CPA / Accounting License from Montana to Pennsylvania: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy ↗
Yes — Pennsylvania recognizes CPA licenses from all states, including Montana. Apply to the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.
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Verdict
Full reciprocity
Pennsylvania recognizes substantial equivalency, so your Montana CPA license clears the bar on its own — the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy cares that you are a CPA in good standing, not that your license came from Montana. What remains is Pennsylvania-side: verification through CPAverify.org, the reciprocal application and fee, a background check, and any Pennsylvania ethics or rules-of-conduct exam. Do the mobility math first, though — if Pennsylvania is not becoming your principal place of business, practice privilege may let you work there without this application at all.
What changes, Montana → Pennsylvania
| Montana (current) | Pennsylvania (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | 150 | 150 |
| Application fee | $200 (license by credentialing (transfer of grades and licensure) application fee per ARM 24.201.410) | $65 ($65 non-refundable initial-licensure application fee; biennial renewal is $100) |
| Processing time | 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 | The Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy does not publish a processing time |
| Licensing authority | Montana Board of Public Accountants | Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Pennsylvania sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Pennsylvania's current requirements on the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a CPA certificate in full force and effect issued by another state following passage of the Uniform CPA Examination.
- Have current licensure and examination grades verified directly from your licensing state.
- If licensed less than 5 years (or lapsed within the last 5 years): verify 1 year (1,600 hours) of experience within the preceding 5 years, submit transcripts, and document 80 CPE hours.
- Applicants licensed 5 or more years without lapse are exempt from the education, experience, and CPE documentation.
- Pay the fees ($65 ($65 non-refundable initial-licensure application fee; biennial renewal is $100)) and allow The Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy does not publish a processing time.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Pennsylvania accept a Montana CPA license?
Yes — Pennsylvania recognizes CPA licenses from all states, including Montana. Apply to the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.
Do I retake the CPA Exam moving from Montana to Pennsylvania?
No — the Uniform CPA Exam transfers with your license. The Uniform CPA Examination is not retaken; verification of current licensure and examination grades is submitted directly to the board from the state where you hold a license and/or passed the exam. Pennsylvania imposes no separate state ethics examination (4 CPE credits in ethics are required each biennial renewal instead)..
Do I need a Pennsylvania license, or does mobility cover the move?
If Pennsylvania becomes your principal place of business, you apply to the Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy for a reciprocal license. If you are only serving Pennsylvania clients from Montana, practice privilege usually covers you with no Pennsylvania license, notice, or fee.
What does the Montana-to-Pennsylvania move cost?
$65 ($65 non-refundable initial-licensure application fee; biennial renewal is $100) ($65 non-refundable initial-licensure application fee; biennial renewal is $100).
Can I keep my Montana CPA license after licensing in Pennsylvania?
Yes — CPA licenses stack, and many CPAs hold more than one. Keep the Montana 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.
- Pennsylvania Department of State — CPA Licensure Requirements Snapshot (domestic reciprocity, Act 41 endorsement, $65 initial / $100 biennial renewal) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy — Board Resources and Documents (CPA Domestic Reciprocity Application: $65 fee, 150 hours, 1 year experience within preceding 5 years, 80 CPE hours; 5-years-without-lapse track) ↗ (accessed 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)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]