Georgia’s State Board of Accountancy, under the Secretary of State, administers CPA licensure for the state, with Atlanta as a major regional accounting hub. If you’re planning to license in Georgia — or transfer a license here — these are the rules to plan around. Always confirm current specifics directly with the Georgia Board of Accountancy before you commit; requirements change, and Georgia (like most states) periodically updates its rules.
Who licenses CPAs in Georgia
The Georgia State Board of Accountancy is the licensing authority. They evaluate your education, process exam applications, verify experience, and issue your license. Their site at https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-state-board-accountancy is the authoritative source for current requirements and fees.
The three E’s in Georgia
Education
Like nearly all US jurisdictions, Georgia requires 150 semester hours of education for licensure — about 30 hours beyond a typical bachelor’s degree. Within those 150 hours, the state specifies minimums for upper-level accounting and business-related coursework, and most states also have an ethics-coursework component. The 150-hour total is largely stable across states; the breakdown of what counts within the 150 is what varies, and that’s where Georgia candidates trip up most often.
For the national framework, see CPA requirements by state and the broader CPA exam guide.
Exam
You must pass the Uniform CPA Examination — the three Core sections (FAR, AUD, REG) and one Discipline section of your choice (BAR, ISC, or TCP) under the Core + Discipline structure in place since January 2024. See CPA exam sections explained for what each section covers, and how long to study for the CPA to plan your timeline.
Most states allow candidates to sit for the exam before completing the full 150 hours (commonly at 120 hours), with the remaining hours completed before licensure. Georgia’s exact rule on this can change; verify with the Georgia Board of Accountancy.
Experience
Georgia requires verified work experience under a licensed CPA before issuing a license. The specifics — minimum months/hours, eligible types of work, whether attest experience is separately required, and the verification process — are set by the Georgia Board of Accountancy.
Other Georgia requirements
- Georgia requires 150 semester hours including specific upper-level accounting and business coursework — verify the current minimums.
- Experience verification is required from a licensed CPA, with the Board specifying what kinds of work qualify.
- Georgia uses NASBA’s CPAES for examination application processing.
- An ethics exam is typically required for licensure — confirm the current accepted course.
Fees and costs
For the national cost picture, see CPA exam cost in 2026.
How to get started in Georgia
- Review the Georgia Board of Accountancy’s current handbook and licensure requirements at https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-state-board-accountancy.
- Get your transcripts evaluated against Georgia’s specific course-content rules before assuming you qualify.
- Apply to sit for the exam through the Georgia Board of Accountancy (which may route through NASBA’s CPAES — verify the current workflow).
- Pick a review course that fits how you learn: best CPA review courses in 2026.
- Build a realistic study calendar: how to build a CPA study plan.
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Related guides
- CPA Exam Guide 2026 — the full pillar
- CPA requirements by state — the overview
- CPA exam cost in 2026
- CPA exam pass rates
- Is the CPA worth it?
Always verify current requirements with the Georgia Board of Accountancy and NASBA before relying on them. Rules and fees change, and Georgia updates its handbook periodically.