Becoming an accountant is a great career opportunity for those who are detail oriented when it comes to finances. However, if you're wanting to take this career to a more respected level, you should consider becoming a certified public accountant.
What is a CPA?
A certified public accountant, or CPA, is a type of financial professional. They are advanced accountants who help their clients meet certain financial goals.
Responsibilities of a CPA may include assisting clients with:
- analyzing and auditing finances
- developing budgets
- filing taxes
- managing finances
- preparing financial records
- staying compliant with government regulations
A CPA can work in many different fields including:
- academia
- corporations
- government
- non-profits
- public
The specific steps to becoming a certified public accountant will depend on the state you work in.
It's important to check the specific regulations of the state you plan to work in so you can ensure you're compliant.
Step by Step Guide to Becoming a Certified Public Accountant
Below, you'll find the basic steps needed to become a CPA.
Step 1: Obtain the Necessary Education
Almost every state requires you to have at least a bachelor's degree in accounting. A bachelor's degree will give you the knowledge to pass the CPA exam and have a successful career as a CPA.
Most bachelor's degree programs require 120 credits and take four years to complete. Schools may offer Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in accounting.
However, to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination, you'll need 150 college credits. There are a few ways you can earn these final 30 credits:
- double major in another concentration
- earn a master's degree
- enroll in a five-year program that is geared toward CPA certification
- take CPA exam prep courses
- take additional graduate-level courses
While every state requires you to hold a bachelor's degree, the following states do not require you to have a bachelor's in accounting:
- Alaska requires fewer than 15 credit hours in accounting if you have at least a year of professional experience.
- Georgia requires 18 credit hours of upper-level accounting courses and 20 total accounting credits.
- Hawaii lets students take the CPA exam with 18 accounting credit hours.
- Maine students need 15 accounting credits to take the CPA exam.
- Massachusetts students must have 21 credits in specific accounting courses.
Step 2: Earn CPA Certification
Once you've met your state's requirements for CPA certification, you'll need to take the Uniform CPA Examination through the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
The exam is made up of four sections:
- auditing and attestation
- business environment and concepts
- financial accounting and reporting
- regulation
Each section takes four hours to complete, and you must have a minimum score of 75 on each to pass.
Students can take the exams as many times as needed but must pass all of them within the same 18-month period.
You can verify that you've met all necessary requirements through the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) website.
This is also the website you use to apply for the exam. You'll need to complete the application and submit the necessary documents.
Once you've been verified, you'll receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS). This is valid for six months. You'll need the NTS to schedule your exam.
The four exams are offered continually throughout the year, and you'll receive your exam score approximately two weeks after testing.
Step 3: Obtain Your CPA License
Depending on the state you live in, there may be additional requirements you need to fulfill before you can obtain your license.
Some states require that you take an ethics exam or course, while others require you to have a certain amount of accounting experience before you're eligible for a license.
You'll find information below on what's required for each state.
| State | Ethics Requirement | Experience Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ethics course | one to two years |
| Alaska | ethics exam | two years |
| Arizona | ethics exam | 2,000 hours |
| Arkansas | ethics course | one year |
| California | ethics exam | one year |
| Colorado | ethics exam | one year |
| Connecticut | ethics course and exam | two to three years |
| Delaware | ethics course and exam | 2,000 hours |
| Florida | none | one year |
| Georgia | none | 2,000 hours |
| Hawaii | none | 1,500 hours or two years |
| Idaho | ethics course | 2,000 hours |
| Illinois | ethics course and exam | 1,500 hours |
| Indiana | none | two years |
| Iowa | ethics exam | 2,000 hours |
| Kansas | ethics course and exam | one year |
| Kentucky | none | one year |
| Louisiana | ethics course | one year full time or 2,000 hours part time |
| Maine | none | two years |
| Maryland | ethics course and exam | one to three years |
| Massachusetts | none | 2,000 hours of both public and private practice |
| Michigan | none | 2,000 hours |
| Minnesota | ethics exam | 2,000 hours |
| Mississippi | board discretion | one year |
| Missouri | none | one year full time or 2,000 hours part time |
| Montana | ethics course and exam | 2,000 hours |
| Nebraska | multiple ethics exams | 4,000-6,000 hours |
| Nevada | ethics exam | two to four years |
| New Hampshire | none | one year |
| New Jersey | ethics course | one year |
| New Mexico | ethics course and exam | one year |
| New York | none | one year |
| North Carolina | ethics course | one to four years |
| North Dakota | ethics course and exam | 2,000 hours |
| Ohio | ethics course | one to four years |
| Oklahoma | ethics exam | 2,000 hours |
| Oregon | ethics course | 2,000 hours |
| Pennsylvania | none | 1,600 hours |
| Rhode Island | ethics course and exam | one year |
| South Carolina | ethics exam | one to five years |
| South Dakota | ethics exam | one year |
| Tennessee | none | 2,000 hours |
| Texas | ethics course | one to two years |
| Utah | multiple exams | 2,000 hours |
| Vermont | ethics course | 2,080 hours |
| Virginia | multiple courses | 2,080 hours |
| Washington | none | 2,000 |
| Washington D.C. | none | 2,000 |
| West Virginia | none | one year |
| Wisconsin | ethics exam (open book) | one year |
| Wyoming | none | 2,000 hours |
Ethics testing must be done through state-approved programs. Many states require that students take the AICPA's Professional Ethics: The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Comprehensive Course.
Some states require the AICPA's course as well as state-specific ethics courses.
Most states require you to renew your license every few years. Renewal may require continuing education credits.
Become a CPA Today
Becoming a CPA requires the proper education and experience. Contact Best Accredited Colleges today for help finding the perfect accounting program for you.
