.
What Changed Recently
Act 14 (SB 1291) took effect April 10, 2025. It made the 30 extra semester hours optional and repealed HRS 466-5.5.
What Accountants Earn in Hawaii
Accountants and auditors in Hawaii earned a median of $74,500 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $60,710 and $92,870. About 4,670 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Hawaii
None of the programs on our main rankings are based in Hawaii. 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 Hawaii stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- California CPA requirements: bachelor's route starts January 1, 2027
- Oregon CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
- Washington CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since November 20, 2025
- Alaska CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
Check With the Hawaii 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.