Transfer Your CPA / Accounting License to Minnesota: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my CPA license transfer to Minnesota?
Yes — Minnesota recognizes substantial equivalency, so the Minnesota Board of Accountancy issues a reciprocal CPA license to any CPA already licensed and in good standing in another state. The Uniform CPA Examination is not retaken; a CPA already licensed elsewhere applies as a 'Non-Minnesota Exam Candidate' and passage is verified through the existing license. Minnesota separately requires passing the AICPA Professional Ethics 'For Licensure' comprehensive course within the six months before or after application. Application fee: $150 (initial license application fee; the application expires if all required documents are not received within six months and the $150 must be paid again).
Moving to Minnesota from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Full reciprocity — honors all states
Because Minnesota recognizes substantial equivalency, the Minnesota Board of Accountancy looks at your standing, not your origin: a CPA in good standing from any state qualifies for a reciprocal license, and the Uniform CPA Exam does not come back. Read the requirements below as the destination's own layer — a background check, a state ethics or rules-of-conduct exam where one applies, and proof your CPE is current — rather than a re-credentialing.
Settle the mobility question before you file. If Minnesota is not becoming your principal place of business — you are serving Minnesota clients from elsewhere, or the work is temporary — practice privilege usually lets you work there with no Minnesota license at all. Apply for the reciprocal license when Minnesota is where you will actually be based.
Minnesota grants reciprocal licensure to CPAs from any US jurisdiction (no named partner list); an out-of-state licensee applies as a 'Non-Minnesota Exam Candidate.' Two education tracks exist: meet the 150-hour requirement, or, if licensed four or more years, waive the 150-hour requirement by verifying four years of qualifying experience earned within the ten years preceding application. The AICPA Professional Ethics comprehensive course is required. Separate from license transfer, an out-of-state CPA may practice in Minnesota under non-resident practice privilege/substantial equivalency with no Minnesota license.
Minnesota requirements at a glance
| Education (semester hours) | 150 semester hours of education for initial licensure |
|---|---|
| Fees | $150 (initial license application fee; the application expires if all required documents are not received within six months and the $150 must be paid again) |
| Processing time | Board does not publish a processing time; all documents must be received within six months of the application/fee submission or the application expires |
Step by step
- Confirm Minnesota's current requirements on the Minnesota Board of Accountancy website — rules change.
- Submit the reciprocity/endorsement application to the Minnesota Board of Accountancy (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a CPA license in good standing in another US jurisdiction (substantial equivalency).
- Pass the AICPA Professional Ethics comprehensive course ('For Licensure') within the six months before or after application.
- Meet Minnesota's 150-hour education and experience requirements — OR, if licensed 4+ years, satisfy the education waiver by verifying four years of experience earned within the ten years preceding application.
- Have qualifying experience verified by a CPA.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Minnesota:
Nearby states
CPA / Accounting license transfer into the states bordering Minnesota:
Minnesota for other professions
- Nursing in Minnesota
- Cosmetology / Barber in Minnesota
- Real Estate in Minnesota
- Contractor in Minnesota
- Teaching in Minnesota
- Electrician in Minnesota
- Plumber in Minnesota
- Engineering in Minnesota
- Pharmacy in Minnesota
- Physical Therapy in Minnesota
- Psychology in Minnesota
- Counseling in Minnesota
- Social Work in Minnesota
- Occupational Therapy in Minnesota
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the CPA Exam to get licensed in Minnesota?
No. The Uniform CPA Examination is not retaken; a CPA already licensed elsewhere applies as a 'Non-Minnesota Exam Candidate' and passage is verified through the existing license.
Do I even need a Minnesota CPA license, or does mobility cover me?
If Minnesota is not your principal place of business, practice privilege (mobility) usually lets you serve Minnesota clients with no Minnesota license, notice, or fee. You apply to the Minnesota Board of Accountancy for a reciprocal license when Minnesota becomes where you are principally based.
How does Minnesota's education requirement affect a reciprocal CPA license?
Minnesota's initial-licensure baseline is 150 semester hours. Reciprocal applicants normally satisfy education through the license they already hold rather than a fresh transcript review; if you were licensed before your state raised its education requirement, confirm your route with the Minnesota Board of Accountancy.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com