CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in Iowa
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for IA
How to Become a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in Iowa
To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Iowa, you must meet the requirements set by the Iowa Accountancy Examining Board. This generally includes completing 150 semester hours of education with a bachelor's degree, passing the Uniform CPA Examination, and gaining one year (2,000 hours) of supervised accounting experience. An ethics exam, the AICPA's Comprehensive Course, is also required. Effective July 1, 2026, new pathways to licensure will be available, including a 120-semester hour option with two years of experience. Iowa also offers reciprocity for CPAs licensed in other states with substantially equivalent requirements.
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Requirements in Iowa
| Detail | Iowa |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | Iowa Accountancy Examining Board |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | 150 semester hours including a bachelor's degree, OR (effective July 1, 2026) a bachelor's degree with 120 semester hours and 2 years of experience, OR a master's degree with 1 year of experience, OR a bachelor's degree with 30 additional college hours and 1 year of experience. |
| Experience Required | 2,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Uniform CPA Examination ($1,463) |
| Application Fee | $100 |
| Renewal | Every 1.0 year |
| Continuing Education | 120.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Minimum age of 18 years old. Must pass the AICPA Ethics Exam. Social Security Number required. No US citizenship or in-state residency required. Effective July 1, 2026, new pathways to licensure will be available, including a 120-semester hour option with two years of experience. |
Source: Iowa Accountancy Examining Board
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Salary in Iowa
The median cpa salary in Iowa is $74,290 per year, which is 9.0% below the national median of $81,680.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $48,300 |
| 25th | $60,600 |
| 50th (median) | $74,290 |
| 75th | $93,450 |
| 90th (experienced) | $121,940 |
Iowa employs approximately 13,970 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 Iowa Worth It?
With an estimated total investment of $1,200 and a median salary of $74,290 in Iowa, the rough payback period is approximately 0 months.
Factors to consider: Iowa's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, moderate job growth, elevated AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.