Oklahoma's new bachelor's route takes effect November 1, 2026. House Bill 4317 adds it beside two existing routes. You'll need a bachelor's degree, two years of supervised experience, and a passing CPA Exam score. The existing routes pair a master's degree, or a bachelor's plus 30 credit hours, with one year of experience.
One year means 1,800 hours. From November 1, you'll need a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited school to sit for the exam. The board adopted emergency rules to carry this out. If you're finishing a bachelor's, check with the Oklahoma Accountancy Board before you apply.
How to Get a CPA License in Oklahoma
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Oklahoma.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate degree plus 1 year | A master's degree, plus the CPA Exam. | 1 year (1,800 hours). | In effect |
| Bachelor's plus 30 hours | A bachelor's degree plus 30 credit hours, plus the CPA Exam. | 1 year (1,800 hours). | In effect |
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | A bachelor's degree, plus the CPA Exam. | 2 years of supervised work experience. | Starts November 1, 2026 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Oklahoma
From November 1, 2026, the board's rules ask for a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university.
Ethics Exam
You pass the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants comprehensive ethics course and exam with a score of 90% or above and submit the certificate with your certification application.
What Changed Recently
HB 4317 (2026) takes effect November 1, 2026. The board adopted emergency rules to carry it out.
What Accountants Earn in Oklahoma
Accountants and auditors in Oklahoma earned a median of $79,370 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $59,990 and $104,240. About 16,720 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Oklahoma
2 programs on our main rankings are based in Oklahoma. A degree from a school in the state is often the simplest way to match the board's coursework rules.
- Oklahoma State University-Main Campus, Accounting: External Reporting, Control, and Auditing, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus, Master of Accountancy: #22 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 Oklahoma stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Arkansas CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since March 5, 2026
- Colorado CPA requirements: bachelor's route starts January 1, 2027
- Kansas CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since April 23, 2026
- Missouri CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since August 28, 2026
- New Mexico CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
- Texas CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since August 1, 2026
Check With the Oklahoma Accountancy Board
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.