Texas is one of the largest CPA jurisdictions in the country and has been one of the most active in recent reform discussions about alternative pathways to licensure. If you’re planning to license in Texas — or transfer a license here — these are the rules to plan around. Always confirm current specifics directly with the TSBPA before you commit; requirements change, and Texas (like most states) periodically updates its rules.
Who licenses CPAs in Texas
The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy is the licensing authority. They evaluate your education, process exam applications, verify experience, and issue your license. Their site at https://www.tsbpa.texas.gov/ is the authoritative source for current requirements and fees.
The three E’s in Texas
Education
Like nearly all US jurisdictions, Texas 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 Texas 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. Texas’s exact rule on this can change; verify with the TSBPA.
Experience
Texas 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 TSBPA.
Other Texas requirements
- Texas has historically required specific minimums of upper-level accounting and business coursework, with some courses required to be taken in particular formats. Verify the current breakdown with the TSBPA before assuming your transcript qualifies.
- Texas requires candidates to pass its own jurisprudence-style exam covering state-specific rules of professional conduct, in addition to the Uniform CPA Examination.
- A criminal background check (including fingerprinting) is part of the application.
- The state generally requires supervised work experience verified by a licensed CPA.
Fees and costs
For the national cost picture, see CPA exam cost in 2026.
Recent rule changes to watch
Texas has been at the forefront of CPA pathway reform discussions, including legislative proposals for alternative routes to licensure. Confirm which pathway and rules apply to you with the TSBPA before planning.
How to get started in Texas
- Review the TSBPA’s current handbook and licensure requirements at https://www.tsbpa.texas.gov/.
- Get your transcripts evaluated against Texas’s specific course-content rules before assuming you qualify.
- Apply to sit for the exam through the TSBPA (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 TSBPA and NASBA before relying on them. Rules and fees change, and Texas updates its handbook periodically.