Accountants in Michigan must comply with the requirements of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the Michigan Board of Accountancy to function as licensed professionals in the state. Basically, there are two phases to obtaining state certification as an accountant. The first phase requires an aspiring accountant to pass the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam for Michigan. To be eligible to sit for the exam, you must obtain a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with 24 hours of coursework in accounting and general business topics.

The second phase for accountants in Michigan to obtain state certification requires a combination of education and experience. The state CPA license is available to accountants who complete 150 hours of educational coursework and have at least 2,000 hours of experience working as an auditor at a public accounting firm or government agency. Typically, the educational requirement is met by obtaining a master's degree in accounting or another business area.

Accountants in Michigan who have passed the CPA exam and met all state certification requirements can apply for a license to practice. Once the license is granted, the accountant is authorized to append the initials CPA to the end of his name to indicate his status as a certified professional. Read more about accountants in Michigan from the links on this Business.com page.