CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in Florida
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for FL
How to Become a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in Florida
To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Florida, candidates must meet specific education, examination, and experience requirements. The licensing body is the Florida Board of Accountancy. Aspiring CPAs need 150 semester hours of education, including a bachelor's degree with specific upper-division accounting and business coursework, pass the Uniform CPA Examination, and complete one year (2000 hours) of verified accounting experience. Florida also offers reciprocity for licensed CPAs from other states that meet substantially equivalent standards.
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Requirements in Florida
| Detail | Florida |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Florida Board of Accountancy |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | 150 semester hours, including a bachelor's degree. Specific coursework includes 30 semester hours of upper-division accounting (auditing, cost accounting, financial accounting, taxation) and 36 semester hours of upper-division general business (including 3 semester hours of U.S. business law). |
| Experience Required | 2,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Uniform CPA Examination ($1,411) |
| Application Fee | $50 |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Continuing Education | 80.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Minimum age of 18 to obtain initial license. Must be of good moral character. No U.S. citizenship or Florida residency required to sit for the exam. A U.S. Social Security Number is required to obtain the license. The CPA exam must be passed within a rolling 30-month period. Experience must be verified by a licensed CPA and gained after meeting the 120 semester hour education requirement to sit for the exam. The experience can be in government, industry, academia, or public practice. |
Source: Florida Board of Accountancy
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Salary in Florida
The median cpa salary in Florida is $78,470 per year, which is 3.9% below the national median of $81,680.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $49,830 |
| 25th | $61,660 |
| 50th (median) | $78,470 |
| 75th | $101,380 |
| 90th (experienced) | $132,070 |
Florida employs approximately 90,880 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 Florida Worth It?
With an estimated total investment of $1,150 and a median salary of $78,470 in Florida, the rough payback period is approximately 0 months.
Factors to consider: Florida's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, moderate job growth, elevated AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.