Educational Requirements
To become a CPA in Indiana, you must earn an undergraduate or graduate concentration in accounting and pass the comprehensive four-part CPA exam. According to the Indiana Board of Accountancy, all applicants for CPA certification in Indiana must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Candidates for CPA licensure in Indiana must have 150 semester hours or more of college coursework, and must have a concentration in accounting. At least 24 semester hours must be completed in undergraduate- or graduate-level accounting courses. Although a graduate degree is not required to sit for the CPA exam in Indiana, those with graduate degreesshould have at least 15 semester hours in graduate-level accounting courses, or fulfill the undergraduate semester hour requirements. All transcripts will be required at the time of the exam.
Salary
Accountants typically enjoy competitive market pay and a high quality of life. The 2011 employment reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics find Indiana CPA’s earnings at an average of $65,190 per year, which is competitive with the national average. Also on par with the national average, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found 17,940 accountants employed in Indiana in 2011. Nationwide job prospects for accountants will grow “about as fast as average”.
CPA Licensing in Indiana
The Indiana Board of Accountancy governs policy and licensure for CPAs and prospective CPAs in the state. To become a CPA in Indiana, all prospective accountants must take the four part standard CPA exam. Specifically, one must fulfill all of the following requirements to sit for the CPA exam in Indiana:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Minimum of 150 semester hours completed with degree conferred, and with a concentration in accounting.
- At least 24 semester hours of undergraduate accounting, or at least 15 hours of graduate-level accounting courses.
- All transcripts must be provided at the time of exam.
- At least two years of accounting experience in one of the following fields: government, academia, industry, or public practice.
- Must provide notarized verification by an actively licensed CPA, whether licensed in Indiana or another state. (Applicant is not required to work directly with the CPA providing notarized verification of experience.)
After passing all four sections of the CPA exam, all applicants for CPA licensure in Indiana must complete the following:
- Submit an application for professional licensing from the Indiana Board of Accountancy. Click here to to access the application and instructions for first time applicants. Click here for a new applicant guide.
- Submit a notarized CPA License Employment Verification Form.
- Pay the application fee. Click here for a current fee schedule. Note: The initial application fee is waived for all new license requests.
Continuing Education Requirements
Licensed CPAs in Indiana must make the effort to renew and maintain their license. Every three years, CPAs must renew their applications. This can be done online through the Indiana Board of Accountancy. To maintain licensure, Indiana CPAs must complete 120 hours of continuing professional education every three years, with no fewer than 20 hours completed per year. Otherwise, CPA licensure should be declared Inactive, as continuing education is not required for an Inactive CPA License in Indiana.
Accounting Jobs in Indiana
CPAs are needed in many different industries, and licensed accountants in Indiana may work in small businesses, for the government, for accounting firms, or in other state industries. Top accounting firms such as Deloitte & Touche, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and KPMG hold offices in Indiana. Other top industries employing accountants in Indiana are hospitality, tourism, pharmaceuticals, and insurance. Licensed CPAs in Indiana are encouraged to keep in touch of board updates and developments through the Indiana Board of Accountancy’s Facebook page. Licensed accountants should enjoy competitive job prospects through 2020.