Educational Requirements
The governing body for CPA licensing in Missouri is the Missouri Division of Professional Registration’s Board of Accountancy. Educational requirements for prospective CPAs in Missouri include a bachelor’s degree with 150 semester hours of college coursework successfully completed. Of these hours, 33 must be in accounting, with at least one course in auditing, and at least 18 hours of upper level accounting courses. Also, 27 semester hours must also be general business courses. Rules and regulations can be found here.
Salary
Missouri’s average annual salary for accountancy professions almost mirrors the national average, making Missouri right on target for a competitive salary and job market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the 2011 average Missouri accountancy salary at $61,850. The top 10% of earners in the field made more than $97,500, while the lowest 10% of accountancy workers in the state earned $31,620. Wages are higher in the St. Louis metropolitan area, and are predictably lower in areas of low population density. Additionally, St. Louis houses the financial center for the state, and salaries there will be more competitive.
CPA Licensing in Missouri
Missouri is similar to many other states, in that licensure to become a CPA requires education, passing the CPA exam, and an experience requirement. The Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants lists the current requirements to obtain licensure, as does the Missouri State Board of Accountancy. These requirements are:
- Meet the educational requirements of at least a bachelor’s degree, with 150 completed semester hours of coursework.
- Provide all transcripts for review when sitting for the Uniform CPA Exam.
- Pass the Uniform CPA Exam.
- Pass the required ethics examination. You can learn more, and purchase this course, through the MSCPA.
- Fulfill an experience requirement of one year’s full-time employment in the industry. Find out more about the experience requirement here. Download the application here.
- Remit payment for all necessary and associated fees. A fee schedule can be found here.
Continuing Education Requirements
As with most other states, Missouri requires licensed CPAs to renew their credentials via continuing professional education. After becoming a CPA in Missouri, you must complete a minimum of 20 credit hours per year, and a total of 120 hours of continuing professional education for license renewal every three years. Specific requirements are listed at both the MSCPA and the Missouri Board of Accountancy. A minimum of two hours should be committed to ethics training.
Accounting Jobs in Missouri
Missouri’s industries all require accountancy, not to mention the large financial district of St. Louis. Agriculture, textiles, and other Missouri strongholds will all require some accounting practices for productive and continued business operations. Additionally, state and local governments will always need those trained in accountancy. Jobs for accountants are typically steady nationwide, with location often influencing occupational opportunities and starting salary prospects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects accounting jobs to grow as fast as the national average, rising 16% by 2020. The MSCPA maintains a job board and keeps its members updated on statewide industry trends.