Louisiana's new bachelor's route took effect on August 1, 2026. Act 653 lets you license with a bachelor's degree that includes required accounting coursework and 2 years of experience. You don't need 150 hours on that route. The older route stays too.
It takes a bachelor's, 30 more semester hours, and 1 year. A graduate degree in accounting also needs 1 year. Every route requires the Uniform CPA Examination. If you're finishing a bachelor's, contact the State Board of Certified Public Accountants of Louisiana to confirm which courses count.
How to Get a CPA License in Louisiana
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Louisiana.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150-hour route | Bachelor's degree plus 30 semester hours with required accounting and business coursework | 1 year | In effect |
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | Bachelor's degree with required accounting coursework, with no 150-hour requirement | 2 years | In effect since August 1, 2026 |
| Graduate degree plus 1 year | Graduate degree in accounting, or a qualifying graduate degree the board defines by rule | 1 year | In effect since August 1, 2026 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Louisiana
You need a bachelor's degree with 24 semester hours of accounting (21 if the accounting is graduate level) and 24 hours of business, including at least 3 in business law.
Coursework: 24 semester hours of accounting (21 at graduate level), including intermediate, cost, income tax and auditing, plus 24 hours of business with at least 3 in business law, to sit for the exam.
What Changed Recently
Act 653 (HB 548) was signed June 2, 2026. It took effect August 1, 2026.
What Accountants Earn in Louisiana
Accountants and auditors in Louisiana earned a median of $73,810 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $59,960 and $91,830. About 14,050 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Louisiana
2 programs on our main rankings are based in Louisiana. A degree from a school in the state is often the simplest way to match the board's coursework rules.
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Bachelor of Science in Accounting: #25 of 100 bachelor's accounting programs
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Master of Science in Accounting: #21 of 50 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 Louisiana stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Arkansas CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since March 5, 2026
- Mississippi CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since July 1, 2026
- Texas CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since August 1, 2026
Check With the State Board of Certified Public Accountants of Louisiana
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.