Learn The 7 Simple Steps to Qualifying To Become A Licensed CPA in South Carolina:

If you would like a more detailed checklist to make this process even easier, please download your Free CPA Exam Application Checklist PDF below:




South Carolina Requirements Overview:

South Carolina's (SC) CPA exam requirements are very specific relating to accounting and business courses that are required to be taken prior to sitting for the exam.

Follow each caption below to ensure that you are qualified to sit for the exam.

Disclosure: Please note that I do my best to keep these requirements up to date but seeing as there are more than 50 states and nations with individual requirements it is difficult for me to keep up with them all. Please verify each requirement with your state board of accountancy to ensure 100% accuracy! 

 

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Education Requirements

What are the education requirements in South Carolina?

150 Hours Requirement

SC does not require 150 hours to sit for the CPA exam but does require 150 to obtain your license.

Accounting Course Requirements

SC requires 24 semester hours of accounting courses 

Business Course Requirements

SC requires 24 credit hours of business courses that may include:
* Economics
* Finance
* Business law
* Management, 
* Computer science, 
* Statistics, 
* Ethics
* Marketing

Business Law Requirements

Refer to the requirements above regarding business law.

Ethics Exam

Required to take AICPA Ethics Exam


Age & Residency Requirements

What are the age and residency requirements in South Carolina?

US Citizenship Requirement

You are NOT Required for South Carolina to be US Citizen to sit for the CPA exam, but a SSN or a green card is required. 

Residency Requirement

South Carolina does NOT require you to be a resident, employee, OR have an office in the state for you to take the CPA exam.  

Minimum Age to Sit for the CPA Exam

South Carolina requires the applicant to be at least 18 prior to sitting for the CPA exam 

South Carolina CPA Exam Fees

How much does it cost to take the CPA exam in South Carolina?

South Carolina has fairly standard exam fee rates. If you need to re-take a part there is a varying re-application fee that you will have to pay.

Initial Application Fee:

$135

Audit:

$195.35

Financial:

$195.35

Regulation:

$176.25

Business:

$176.25

Total:

$878.20

Special Fees:

Re-exam registration fee (varying amounts based on number of parts)


Already Passed The CPA Exam in South Carolina? Here Are The CPA License Requirements

To obtain your CPA license SC requires:

Education: 
- Obtain 150 credit hours from any regional accredited educational institution and a 4 year bachelor degree
- Additional course work includes 36 credit hours of upper division accounting classes and 36 additional credit hours in business courses.

Work Experience:
- 1 year of public accounting experience supervised and verified by an actively licensed United States CPA
- Part time can be included (1 yr = 2,000 hours)
- Non-Public accounting can be considered but at the discretion of the board. 


South Carolina State Board Contact Info

South Carolina Board of Accountancy
PO Box 11329
Columbia, SC 29211-1329

Web: www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/Accountancy
Phone: 803-896-4770
Fax: 803-896-4554
Email: williamstf@llr.sc.gov
Email: cpaes-sc@nasba.org


Who Is Bryan Kesler, CPAABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bryan Kesler, CPA is the founder of Kesler CPA Review & Ultimate CPA Exam Guide which earned him a spot on CPA Practice Advisor's Top 20 Under 40.

He has helped thousands of CPA candidates pass the CPA exam since 2013. You can contact him via email bryan@cpaexamguide.com


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