Educational Requirements
Candidates for CPA licensure in the state of West Virginia must hold a bachelor’s degree and have completed 150 hours of college education that includes an accounting concentration or equivalent.
Salary
In May 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that 4,190 accountants and auditors were employed in West Virginia. The annual mean wage for accountants and auditors in West Virginia in 2011 was $57,520.
CPA Licensing in West Virginia
West Virginia CPAs are licensed by the West Virginia Board of Accountancy. To become licensed, a person must first take the CPA exam after meeting the following academic requirements:
- Hold at least a bachelor’s degree from a board-approved accredited institution.
- Complete 150 credit hours with 27 semester hours of accounting, 6 semester hours of business law, and 27 semester hours of business and related courses.
Requirements to be issued a certificate (license):
- Pass the CPA exam.
- Complete three semester credit hours in ethics.
- One year of experience providing service involving the use of accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax or consulting skills.
Continuing Education Requirements
West Virginia CPA licenses are renewed annually. West Virginia CPAs’ continuing professional education (CPE) is based on a 120-hour rolling three-year period. Qualifying CPE programs include but are not limited to courses sponsored by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) or any state CPA or PA society, university and college courses, home study courses, courses approved by and registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) national registry or the NASBA West Virginia roster, and published books or articles. West Virginia CPAs are required to secure four hours of ethics credit as part of the 120-hour, three-year requirement.
Accounting Jobs in West Virginia
West Virginia’s economy offers potential employment in a diverse range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, healthcare and education, media and telecommunications, manufacturing, biotech, and tourism. The West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants offers job listings for CPAs on its website. Potential employment for West Virginia CPAs can be found in healthcare, manufacturing, and, for CPAs familiar with the American Institute of Public Accountancy’s the American Institute of Public Accountancy’s Gambling Audit and Accounting Guide, gambling casinos.