CPA / Accounting License from Michigan to Montana: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Montana Board of Public Accountants ↗
Yes — Montana recognizes CPA licenses from all states, including Michigan. Apply to the Montana Board of Public Accountants for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.
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Verdict
Full reciprocity
Montana recognizes substantial equivalency, so your Michigan CPA license clears the bar on its own — the Montana Board of Public Accountants cares that you are a CPA in good standing, not that your license came from Michigan. What remains is Montana-side: verification through CPAverify.org, the reciprocal application and fee, a background check, and any Montana ethics or rules-of-conduct exam. Do the mobility math first, though — if Montana is not becoming your principal place of business, practice privilege may let you work there without this application at all.
What changes, Michigan → Montana
| Michigan (current) | Montana (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | 150 | 150 |
| Application fee | Michigan charges an application processing fee plus a 2-year license fee (State License Fee Act, 1979 PA 152), collected on the CPA reciprocity application; the exact amounts are published on the LARA application forms but could not be confirmed on an accessible official page at time of research (LARA blocked automated retrieval, HTTP 403) | $200 (license by credentialing (transfer of grades and licensure) application fee per ARM 24.201.410) |
| Processing time | LARA does not publish a processing time for the CPA reciprocity application | no processing time published; a complete application must be received at least 15 business days before a scheduled board meeting, and applications not completed within 12 months are void |
| Licensing authority | Michigan Board of Accountancy (Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing) | Montana Board of Public Accountants |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Montana sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Montana's current requirements on the Montana Board of Public Accountants website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Montana Board of Public Accountants (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold an active, current, unrestricted CPA license from a substantially-equivalent jurisdiction.
- Provide verification of licensure from every jurisdiction where you hold or have ever held a professional license.
- Complete the AICPA comprehensive ethics course.
- Meet Montana's experience requirement (ARM 24.201.502).
- Pay the fees ($200 (license by credentialing (transfer of grades and licensure) application fee per ARM 24.201.410)) and allow no processing time published; a complete application must be received at least 15 business days before a scheduled board meeting, and applications not completed within 12 months are void.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Montana accept a Michigan CPA license?
Yes — Montana recognizes CPA licenses from all states, including Michigan. Apply to the Montana Board of Public Accountants for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.
Do I retake the CPA Exam moving from Michigan to Montana?
No — the Uniform CPA Exam transfers with your license. The Uniform CPA Examination is not retaken; passage is confirmed through verification of your existing license (national lookup at CPAverify.org). Montana requires completion of the AICPA comprehensive ethics course rather than a Montana-specific rules exam..
Do I need a Montana license, or does mobility cover the move?
If Montana becomes your principal place of business, you apply to the Montana Board of Public Accountants for a reciprocal license. If you are only serving Montana clients from Michigan, practice privilege usually covers you with no Montana license, notice, or fee.
What does the Michigan-to-Montana move cost?
$200 (license by credentialing (transfer of grades and licensure) application fee per ARM 24.201.410) (license by credentialing (transfer of grades and licensure) application fee per ARM 24.201.410).
Can I keep my Michigan CPA license after licensing in Montana?
Yes — CPA licenses stack, and many CPAs hold more than one. Keep the Michigan license active (its renewal and CPE run separately) and mobility covers the states where you hold none.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Montana Board of Public Accountants — Becoming a CPA by Transfer of Licensure ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Montana Administrative Rules 24.201.410 — Fee Schedule ($200 license by credentialing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Montana Board of Public Accountants — Education Requirements ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Michigan LARA — Licensed Accountant (CPA) Licensing Guide (reciprocity via 4-of-10 experience, license verification, exam certified not retaken) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Michigan LARA — Accountant (CPA) Professional Licensing Guide (150 hours, 1 year experience; no direct bilateral reciprocal agreement, qualify by experience) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Michigan LARA — Board of Accountancy (Bureau of Professional Licensing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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