CPA / Accountant License Lookup by State

Who needs a cpa / accountant license

Certified public accountants are licensed by a state board of accountancy. Becoming a CPA generally requires meeting education requirements, passing the Uniform CPA Examination, and completing a period of qualifying experience. Many states also license CPA firms separately, and some require firm registration or peer review before a firm can provide attest services such as audits and reviews.

Not every accountant is a CPA, and not every accounting service requires a license. Bookkeeping and tax preparation can often be performed without a CPA license, though paid tax preparers have separate federal requirements. Using the title 'CPA' or issuing audit and review reports is restricted to licensees. Most states also allow CPAs licensed elsewhere to practice under mobility rules, so a CPA serving you may hold a license from another state.

How to look up a cpa / accountant license

1. Get the accountant's name, firm name, and the state where they say they are licensed.
2. Choose that state above and open the board of accountancy lookup. Many boards also participate in CPAverify, a national search maintained by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.
3. Confirm the individual license is active and, for audit or review work, check that the firm also holds the required firm license or registration.
4. Review any listed disciplinary actions, which boards typically publish as orders or summaries.

What license status terms mean

Active

The CPA may use the title and practice public accounting in that state, subject to the board's rules.

Inactive

Some states let CPAs who are not practicing hold an inactive or retired license. These holders usually cannot provide public accounting services and may face restrictions on using the CPA title.

Lapsed or expired

The license was not renewed, often because continuing professional education was not reported. The holder cannot practice as a CPA until reinstated.

Suspended

The board has temporarily withdrawn the license after a disciplinary finding. Revocation ends the license entirely.

Renewal and continuing education

CPA licenses are renewed on a cycle set by each board, often every one to three years. Most boards require continuing professional education over a reporting period, frequently with a required ethics component. CPAs who perform audits may need additional hours in accounting and auditing, and firms may be subject to peer review. Exact hours and timing vary by state.

A practical verification tip

If you are engaging a CPA for an audit, review, or other attest engagement that a lender, investor, or government agency will rely on, verify both the individual and the firm before signing the engagement letter. Ask the firm whether it is subject to peer review and, if so, request the most recent report. Lenders commonly require that financial statements be prepared or reviewed by a licensed firm, and an unlicensed report may be rejected entirely, delaying a closing or filing. When you change accountants, ask the new CPA to confirm their own license status in writing as part of the engagement, and keep that confirmation with your engagement letter and prior-year financial statements.