Oregon's current licensing pathways took effect January 1, 2026. The bachelor's-only pathway needs two years of supervised experience. The master's pathway and the 150-semester-hour pathway each need one year. Experience can be 12 months full time or 2,000 hours part time per year.
It must fall within eight years before you apply. You'll also score 90 or above on an approved ethics exam before you apply for the initial license. If you're finishing a bachelor's, compare the three pathways with the Oregon Board of Accountancy.
How to Get a CPA License in Oregon
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Oregon.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | A bachelor's degree. | 2 years of supervised experience. | In effect since January 1, 2026 |
| Graduate degree plus 1 year | A master's degree. | 1 year of supervised experience. | In effect since January 1, 2026 |
| 150-hour route | 150 semester hours. | 1 year of supervised experience. | In effect since January 1, 2026 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Oregon
You need a bachelor's degree. It must include 24 semester hours of upper-division accounting and 24 hours of accounting-related courses.
Coursework: 24 semester hours of upper-division accounting plus 24 semester hours of accounting-related coursework, to sit for the exam.
Ethics Exam
You score 90 or above on an approved course and exam on the Code of Professional Ethics before you apply for the initial license.
What Changed Recently
SB 797 pathways took effect January 1, 2026.
What Accountants Earn in Oregon
Accountants and auditors in Oregon earned a median of $85,800 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $74,350 and $104,150. About 14,920 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Oregon
2 programs on our main rankings are based in Oregon. A degree from a school in the state is often the simplest way to match the board's coursework rules.
- Portland State University, Accounting (Bachelor of Science): one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- Oregon State University, 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 Oregon stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- California CPA requirements: bachelor's route starts January 1, 2027
- Idaho CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since July 1, 2026
- Nevada CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since February 27, 2026
- Washington CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since November 20, 2025
Check With the Oregon Board of 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.