Massachusetts still runs on the 150-hour rule. You need 150 semester hours, including a bachelor's degree, to get licensed. You can sit for the exam sooner. You need a bachelor's degree and 120 of those hours, with 21 in accounting and 9 in business.
A bill would add a route with a bachelor's and 2 years of experience. The Senate passed it 37 to 0 on February 12, 2026. It went to a House committee on February 17, 2026. Until it becomes law, plan on 150 hours.
Check the Massachusetts Board of Public Accountancy before you register.
How to Get a CPA License in Massachusetts
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Massachusetts.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150-hour route | 150 semester hours, including a bachelor's degree | Set by the board | In effect |
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | Bachelor's degree | 2 years | Proposed |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Massachusetts
You need a bachelor's degree and 120 of the 150 semester hours, including 21 hours of accounting and 9 of business.
Coursework: 21 semester hours of accounting and 9 of business to sit for the exam.
What Changed Recently
No new route is law. The Senate passed S.2946 37-0 on February 12, 2026. It was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on February 17, 2026.
What Accountants Earn in Massachusetts
Accountants and auditors in Massachusetts earned a median of $99,460 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $79,370 and $128,560. About 46,230 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Massachusetts
11 programs on our main rankings are based in Massachusetts. A degree from a school in the state is often the simplest way to match the board's coursework rules.
- University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting (On Campus): #13 of 100 bachelor's accounting programs
- Nichols College, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Bentley University, Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Boston College, Bachelor of Science in Business, Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Bridgewater State University, Bachelor of Science in Accounting (Accounting Concentration, Accounting and Finance major): one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Master of Science in Accounting (Professional Track): #2 of 50 master's accounting programs
- University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Master of Science in Accounting: #14 of 50 master's accounting programs
- Merrimack College, Master of Science in Accounting: #16 of 50 master's accounting programs
- Bentley University, Master of Science in Accounting: one of our 50 best master's accounting programs
- Salem State University, Master of Science in Accounting: one of our 50 best master's accounting programs
- Northeastern University, Master of Science Accounting: one of our 50 best master's accounting programs
See every program we rank in the state on our Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Connecticut CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since October 1, 2025
- New Hampshire CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since April 22, 2026
- New York CPA requirements: bachelor's route starts November 21, 2026
- Rhode Island CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since June 23, 2026
- Vermont CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since June 8, 2026
Check With the Massachusetts 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.