NASBA Licensing

CPA Licensing

NASBA assists state boards with licensing services including eligibility determination, education evaluation, application processing and customer service to candidates throughout the licensing process.

Effective August 3, 2026, NASBA launched a new licensing system within the CPA Portal. Applicants can now submit licensure applications directly through the CPA Portal, creating a smoother transition from examination to licensure.

Please review the information below carefully before submitting your application.

Applicants who have Passed all 4 Sections of the CPA Examination

If you currently hold a CPA license and previously created a CPA Portal account for examination services, simply log in using your existing account.

If you have successfully passed all four sections of the CPA Examination, and never held a CPA license, follow these steps:

Log in to the CPA Portal using the account you previously used for CPA Examination services.
Select “Apply Now.“
Choose your jurisdiction.
Select the licensing application you wish to submit.

If you have never logged into the CPA Portal but have previously passed the examinations, please follow these steps:

Visit NASBA.org – Sign In
Instead of signing in, please click “Sign Up” to create an okta account.
Verify with verification email, and accept the informed consent.
Once you reach the application dashboard click on the CPA Portal and click “Existing Candidate”.
Match to your previous application account using your National Candidate ID, Email, and Date of Birth.
If you are licensed already, click “Link Existing License” on the home page of the CPA Portal.

Applicants Licensed in a Non-NASBA Managed Jurisdiction

If you currently hold a CPA license in a jurisdiction not managed by NASBA and would like to apply for licensure in a NASBA-managed jurisdiction, you must:

Log in to your CPA Portal account. If you do not have a CPA Portal Account, please follow the directions listed above for creating an account and matching to your previous account associated with the CPA Examination.
Select “Link Existing CPA License.”
Complete the license-linking process before submitting your new licensure application.

Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Applicants

Some applicants from Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands received an email indicating that a CPA Portal account was created on their behalf.

If you received this email, please refer to the PDF instructions below for guidance on setting up your account.

Licensure OKTA Instructions

If you did not receive an account setup email, log in using the CPA Portal account previously used for your CPA Examination services or create a new account and match as an existing candidate.

Need Assistance?

Before beginning your application, please ensure your CPA Portal account information is accurate and that any existing licenses have been linked, if applicable. Following these steps will help prevent delays in processing your licensure application.

If you are still encountering issues, please email [email protected] or call 866-350-0017.

If you are a current or potential licensing applicant of a state NASBA services, click the appropriate state below to learn more.

> Colorado
> Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
> District of Columbia
> Georgia
> Maryland
> Montana
> New Hampshire
> Puerto Rico
> Virgin Islands

Academic Credential Evaluation Service

After successfully passing all 4 sections of the CPA Exam:

You must submit an Academic Credential Evaluation (ACE) Application through NASBA Licensing Services if you did NOT meet your state’s 150 semester hour education requirements for CPA licensure when you were originally found eligible to sit for the CPA Exam. Once your ACE Application has been approved, NASBA Licensing Services will communicate to your State Board of Accountancy that you now meet your state’s 150 semester hour education requirements, and you may proceed with applying for CPA licensure through your State Board of Accountancy.
If you met the 150 semester hour requirements for your particular state at the time you were originally found eligible to sit for the CPA Examination, an ACE Application is NOT required and you may instead apply for CPA licensure directly through your State Board of Accountancy. NASBA provides Academic Credential Evaluation service to four state boards of accountancy. If you are a current or potential licensing applicant of one of the states below, click the appropriate state to learn more.

> Indiana
> Maine
> Massachusetts
> New Jersey
> Tennessee
> Utah
> Washington State

National Qualification Appraisal Service (NQAS)

CredentialNet, a service of the NQAS, is an Individual Substantial Equivalency evaluation service for the purposes of mobility and/or reciprocal licensure.

Reciprocity/Practice Privilege

A CPA who is seeking a reciprocal license and/or practice privilege may obtain an Individual Substantial Equivalency evaluation from NASBA. Individual Substantial Equivalency evaluations are offered through NASBA’s CredentialNet service, and should be obtained prior to application to the Board. After the Individual Substantial Equivalency evaluation is completed, NASBA will send a report to the Board indicating Individual Substantial Equivalency status.

The states listed below accept documentation from CredentialNet for the reciprocal licensing and/or practice privilege notification process. Please click the appropriate state below to learn more.

> Arkansas
> Kansas
> Maine
> Oklahoma

Mobility/Substantial Equivalency

If you are a CPA with an active license from a state deemed non-substantially equivalent and need your individual CPA qualifications evaluated for the purposes of mobility, you may submit an application to CredentialNet. The Substantial Equivalency Evaluation report is accepted as verification in most states.

> Click here to learn more