South Carolina's three license routes took effect on June 30, 2025. To sit for the exam, you need a bachelor's degree or higher. It must include 24 upper-level accounting semester hours and 24 business semester hours.
To get licensed, you can pair a bachelor's with two years of accounting experience. A master's degree, or a bachelor's with 150 total hours, needs only one year. A licensed CPA verifies your experience. You'll also pass a board-approved ethics exam.
Contact the South Carolina Board of Accountancy to confirm which route fits you.
How to Get a CPA License in South Carolina
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in South Carolina.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | A bachelor's degree | 2 years of accounting experience | In effect since June 30, 2025 |
| Graduate degree plus 1 year | A master's degree or higher | 1 year of accounting experience | In effect since June 30, 2025 |
| 150-hour route | A bachelor's degree with at least 150 total semester hours | 1 year of accounting experience | In effect since June 30, 2025 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in South Carolina
You need a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited school. It must include 24 upper-level accounting semester hours and 24 non-accounting business semester hours.
Coursework: 24 upper-level accounting semester hours and 24 non-accounting business semester hours
Ethics Exam
You must pass a board-approved professional ethics exam.
What Changed Recently
S. 176 was signed May 12, 2025. Its changes took effect June 30, 2025, and the exam window grew from 18 to 36 months.
What Accountants Earn in South Carolina
Accountants and auditors in South Carolina earned a median of $76,560 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $62,100 and $99,080. About 15,270 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in South Carolina
None of the programs on our main rankings are based in South Carolina. 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 South Carolina stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Georgia CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
- North Carolina CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
- Tennessee CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
Check With the South Carolina Board of Accountancy (Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation)
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.