WYOMING CPA EXAM & LICENSE REQUIREMENTS 2024

Read on to learn how to become a CPA in Wyoming.

When you first begin to explore the world of accountancy, you’ll discover that there are many different specialized certifications for an accountant to earn. It can be a little overwhelming, but also reassuring that the profession is not in a state of decline. You can work for law enforcement or a government agency, non-profits or investment banking firms. However, there is no credential that can top that of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. CPAs are always in high demand and they can often command larger salaries than non-CPA accountants. Each state has its own criteria for CPA licensure. Read on to learn how to become a CPA in Wyoming.

General Guidelines

Wyoming is like most states in that you will need to pass four stages prior to becoming fully licensed: Education, CPA Exam, Ethics Exam and Experience. The state does ask that you have in-state residency, a Social Security number and be at least 18 years old prior to applying for licensure. You do not have to be a U.S. Citizen to become a CPA in the state, however.

Residency Restriction

To meet the residency requirement, Wyoming asks that you satisfy one of the following requirements prior to sitting for the CPA exam:

Have a Wyoming address
Hold a Wyoming state driver’s license
Be employed in Wyoming
Have a documented, accepted job offer to work in the state within six months of the application date
Be a student of a Wyoming university

Academic Guidelines

The education portion of the CPA process is the one that will take the most time and energy and you will need to make sure that you are adhering to Wyoming’s specific guidelines as you proceed. If you are attending a Wyoming university, your academic advisor will likely know the rules of the Wyoming Board of Certified Public Accountants. First, make sure that your school is properly accredited. It must be accredited by one of the following agencies:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

If you have graduated with enough credits from a non-U.S. institution, your transcripts must be evaluated and verified by an accepted agency. You can contact the Wyoming Board of Certified Public Accountants (WBCPA) to find out where to send your documentation so that you can proceed.

You will need a total of 150 semester hours (225 quarter hours) to become a CPA. Those hours must be broken down with certain courses and you must have graduated with a bachelor’s degree along the way.

Your coursework should breakdown along these lines:

24 semester hours of accounting coursework at the upper level undergraduate or graduate level, including these subjects:

Auditing
Taxation
Cost Accounting
Accounting Theory
Attestation
Forensic Accounting
Financial Accountancy

24 semester hours of business-related coursework including courses such as these:

Business law
Business communications
Marketing
Management
Information systems
Finance
Statistics
Technical writing

Uniform CPA Examination

Once you have completed all of your coursework, you will need to submit official transcripts to the board. You can contact your school’s registrar, pay a transcript fee and have them send the sealed, official documentation to:

Wyoming Board of CPAs
2023 Carey, Suite 702
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0610

When your application is accepted and all fees paid, you will receive a Notice to Schedule that you can use to arrange your first part of the CPA exam. There are four parts, and you may choose to sit for them in any order you wish. Contact the Prometric testing center in Casper to arrange for your testing session.

The CPA exam is quite difficult and many do not pass it on the first try. In fact, up to half of all test takers need to repeat all or part of the test. For that reason, you may want to find an entry level job as an accountant while you review and take the test.

The four parts that you must pass are:

Financial Accounting and Reporting–This covers financial reporting frameworks from several industry experts. Candidates are asked to compare statements that reflect different reporting standards.
Auditing and Attestation–This part is a test of your knowledge of the International Standards of Auditing as well as U.S. standards.
Regulation–Ethics and your professional and legal responsibilities are covered in this test.
Business Environment and Concepts–This portion covers general business concepts and international business. Brush up on your written communication skills if you want to complete much of this section.

Ethics Examination

Once you have passed each part of the CPA examination with a minimum score of 75, you can move on to the ethics requirement. You can order a packet from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) that will include everything you need to study for the test. The test is open-book, but you must be prepared, as it must be passed with a minimum score of 90.

Experience

The experience portion of the process will set you on your way towards a rewarding career. As you set your sights on gaining experience, try to find work opportunities that apply to your career aspirations.

The board requires 2,000 hours of verified experience in the field of accountancy. Your work must be documented and authenticated by a licensed CPA. You will need to demonstrate competence in one or more of these areas:

Auditing
Attestation
Taxation
Cost or Financial Accounting
Consulting

The state of Wyoming will be happy to count you among its CPAs and you are sure to find many exciting challenges in your accounting career. To stay current with the state’s guidelines for its licensed professionals, visit the board’s website: Wyoming Board of CPAs.

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