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Maryland CPA Exam

Maryland CPA Exam Requirements

Montgomery College offers courses to assist students who are pursuing qualifications to sit for the Uniform CPA exam. Please consult the Schedule of Classes for official offerings by semester. 

General Requirements

Applicants must satisfactorily complete 120 semester hours or 180 undergraduate quarter hours, or their equivalent (30 semester hours or 45 quarter credit hours in Group I, of which 27 semester or 41 quarter credit hours must be in accounting and related subjects, and 3 semester credit hours or 4 quarter credit hours must be in ethics), including the attainment of a baccalaureate or higher degree that meets the following requirement: A major in accounting on the baccalaureate level, or its substantial equivalent from an institution that is a member of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business; the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs; is accredited by or is a constituent of an institution accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; or the equivalent regional accrediting association for other regional areas; or is recognized and approved by the Board.

An applicant must have successfully completed 30 semester hours (45 undergraduate quarter hours) in accounting subjects.  

Applicants must have completed one course (3 undergraduate semester hours/4 undergraduate quarter hours) each in auditing, managerial accounting (or cost accounting), and U.S. Federal Income Tax; nine undergraduate semester hours (12 undergraduate quarter hours) in financial accounting; and nine undergraduate semester hours (12 undergraduate quarter hours) of elective accounting courses.  Please note that ACCT 221 (formerly AC 201) and ACCT 222 (formerly AC 202) are pre-requisites for all higher-level accounting courses at Montgomery College.

  • Course Subject: AUDITING (At least 3 undergraduate semester hours or 4 undergraduate quarter hours)               
    Montgomery College Course:
    ACCT 240 (formerly AC 215) – Auditing Theory and Practice - 4 credits

  • Course Subject: FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING (At least 9 undergraduate semester hours or 12 undergraduate quarter hours)
    Montgomery College Courses:
    ACCT 221 (formerly AC 201) – Accounting I - 4 credits
    ACCT 231 (formerly AC 207) – Intermediate Accounting I - 4 credits
    ACCT 232 (formerly AC 208) – Intermediate Accounting II - 4 credits

  • Course Subject: MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING or COST ACCOUNTING (At least 3 undergraduate semester hours or 4 undergraduate quarter hours)
    Montgomery College Courses:
    ACCT 222 (formerly AC 202) – Accounting II - 4 credits or
    ACCT 235 (formerly AC 217) – Cost Accounting - 3 credits

  • Course Subject: U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX (At least 3 undergraduate semester hours or 4 undergraduate quarter hours) 
    Montgomery College Course:
    ACCT 237 (formerly AC 213) – Federal Income Taxation I (Individual) - 4 credits

  • Course Subject: ELECTIVE ACCOUNTING COURSES
    Montgomery College Courses:
    ACCT 249 (formerly AC 209) – Advanced Accounting - 3 credits
    ACCT 225 (formerly AC 210) – Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting - 3 credits
    ACCT 247 (formerly AC 214) – Federal Income Taxation II (Corporate) - 4 credits
    ACCT 245 (formerly AC 230) – Accounting Information Systems - 3 credits

  • Course Subject: BUSINESS ETHICS (At least 3 undergraduate semester hours or 4 undergraduate quarter hours)
    Montgomery College Course:
    ACCT 228 (formerly AC 216) – Ethics and Professionalism in Accounting - 3 credits 

An applicant must have 21 undergraduate semester hours (32 undergraduate quarter hours) in five of the following nine business-related subject areas: 

  1. Course Subject: STATISTICS  (At least 3 undergraduate semester hours or 4 undergraduate quarter hours)    
    Montgomery College Course: 
    BSAD 210 (formerly BA 210) – Statistics for Business and Economics - 3 credits

  2. Course Subject: ECONOMICS (At least 3 undergraduate semester hours or 4 undergraduate quarter hours)
    Montgomery College Courses:
    ECON 201 (formerly EC 201) – Principles of Economics I (Macroeconomics) - 3 credits
    ECON 202 (formerly EC 202) – Principles of Economics II (Microeconomics) - 3 credits

  3. Course Subject: CORPORATION OR BUSINESS FINANCE (At least 3 undergraduate semester hours or 4 undergraduate quarter hours) Montgomery College Course:       
    ACCT 239 (formerly AC 219) – Business Finance - 3 credits

  4. Course Subject: MANAGEMENT At least 3 undergraduate semester hours or 4 undergraduate quarter hours)
    Montgomery College Course:
    MGMT 101 (formerly MG 101) – Principles of Management - 3 credits 

  5. Course Subject: U.S. BUSINESS LAW (At least 3 undergraduate semester hours or 4 undergraduate quarter hours)
    Montgomery College Course: 
    MGMT 201 (formerly MG 201) – Business Law - 3 credits 

  6. Course Subject: MARKETING (At least 3 undergraduate semester hours or 4 undergraduate quarter hours)
    Montgomery College Course:
    MGMT 211 (formerly MG 103) – Introduction to Marketing - 3 credits 

  7. Course Subject: BUSINESS COMMUNICATION (At least 3 undergraduate semester hours or 4 undergraduate quarter hours)
    Montgomery College Courses:
    COMM 112 (formerly SP 112) – Business and Professional Speech Communication - 3 credits

  8. Course Subject: COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS (At least 3 undergraduate semester hours or 4 undergraduate quarter hours)      Montgomery College Courses: 
    ACCT 245 (formerly AC 230) – Accounting Information Systems - 3 credits

  9. Course Subject: QUANTITATIVE METHODS (At least 3 undergraduate semester hours or 4 undergraduate quarter hours) 
    Montgomery College Courses:  
    --

Please see the Maryland State Board of Public Accountancy website link for any changes to these requirements. 

In addition, more detailed course descriptions are available at: 

Other Requirements and Information

 

There is a 2,000 hour experience requirement for those applying for an initial license after October 1, 2000. 

Applicants for the CPA Exam who earned credits at non U.S. Institutions: The NASBA International Evaluation Service (NIES) is the only acceptable evaluation service for foreign transcripts. There are no exceptions-please don't use another service and expect the Board to accept their evaluation of your credentials. You must request a course-by-course evaluation for the purpose of taking the Uniform CPA Exam in Maryland. Any other evaluation will be denied.

NASBA International Evaluation Servicesnew window 

State Board for Public Accountancy
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
500 N. Calvert Street, Room 308
Baltimore, MD  21202-3651
410-230-6258
Email:  cpa@dllr.state.md.us 
Maryland Board of Public Accountancynew window 

AICPA – The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY  10036-8775
212-596-6200
AICPAnew window  

Maryland Association of CPAs
Dulaney Center II
901 Dulaney Valley Road
Suite 710
Towson, MD  21204-2683
or 800-782-2036
MACPAnew window 
Tomorrows CPA 

CPA Exam Review Programs

Becker Professional Education
800-868-3900
Becker CPAnew window      

Borra CPA Review
301-365-7525 or 301-365-2223

CPA School of Washington
703-273-5745 or 800-262-9272
CPA Schoolnew window  

Yaeger CPA Review
301-340-3344 or 800-824-2811
Yaeger CPA Reviewnew window

CPA Excel Review
888-884-5669 (North America)
928-204-1066 (International)
CPA Excelnew window

Gleim CPA Review
800-874-5346
Gleim CPA Reviewnew window   

Please check websites for the most current contact information. 

For information about other state boards: NASBA Boards of Accountancynew window  

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