CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in California
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for CA
How to Become a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in California
To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in California, candidates must meet specific education, examination, and experience requirements set by the California Board of Accountancy (CBA). This includes a bachelor's degree with 150 semester hours, passing the Uniform CPA Examination, and completing 12 months (2040 hours) of general accounting experience supervised by a licensed CPA. Additionally, applicants must pass a Professional Ethics for CPAs (PETH) exam for initial licensure, or a CBA-approved regulatory review course for first renewal if licensed after July 1, 2024. California does not offer reciprocity for out-of-state CPAs, requiring them to fulfill California's specific licensing criteria.
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Requirements in California
| Detail | California |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | California Board of Accountancy (CBA) |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | Bachelor's degree with 150 semester hours |
| Experience Required | 2,040.0 hours |
| Exam | Uniform CPA Examination ($1,051) |
| Application Fee | $100 |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Continuing Education | 80.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Requires passing the Professional Ethics for CPAs (PETH) exam for initial licensure, though effective July 1, 2024, a CBA-approved regulatory review course is required for the first license renewal instead of the PETH exam. California has specific coursework requirements for ethics and accounting subjects. No minimum age, residency, or citizenship requirements to sit for the exam, but a Social Security or Taxpayer Identification Number is required for licensure. A background check with fingerprinting is also required. |
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Salary in California
The median cpa salary in California is $96,360 per year, which is 18.0% above the national median of $81,680.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $60,920 |
| 25th | $76,210 |
| 50th (median) | $96,360 |
| 75th | $124,890 |
| 90th (experienced) | $162,150 |
California employs approximately 173,370 cpas.
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Job Outlook
AI Impact on CPAs
High AI Exposure (Score: 1.48/1.00)
Many tasks in this career are susceptible to AI automation. Long-term career planning should account for potential disruption.
Is Becoming a CPA in California Worth It?
With an estimated total investment of $1,350 and a median salary of $96,360 in California, the rough payback period is approximately 0 months.
Factors to consider: California's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, moderate job growth, elevated AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.