Educational Requirements
Maryland is an excellent place to become a CPA. In order to sit for the CPA exam and become a certified public accountant in the state, some educational requirements set forth by the Maryland Board of Public Accountancy must be fulfilled. The minimum requirements include a bachelor’s degree with 120 semester hours of successfully completed coursework, or 180 quarter hours. A major in accounting or a recognized equivalent is required, as are 27 semester hours toward accounting courses and related subjects. At least three semester hours must be in ethics. There are several curriculum groups approved by the Maryland Board of Accountancy; you can find them by clicking here.
Salary
While cost of living is generally higher in Maryland than the national average, accountants will enjoy a generous salary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the 2011 average annual salary for Maryland accountants was $75,630, which is well about the national average. Maryland was listed as 2011′s fifth top-paying state for accountants. The Baltimore metropolitan area saw average salaries hover at just about $73,000, while the parts of Maryland encompassed in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area had an average annual salary of $83,930. Because of its amenable business and corporation laws, as well as its geographic convenience to D.C., Maryland can be a profitable place to become a CPA.
CPA Licensing in Maryland
To become a licensed CPA in Maryland, all applicants must complete the application process, fulfill the education and experience requirements, pass the Uniform CPA Exam, and pay all associated fees. Becoming a certified public accountant in Maryland means successful completion of all of the following requirements:
- At minimum, a bachelor’s degree, with at least 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) of undergraduate or graduate coursework completed. At least 27 semester hours must be dedicated to accounting and related courses. At least three semester hours must be completed in ethics training. All requirements can be found here, through the Maryland Board of Accountancy. (These can be confusing; please read them thoroughly.)
- A one-year experience requirement, with verified work in accountancy in one of several sectors: public accountancy, governmental work, or other approved fields.
- All transcripts must be available for review at the time of your Uniform CPA Exam.
- Pass all sections of the Uniform CPA Exam.
- Complete and submit an online application. Pay all relevant application and licensure fees.
- Please review this list of common mistakes that delay or prevent CPA licensure in Maryland.
- If seeking reciprocal licensure, or mobile licensure from another state, please consult the Maryland Board of Accountancy, which maintains strict guidelines.
Continuing Education Requirements
Like most states, Maryland requires continuing professional education courses for CPAs to retain proper state licensure. To renew your CPA license in Maryland, you must complete 80 hours of continuing professional education, with at least four of these hours in ethics courses. College credit and self study are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please visit the Maryland Board of Accountancy’s continuing professional education policy page for more information these policies and available courses.
Accounting Jobs in Maryland
A hub of accounting and business operations for the United States, Maryland has more than nine accountants employed per 1,000 residents in the state. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports more accounting job opportunities with higher salaries than most of the rest of the country. Government jobs will be a constant in the region, and Maryland is also home to many offices of top accounting firms. PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte & Touche both have offices in Maryland, and many accountants can find work in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area as consultants or policy accountants. The MACPA is a society for CPAs in Maryland, and accountants in the state should look there for relevant links, job postings, and events for professionals in the field. Additionally, the Maryland Society of Accountants also provides support, resources, and statewide community for those seeking work or currently working in the state.