Maryland added a third CPA pathway on October 1, 2026. It lets you license with a bachelor's degree, an accounting concentration, a passing exam score, and 2 years of supervised experience. That's 4,000 hours. The 150-hour and master's routes are still open, and they need 1 year.
You can sit for the exam with 120 semester hours and a bachelor's or higher degree. If you're finishing a bachelor's, check the Maryland State Board of Public Accountancy to see whether the new route or the 150-hour route fits you better.
How to Get a CPA License in Maryland
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Maryland.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150-hour route | 150 semester hours | 1 year | In effect |
| Graduate degree plus 1 year | Master's degree | 1 year | In effect |
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | Bachelor's degree (120 credits) with an accounting concentration | 2 years (4,000 hours) of supervised experience | In effect since October 1, 2026 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Maryland
You need a bachelor's or higher degree and 120 semester hours. That includes at least 27 hours of accounting and 3 of business or accounting ethics.
Coursework: At least 27 semester hours of accounting plus 3 of business or accounting ethics
Ethics Exam
You need to pass the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ethics exam.
What Changed Recently
HB 643 pathway took effect October 1, 2026. It is a third, optional route and does not replace the 150-hour or master's routes.
What Accountants Earn in Maryland
Accountants and auditors in Maryland earned a median of $89,370 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $73,100 and $116,420. About 26,170 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Maryland
5 programs on our main rankings are based in Maryland. A degree from a school in the state is often the simplest way to match the board's coursework rules.
- Towson University, Accounting major (B.S., College of Business and Economics): one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- University of Maryland-College Park, Bachelor of Science in Business, Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Salisbury University, Bachelor of Science in Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Loyola University Maryland, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Loyola University Maryland, Master of Accounting: #8 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 Maryland stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Delaware CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since July 1, 2026
- Pennsylvania CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since June 30, 2025
- Virginia CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
- West Virginia CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since May 24, 2026
- District of Columbia CPA requirements: bachelor's route scheduled
Check With the Maryland State 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.