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5 Steps to Becoming a CPA in Indiana

Any accountant will tell you that the work is always more thrilling when you’re dealing with bigger numbers. But in a more practical sense, there are just more jobs for highly-trained CPAs in states with strong economic growth. And Indiana holds its own.

There’s good news for Indiana licensed CPAs even in these turbulent times: A 2021 report from the Indiana Business Review found that the state is well-poised for strong economic growth in the coming years.

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Like a lot of states, Indiana’s economy is being driven in part by the surge in healthcare spending in the U.S. While that surge reflects a national trend, as the home of Anthem Healthcare, it’s even more noticeable here. Anthem is a Fortune 500 company recognized as the largest for-profit managed health care company in the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association, so you can guess that they have an army of skilled CPAs on the payroll.

Corporations like these with billions in revenue need a lot of accounting talent to get everything to add up. And operating in the healthcare insurance industry, with all the extra regulations involved means that CPAs provding financial analysis, internal audits, and plan evaluations are all in high-demand.

The steps in this guide will show you exactly how to become a CPA in Indiana.

  1. Get Your Education in Indiana
  2. Take the Uniform CPA Exam in Indiana
  3. Gain the Necessary Experience in Indiana
  4. Get Your Indiana CPA License
  5. Continuing Education in Indiana

1. Get Your Education – Meeting CPA Degree Requirements in Indiana

a. Request information from schools in Indiana offering degrees in accounting. The Indiana Board of Accountancy requires that all certified public accountants operating in the state hold a bachelor’s degree at minimum and 150 semester hours of college credit.

With the standard bachelor’s degree in accounting consisting of just 120 semester hours, earning a post-baccalaureate certificate or master’s in accounting is a tried and tested way to get those 30 additional credits required to become a CPA in Indiana. Many of these programs are available entirely online. You can also find specialized five-year CPA track programs that combine a bachelor’s and master’s curriculum to give you the 150 semester hours you need to meet CPA requirements in Indiana.

b. The Indiana Board of Accountancy recognizes all business and accounting degrees and credits granted by colleges and universities in the U.S. that hold standard accreditation through any one of the regional accreditors sanctioned by the Department of Education:

If you attended college in a foreign country, your academic credentials must be evaluated. Contact one of the following agencies to request an evaluation:

c. Meet Indiana’s specific CPA degree and curriculum requirements. Your 150 semester hours may be earned in one of the following ways:

  • Pathway 1: Earn 150 semester hours of college credit (120 in a bachelor’s program and 30 in a graduate program) with the following courses:
    • 24 semester hours in undergraduate accounting courses OR 15 semester hours in graduate accounting courses covering:
      • Taxation
      • Financial accounting
      • Consulting
      • Managerial accounting
    • 24 semester hours in undergraduate or graduate business administration or economics courses, including:
      • Up to 6 semester hours in business and tax law
      • Up to 6 semester hours in computer science
  • Pathway 2: Earn all 150 semester hours of college credit through an accelerated five-year CPA track bachelor’s/master’s degree program that includes:
    • 24 semester hours in undergraduate or graduate accounting courses, covering:
    • 24 semester hours in undergraduate or graduate business administration or economics courses, including:
      • Up to 6 semester hours in business and tax law
      • Up to 6 semester hours in computer science

Note:

  • Credit earned through courses taken at 2 year accredited colleges are acceptable
  • Correspondence and online courses are acceptable if you receive credit for them at an accredited college
  • Commercial CPA review courses are not acceptable

2. Take The Uniform CPA Exam

In order to be eligible to sit for the Uniform CPA exam under Indiana rules, you must have earned 150 semester hours of college credit and at least a bachelor’s degree.

a. Go to CPA Examination Services (CPAES) to register online or download application forms.

b. Forward the necessary documentation with your Uniform CPA Exam application, based upon your college status:

