Montana gives you three education routes since January 1, 2026. You can hold a post-baccalaureate degree with an accounting concentration and add one year of experience. Or you can earn a bachelor's with an accounting concentration plus 30 semester hours and add one year.
Or you can earn a bachelor's with that concentration and work two years. Experience must fall within the three years before you apply. You'll need 24 semester hours of accounting above the introductory level and 24 of business.
You'll also pass the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ethics exam.
How to Get a CPA License in Montana
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Montana.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate degree plus 1 year | A post-baccalaureate degree with an accounting concentration. | 1 year of accounting or auditing experience, at least 2,000 hours per year, within the 3 years before you apply. | In effect since January 1, 2026 |
| Bachelor's plus 30 hours | A bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration plus 30 additional semester hours. | 1 year of accounting or auditing experience, at least 2,000 hours per year, within the 3 years before you apply. | In effect since January 1, 2026 |
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | A bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration. | 2 years of accounting or auditing experience, at least 2,000 hours per year, within the 3 years before you apply. | In effect since January 1, 2026 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Montana
You need 24 semester hours of accounting above the introductory level and 24 hours of business courses. All of it must be finished when you apply.
Coursework: At least 24 semester hours of accounting above the introductory level, with courses in financial accounting, auditing, taxation and management accounting, plus 24 semester hours of business courses.
Ethics Exam
You'll pass the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ethics exam.
What Changed Recently
New licensing requirements took effect January 1, 2026. They added three education pathways.
What Accountants Earn in Montana
Accountants and auditors in Montana earned a median of $75,810 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $61,690 and $97,320. About 4,730 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Montana
None of the programs on our main rankings are based in Montana. 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 Montana stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Idaho CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since July 1, 2026
- North Dakota CPA requirements: no bachelor's route at this time
- South Dakota CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since July 1, 2026
- Wyoming CPA requirements: no bachelor's route at this time
Check With the Montana Board of Public Accountants
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.