Ohio changed its education rule on January 1, 2026. You can now qualify with a baccalaureate, master's or higher degree that has an accounting concentration. Experience is one year, or two years if you qualify with a bachelor's. You'll need 30 semester hours of accounting and 24 semester credits of business courses other than accounting.
You can also sit for the exam when you're 180 days or fewer from finishing your program. A law signed January 8, 2025 made these changes. If you're finishing a bachelor's, check with the Accountancy Board of Ohio about how your coursework fits.
How to Get a CPA License in Ohio
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Ohio.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | A baccalaureate degree with an accounting concentration. | 2 years of satisfactory experience in a public accounting firm, government, business or academia. | In effect since January 1, 2026 |
| Graduate degree plus 1 year | A master's or higher degree with an accounting concentration. | 1 year of satisfactory experience in a public accounting firm, government, business or academia. | In effect since January 1, 2026 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Ohio
You need a degree with an accounting concentration. You can sit early if you're 180 days or fewer from completing your program.
Coursework: 30 semester hours in accounting courses and 24 semester credits in business administration courses other than accounting.
Ethics Exam
Ohio has no ethics exam for the license. You take a board-approved professional standards and responsibilities course covering Ohio's CPA law and rules within 12 months before you apply.
What Changed Recently
HB 238 was signed January 8, 2025. Its education and experience changes took effect January 1, 2026.
What Accountants Earn in Ohio
Accountants and auditors in Ohio earned a median of $79,320 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $63,020 and $102,230. About 50,440 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Ohio
4 programs on our main rankings are based in Ohio. A degree from a school in the state is often the simplest way to match the board's coursework rules.
- University of Cincinnati-Main Campus, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting: #11 of 100 bachelor's accounting programs
- Miami University-Oxford, Bachelor of Science in Business, Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Franklin University, Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- University of Toledo, Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor'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 Ohio stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Indiana CPA requirements: bachelor's route starts January 1, 2027
- Kentucky CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since July 15, 2026
- Michigan CPA requirements: bachelor's route proposed
- Pennsylvania CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since June 30, 2025
- West Virginia CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since May 24, 2026
Check With the Accountancy Board of Ohio
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.