  • If you are still attending college:
    • Ask your college to submit an official transcript showing completion of 150 semester hours and a bachelor’s degree
    • Ask your college to submit a completed Certificate of Enrollment form. Complete the top part of the form yourself then give it to a college official to complete, sign and mail to the Board
    • Submit an ADA Accommodation Form if requesting any disability testing accommodations
    • Submit your application fee via certified check, money order or credit card
  • If you have graduated college:
    • Ask your college to submit an official transcript directly to the address below
    • Submit ADA Accommodation Form if requesting any disability testing accommodations
    • Submit your application fee via certified check, money order or credit card
  • Mail your completed application and all attachments to:
    • CPA Examination Services, Indiana Coordinator, P.O. Box 198469, Nashville, TN 37219-8469

c. Wait to receive the Notice to Schedule (NTS) from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)

d. Head to the Prometric website to schedule your examination at an Indiana testing location. Testing centers in Indiana include:

  • Evansville
  • Merrillville
  • Mishawaka
  • Terre Haut
  • Lafayette
  • Indianapolis

e. Show up at your chosen testing site on exam day ready to test.

f. Receive your exam scores by mail once they have been determined.

If you need further information, phone the Indiana Coordinator of CPA Examination Services at 800-CPA-EXAM.
For detailed information on the Uniform CPA Exam, click here.

3. Gain The Necessary Experience

The Indiana Board of Accountancy expects every practicing CPA in the state to have fulfilled their work experience requirement prior to licensure.

a. Choose the right experience, with the assistance of your college’s career center. It must include:

  • 24 months of full-time accounting employment, in one of the following positions:
    • Accounting employee or accounting intern at a public accounting firm
    • Financial or accounting employee in industry, nonprofit or government organization
    • Employee providing advisory or consulting services in one of these areas:
      • Operational
      • Accounting
      • Financial
    • Instructor teaching accounting in a four-year or junior college or university
    • Instructor teaching accounting in a private or public school
  • Different types of experience may be combined to equal a total of 24 months
  • Part-time employment must be converted to full-time to calculate credit
  • Clerical functions do not count towards fulfilling the experience requirement
  • Experience must be verified by a licensed CPA

b. Have your verifying CPA complete the Verification of Experience Form. It must be signed and notarized.

c. Provide your verifying CPA with a stamped, addressed envelope to return the form to: Indiana Board of Accountancy, Professional Licensing Agency, 402 West Washington Street, Room W072, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

4. Get Your Indiana CPA License

You are now ready to apply for your Indiana CPA Certificate and become licensed to practice in the state. Take a look at the checklist below to make sure you have completed each step:

a. Checklist

  • Finish 150 semester hours of college education and earn at minimum a bachelor’s degree
  • Have your college send an official transcript to CPAES
  • Pass the Uniform CPA Exam.
  • Complete two years of accounting employment experience
  • Have your verifying CPA complete the Certified Public Accountant Verification of Experience form and submit it directly to the Board

b. Apply for your Indiana CPA Certificate. This is begun by completing Parts I and II of the Accountancy Application, which may be downloaded here. Be sure the following supporting documents have been sent:

  • Have your college send an official transcript to the Indiana Board of Accountancy
  • Enclose your completed Verification of Experience form

c. Mail your completed application, appropriate fees and supporting documents to: Indiana Board of Accountancy, Professional Licensing Agency, 402 West Washington Street, Room W072, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

d. Wait to receive notification by email from NASBA when your application has been approved.

e. Receive notification by email from the Board once your application has been approved.

Interstate Reciprocal Certificate

If you already hold an active, valid CPA license or certificate in another state there are two pathways to receiving a Reciprocal CPA Certificate in Indiana:

Path 1:

a. If your license or certificate is from one of the jurisdictions with a process deemed substantially equivalent to that of the Indiana Board of Accountancy you may apply for a Reciprocal CPA Certificate in Indiana. All jurisdictions are eligible for reciprocity other than CA, CO, NH, VT, VI

b. Complete Part I of the Accountancy Application, which may be downloaded here.

c. Remit completed, signed application with a $75 fee to the Indiana Board of Accountancy

d. Verify your CPA license/certificate in the other state. Contact that state’s Board and have them send verification to the Indiana Board of Accountancy, Professional Licensing Agency, 402 West Washington Street, Room W072, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Path 2: If your CPA license or certificate is from a state that is not considered to be substantially equivalent to Indiana under Board rules:

a. Complete Parts I and II of the Accountancy Application, available for download here.

b. Remit completed, signed application with a $75 fee to the Indiana Board of Accountancy

c. Verify your CPA license/certificate in the other state. Contact that state’s Board and have them send verification to the Indiana Board of Accountancy.

