Here you will find the different CPA requirements imposed by the different states. These include education requirements, the CPA exam requirements, work experience requirements, CPA license requirements as well as CPA ethics requirements.
There used to be a time where a traditional 120 credit hour Bachelor's degree was sufficient to meet the CPA requirements. However, most states now require 150 credit hours of education. Because Bachelor degrees take only 120 credit hours to obtain, many aspiring CPAs pursue a one-year Masters program (30 hours) after obtaining a Bachelor's degree.
I usually recommend a Master's in Accounting or a related field if you did your Bachelor's in Accounting. Because the CPA exam is quite challenging, I usually recommend that an aspiring CPA start preparing early by following a relevant curriculum in college. Many colleges and universities have a curriculum specifically for those who want to become CPAs, often in form of a 150 credit hour 5 year program.
Here are the basic CPA requirements State Boards of Accountancies require for CPAs
- 150 credit hours of accredited education
- A certain minimum number of credit hours in accounting courses
- A certain minimum number of credit hours in other business/related courses
- Bachelor's degree
I am a big fan of 5 year programs, as my son went through one in a top 10 business school. However I understand that this route is not for everyone because of either cost, personal interest or other circumstances.
Therefore, you can obtain a Bachelor's degree in a discipline of your choice, and provided that you take the minimum accounting course requirements, can then move on to take another 30 credit hours of education in any field to prepare for a CPA career. The additional 30 credit hours can also be in form of a one year Master's of Accounting program if you so choose. Many pursue the CPA certification after earning an MBA, which is usually a two-year program, giving them more than the required 150 credit hours of education.
Another popular route is to obtain a Bachelor's degree in accounting and then complete a one year program in a specialized field such as corporate finance, taxation, or a similar (but not the same) related field of study.
Finally, there are students that don't take spring and summer semesters off and continue taking classes throughout. Others come into college with credits from advanced courses taken in high school. These students are positioned to complete 150 credit hours of education in just 4 years and are able to fulfill the CPA requirements to take the exam and pursue the career.
Whichever route you take or have already taken, my recommendation to you is to immediately sit for the Prometric CPA exam. I say this because the CPA exam is mostly based on the education you obtain during your CPA curriculum. It is best to take the CPA exam while the information is still fresh in your mind. Believe it or not, your education is going to be more helpful in terms of passing the CPA exam than any amount of practical work experience obtained in the real world. It is often said that you are the best CPA right before and right after you take the CPA exam.
From the time you complete your education to the time you take the exam, consider taking a CPA course to prepare you for the rigor and type of questions asked on the CPA exam. Statistics prove that those who take a formal CPA course are exponentially more likely to pass the CPA exam than those who don't (90%+ to be more precise). Even if you don't end up taking a formal CPA course, consider going through the review materials available online or in various books and publications.
Curt Matsen, CPA is the author The CPA Requirements Headquarters, a comprehensive guide on CPA License Requirements in every state.
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