Certified Public Accountants
Connecticut is a two-tier state. Once an individual has met all requirements to become a CPA (i.e., education, exams, ethics and experience), they may apply for the first tier, a qualified certificate. Please note:
- The qualified certificate is a pre-requisite to becoming registered or licensed for first time applicants.
- It is not an "active" status and does not allow the holder to practice as a CPA or use the designation CPA on any materials.
Once you have qualified for a certificate, the second tier would be to either obtain:
- an active certificate registration which allows the holder to use the CPA designation only; or
- an active license which allows the holder to practice and offer accounting services.
Applications, Requirements and Forms
- Initial Certification, Registration and License
- Passed CPA Exam in Connecticut
- Passed CPA Exams in another state but does not have 5 years of experience in public accountancy.
- Reciprocal - Holds CPA Registration or License in another jurisdiction and possesses 5-years of public accountancy experience within the last 10-years.
- License/Registration for current CT Certificate holders (applicants who have already gone through the certification process and have a Connecticut certificate and now wish to apply for a registration or license).
- Firm Permits: To apply for an initial in-state or out-of-state firm permit, reinstate an expired permit, report a name change and terminate an old firm.
Select This Link to verify a registration/license status.
- Reinstatement: A credential that is inactive and has been for less than 1 year may submit a reinstatement application online. Credentials expired more than 1 year are required to print, complete and mail the reinstatement application to the address indicated on the form.
- Renewal: Renewal notices are EMAILED to all credential holders during the renewal period from October 1st to December 31st.
- Continuing Professional Education: Only licensed CPA's are required to report CPE's.
- Request for verification of License/Registration Status or Grade Information
- Changes to License/Registration
Are my CPA exam credits still good?
- Did your exam credits expire between January 30, 2020 and May 11, 2023?
- Those credits are still valid through June 30, 2025.
- Will/did you have valid exam credits on January 1, 2024?
- Those credits are still valid through June 30, 2025.
- Have you earned credits between April 1, 2021 and October 1, 2023 and applied to take an exam after October 1, 2023?
- Those credits will be valid for 30 months or the expiration date calculated by the above extensions, whichever is later.
- Have you applied to take an exam after October 1, 2023?
- Your credits earned for any exam taken after October 1, 2023 will be valid for 30 months from the score release date.
(1) The United States Department of Health and Human Services declared a national Public Health Emergency.
(2) The United States Department of Health and Human Services announced the expiration of the national Public Health Emergency.
- CT Society of CPAs (CTCPA) - www.ctcpas.org
- National Assoc. of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) - www.nasba.org
With the approval of changes to Section 20-280-23(e) of the Regulations of State Agencies, continuous testing is now available in Connecticut. Candidates who fail an exam section may sit for that section again at any time and do not have to wait for the end of the quarter as they did before.
*The regulations regarding Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) have been revised. Provisions already in statute have been removed. Also, Connecticut’s regulations are now more consistent with the Model Rules of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.
The main substantive changes to the regulations have to do with continuing professional education (CPE). CPAs may now record credits in fractions as small as one-sixth (10-minute) increments and may earn credits via interactive self-study programs.
Notification Requirements
Firms and individuals licensed or using practice privilege are required to notify the Department of Consumer Protection by emailing DCP.LicenseCPA@ct.gov within 30 days of any of the following:
- A change to any information that was provided on the most recent initial or renewal application, including a change of email address;
- Any change to a firm, including:
- Formation or termination of a firm;
- Change in name or legal form of firm;
- Change in any person with an ownership interest or any change in the percentage of ownership among the owners;
- Addition, retirement, withdrawal or death of a partner, member, manager or shareholder;
- Change in the management of any branch office in this state;
- Establishment of a new branch office or the closing or change of address of a branch office in this state; or
- Issuance of the firm’s first issued financial statements and accountant’s reports.
- Any disciplinary action by any other state, federal, foreign or other licensing or regulatory authority; or
- Any deferred prosecution agreement involving an admission of wrongdoing, or any criminal conviction.
- Any issuance, denials, revocation or suspension of a license by any other state.
Recent Changes to the Statutes
Connecticut candidates now have a rolling thirty-month period to pass all four sections of the CPA exam.
C.G.S. §20-281c (as amended by Public Act No. 23-180) now reads:
(e) The board shall allow an applicant who applies to take the examination on or after October 1, 2023, to receive credit for each section of the examination that such applicant passes in any sitting for such examination, provided such applicant passes all sections of the examination within a thirty-month period. The board may, in its discretion, extend the thirty-month period for reasons related to health, military service or other individual hardship.
The Connecticut General Assembly passed a number of laws that affect Certified Public Accountants in the state:
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Effective immediately, candidates to become CPAs can begin taking the exam once they have completed 120 hours of education and do not have to wait until they earn their degree. A degree is still necessary to become a CPA, but not to take the exam.
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Effective July 1, 2021, Licensees must keep their work product and work papers for seven years unless required to keep them longer.
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Effective October 1, 2021, CPAs may recommend or refer a product or service to a client for a commission provided they are not involved in an audit or review of a financial statement, a compilation, or an examination of prospective financial statements.
- State Board of Accountancy
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A wall certificate can be obtained by contacting NASBA at www.nasbastore.org after approval of your certification. All questions regarding wall certificates should be directed to NASBA at 1-888-925-5237.
- Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) - www.pcaobus.org
- American Institute of CPAs - www.aicpa.org
- Frequently Asked Questions about Foreign Accountants and Chartered Accountants in Connecticut
- Client Record Memo
- CPA Mobility
- Board's Statement Regarding Services to Marijuana Distributors and Growers
- Public Accounting Firms and the Firm’s use of the title Certified Public Accountant
Filing Complaints
Lookup a CPA
Generate a roster of CPAs
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests
CPA Verify
Licensing/certification: dcp.licensecpa@ct.gov
Board meeting and minutes: dcp.occupationalprofessional@ct.gov
Enforcement issues: dcp.accounting@ct.gov
Email address for licensing inquiries: DCP.LicenseCPA@ct.gov