d. Verify your CPA exam grades from the state in which you took the exam. Contact that state’s Board and have them send verification to the Indiana Board of Accountancy.

e. Request your college or university send your official transcript directly to the Indiana Board of Accountancy.

f. Have your supervising CPA(s) complete and notarize the Certified Public Accountant Verification of Experience form, which may be downloaded here. It must be signed and notarized, showing that you have completed 48 months of accounting work experience in the past 10 years.

g. If you have had a CPA license/certificate for more than 4 years, submit proof that you have completed 120 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) within the past 3 years. This must include:

  • 12 hours of accounting and/or auditing courses
  • 4 hours of accounting ethics courses
  • No more than 50% of CPE may be claimed as self-study courses

h. Submit all items to: Indiana Board of Accountancy, Professional Licensing Agency, 402 West Washington Street, Room W072, Indianapolis, IN 46204

International Reciprocal Certificate

If you already hold a valid, current CPA equivalent credential from an international jurisdiction you may be eligible for a Reciprocal CPA Certificate in Indiana if:

  • The foreign jurisdiction in which you hold your license/certificate recognizes the Indiana CPA certificate as reciprocal to theirs
  • Your certificate or license:
    • Is regulated by an accounting authority in your jurisdiction
    • Allows you to issue reports for financial statements
    • Was received on the basis of education, examination and experience
  • Your experience meets the following criteria:
    • Substantially equivalent to that of Indiana
    • Consists of four years or more in Indiana or another substantially equivalent state
    • Was within the past 10 years and meets equivalent Board requirements

Credentials from one of the following recognized international jurisdictions are automatically eligible for reciprocity after passing the International Qualification Exam(IQEX):

  • Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA)
  • CPA Australia (CPAA)
  • Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA)
  • Instituto Mexicano De Contadores Publicos (IMCP)
  • Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI)
  • Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants

Contact the Board at (317) 234-3040 to discuss foreign credential evaluation if your international license or certificate is from a jurisdiction not listed above.

5. Stay Current Through Continuing Professional Education in Indiana

The Indiana Board of Accountancy requires CPAs to complete continuing professional education requirements in order to maintain licensure

a. Fulfill 120 hours of CPE every three years

  • At least 20 hours of CPE must be taken each year
  • 12 hours (10%) of your total CPE hours must be in accounting and/or auditing courses
  • 4 CPE hours every three years must be in accounting ethics
  • No more than 50% of your total CPE hours may be derived from self-study
  • 50 minutes of class time equals one hour of CPE

b. Enroll in continuing education programs sponsored by approved organizations such as:

  • US Department of Education
  • Council on Post-Secondary Education
  • A college or university accredited by the US Department of Education or the Council on Post-Secondary Education
  • Government agencies (federal, state and local)
  • National regulated organization of accountants with members in Indiana
  • National, state, district or local organization

c. Gain CPE credit in the following ways:

  • Instructing, lecturing, or discussion leading (may not account for more than 50% of your total CPE credit)
  • Self-study (may not account for more than 50% of your total CPE credit, and you must obtain a certificate of completion)
  • Attending graduate-level college credit courses (one semester hour equals 15 CPE hours)
  • Attending college noncredit courses
    • Coaching courses to prepare for the CPA exam = 10 CPE hours
    • Coaching courses to prepare for enrolled agent’s examination = 10 CPE hours

Find acceptable CPE programs in Indiana through:

The following will not be approved as valid ways of earning CPE:

  • Breakfast, lunch or dinner meetings that are not for educational purposes
  • Business meetings to elect officers, give treasurer’s reports or give committee reports
  • Working on a committee of a national, state or local professional organization
  • In-firm staff meetings on administrative matters

d. Maintain records of your CPE hours for three years, including:

  • Organization sponsoring course
  • Location of course
  • Dates of attendance
  • Number of hours claimed
  • Certificate(s) of completion

Now that you’re a CPA in Indiana

Well done! Your hard work has paid off and you are now an Indiana-licensed certified public accountant! It’s time to think about joining the Indiana CPA Society, the local professional organization offering continuing education opportunities, professional guidance and networking opportunities.

Are you interested in a sub-discipline of accounting? Think about specializing! Opportunities exist within Indiana for controllers, internal auditors, financial business analysts, business valuators, financial reporters and information systems auditors.