South Dakota (SD) CPA Exam Requirements

South Dakota (SD) CPA Exam requirements state that you must be declared eligible for the CPA Exam and then licensed by the state. A candidate becomes eligible for the CPA Exam by meeting specific requirements that are determined by the board of accountancy for their specific jurisdiction. Below are the various South Dakota CPA Exam requirements:

South Dakota CPA Exam Education Requirements

• Must present themselves to be of good moral character.
• Minimum education requirements, as detailed below.

Minimum education requirement

• All CPA Exam candidates in South Dakota must have a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university with a concentration or major in accounting. In order to meet the South Dakota CPA Exam requirements, candidates are required to complete 150 semester hours of 225 quarter hours in various course subjects, including: 
• 24 semester hours in accounting including elementary principles of accounting
• At least one course in each of the following:
  • Intermediate or advanced accounting 
  • Auditing
  • Taxation
  • Cost accounting
• 24 semester hours in business courses other than accounting

South Dakota CPA Exam Application

The application process for CPA applicants in South Dakota typically involves the following steps:

1. Education Requirement:
   Ensure completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a major in accounting or related field.
2. CPA Examination Eligibility:
   Apply to the South Dakota Board of Accountancy to determine eligibility to sit for the CPA Examination. Requirements may include specific accounting and business coursework.
3. Submit Application and Fees:
   Complete and submit the CPA Examination application along with applicable fees to the South Dakota Board of Accountancy.
4. Education Transcript Submission:
   Arrange for official transcripts from all educational institutions attended to be sent directly to the Board.
5. Receive Notice to Schedule (NTS):
   Upon approval, receive the Notice to Schedule (NTS) from NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) to schedule the CPA Examination sections.
6. Take the CPA Examination:
   Schedule and take the CPA Examination sections at a Prometric testing center as indicated on the NTS.
7. Ethics Examination:
   Pass an ethics examination covering professional ethics and conduct, either as part of the CPA Examination or separately administered by the Board.
8. Experience Requirement:
   Accumulate the required professional experience as outlined by the South Dakota Board of Accountancy. This typically involves verification by a licensed CPA.
9. Submit Experience Verification:
   Provide documentation verifying the completion of the required professional experience to the Board.
10. CPA License Application:
    Once all examination sections are passed and experience requirements are met, submit an application for CPA licensure to the South Dakota Board of Accountancy.
11. Additional Requirements:
    Fulfill any additional requirements such as fingerprinting, background checks, or other specific requirements mandated by the Board.
12. Receive CPA License:
    Upon approval of the application, receive your CPA license from the South Dakota Board of Accountancy.

South Dakota CPA License Requirements

South Dakota CPAs must renew their license every three years. The cycle occurs July 1 – June 30 triennially.

To obtain a certified public accountant license in South Dakota, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

Ethics Exam:

Applicants must pass an ethics examination administered by the board, covering professional conduct rules as specified under chapter 1-26. This exam may be included within the uniform CPA Examination or administered separately.

Experience Requirement:

Applicants must demonstrate one year of verified experience in accounting, attestation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting services. This experience can be acquired in government, industry, academia, or public practice.

South Dakota CPA Exam Residency Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship Required: No
• Must be a resident, employee OR have office in the state? No

South Dakota CPA CPE Requirements

1. Total CPE Hours:
   CPAs must complete a minimum of 120 CPE hours every three-year reporting period.
2. Ethics Requirement:
   Within each reporting period, CPAs must complete at least 4 hours of ethics CPE.
3. Carryover Hours:
   Up to 60 excess CPE hours completed in the final two years of a reporting period may be carried forward to the next reporting period.
4. Reporting Period:
   The CPE reporting period for South Dakota CPAs is based on a three-year cycle, ending on December 31 of the third year.
5. Verification and Documentation:
   CPAs are required to maintain records of their CPE activities for a minimum of five years and may be subject to audit by the South Dakota Board of Accountancy.
6. Approved Providers:
   CPE must be obtained from providers approved by NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy), AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants), or other recognized CPE sponsors.
7. Exemptions and Waivers:
   Exemptions or waivers from CPE requirements may be granted by the South Dakota Board of Accountancy under specific circumstances, such as hardship or military service.

South Dakota CPA Exam Fees

For more information, visit:

South Dakota, Board of Accountancy