CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in New York
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for NY
How to Become a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) in New York
To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New York, you must meet the requirements set by the New York State Board for Public Accountancy. This typically involves completing 150 semester hours of education, including a bachelor's degree with specific accounting and business coursework, passing the Uniform CPA Examination, and accumulating 2000 hours (one year full-time or two years part-time) of supervised accounting experience. New York also offers reciprocity for CPAs licensed in other states, provided they meet comparable licensing criteria and experience requirements.
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Requirements in New York
| Detail | New York |
|---|---|
| Licensing Body | New York State Board for Public Accountancy |
| State License Required | Yes |
| Education | Bachelor's degree with 150 semester hours |
| Experience Required | 2,000.0 hours |
| Exam | Uniform CPA Examination ($1,100) |
| Application Fee | $427 |
| Renewal | Every 3.0 years |
| Continuing Education | 120.0 hours per cycle |
| Notes | Minimum age is 21 years old. New York has specific coursework distribution requirements: 33 semester hours in accounting and 36 in general business. An alternative pathway requiring a bachelor's degree and 2 years of experience will be effective November 21, 2026. No separate ethics exam is required for initial licensure. Experience can be met in 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time. |
CPA (Certified Public Accountant) Salary in New York
The median cpa salary in New York is $101,780 per year, which is 24.6% above the national median of $81,680.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $62,430 |
| 25th | $78,730 |
| 50th (median) | $101,780 |
| 75th | $134,990 |
| 90th (experienced) | $178,500 |
New York employs approximately 111,860 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 New York Worth It?
With an estimated total investment of $1,477 and a median salary of $101,780 in New York, the rough payback period is approximately 0 months.
Factors to consider: New York's cost of living, the state licensing requirement, moderate job growth, elevated AI disruption risk, and your personal career goals.