Utah's 150-hour requirement ended on July 1, 2026. You can now sit for the exam with a bachelor's degree or the equivalent. To get licensed, you need a bachelor's or master's degree, or the equivalent, with a concentration of accounting and business. The school must be board approved.
Experience is two years with a bachelor's and one year with a master's. A year counts as 2,000 hours. Your exams include an ethics exam from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. If you're finishing a bachelor's, the two-year route is open to you.
Check with the Utah Division of Professional Licensing about any extra education rules.
How to Get a CPA License in Utah
Every route also asks you to pass the Uniform CPA Exam. Here's how the education and experience fit together in Utah.
| Route | Education | Experience | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's plus 2 years | A bachelor's degree or equivalent with a concentration of accounting and business at a board-approved school | 2 years of accounting experience | In effect since July 1, 2026 |
| Graduate degree plus 1 year | A master's degree or equivalent with a concentration of accounting and business at a board-approved school | 1 year of accounting experience | In effect since July 1, 2026 |
Education to Sit for the CPA Exam in Utah
Since July 1, 2026, you need at least a bachelor's degree or the equivalent described in state law.
Ethics Exam
The qualifying exams include the ethics exam from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
What Changed Recently
SB 15 (2025) struck the 150-hour requirement. It took effect July 1, 2026.
What Accountants Earn in Utah
Accountants and auditors in Utah earned a median of $79,990 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $61,910 and $104,140. About 15,490 people held these jobs in the state.
Accounting Programs in Utah
5 programs on our main rankings are based in Utah. A degree from a school in the state is often the simplest way to match the board's coursework rules.
- Western Governors University, Accounting: #21 of 100 bachelor's accounting programs
- Southern Utah University, Bachelor's Degree in Accounting: #23 of 100 bachelor's accounting programs
- University of Utah, Bachelor of Science in Business, Accounting: one of our 100 best bachelor's accounting programs
- University of Utah, Master of Accounting: one of our 50 best master's accounting programs
- Southern Utah University, Master of Accountancy: one of our 50 best 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 Utah stand on the bachelor's-plus-experience route.
- Arizona CPA requirements: bachelor's route starts January 1, 2027
- Colorado 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
- New Mexico CPA requirements: bachelor's route in effect since January 1, 2026
- Wyoming CPA requirements: no bachelor's route at this time
Check With the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (Certified Public Accountant Licensing 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.