How to Become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Co-authored by John Gillingham, CPA, MA

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 References

Certified public accountants, or CPAs, are licensed professionals who conduct audits and help businesses and other institutions manage their finances. If you enjoy working with numbers and would like to pursue a career in accounting, read this article to learn where to get started!

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Preparing to Take the Course

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Graduate from high school. Alternatively, you can take the General Education Development (GED) examination. You will need to do one of these things in order to apply to a four-year institution.
- Take the SATs, the standardized test that is required for college admission, your junior year and apply to more than one school in order to keep your options open.
2
Get a bachelor's degree. Most states, with a few exceptions, require that CPAs have at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.^{[1]
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Research source}^{[2]
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Research source} These programs typically take four years to complete, and tuition and coursework will vary depending on the school. Students take courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, business, auditing, and marketing.^{[3]
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- Certain companies also require that a CPA have a master's degree.^{[4]
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  Research source} Increase your job prospects by getting a master's in either finance or accounting.^{[5]
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  Research source} These programs typically take one or two years to complete.
- Some states allow prospective candidates to substitute relevant work experience for a bachelor's degree.^{[6]
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Get certified in your state.^{[7]
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Expert Source

John Gillingham, CPA, MA
Certified Public Accountant
Expert Interview. 3 March 2020.} You will need to take the four-part Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and meet additional certification requirements for your state in order to work as a public accountant.^{[8]
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Research source} Some states also require prior accounting experience as a pre-requisite for licensure.^{[9]
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Research source} The Unified CPA examination is composed of the following four sections:
- Auditing and Attestation (AUD). Subsections include internal controls and obtaining and documenting information.
- Business Environment and Concepts (BEC). Subsections include business structure, economic concepts, financial management, and information technology.
- Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR). Subsections include concepts and standards for financial statements, typical items in financial statements, and accounting and reporting for government entities.
- Regulation (REG). Subsections include ethics and professional responsibility, business law, and federal taxation.
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Find a job as an accountant. CPAs can work in a variety of settings, including businesses, corporations, government institutions, and schools.^{[10]
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Research source} Job opportunities for CPAs and other accountant/auditor occupations are expected to increase by 22% between 2008 and 2018 to meet increased demand due to new financial regulations.^{[11]
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- Public accountants can choose to specialize in certain fields like forensic accounting, tax advising, and medical care compensation.^{[12]
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- CPAs may be hired by businesses or government agencies, or can be self-employed through their own practice.^{[13]
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- Certified CPAs must complete continuing education requirements in order to keep their license current.^{[14]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Passing the Exam

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Pass the CPA exam. To qualify as a CPA, the following parts of the exam must be passed:^{[15]
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Expert Source

John Gillingham, CPA, MA
Certified Public Accountant
Expert Interview. 3 March 2020.}
- Audit and Attestation
- Financial Accounting & Reporting
- Regulations
- Environment & Concepts
2
Realize what is expected. The CPA course is quite complex to understand. Here is a list of what measures you must take.
- In every quarter of the year, you can sit for CPA exams in the first two months of the following quarter.
- Students can choose which part they want to attempt.^{[16]
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  Expert Source
  
  John Gillingham, CPA, MA
  Certified Public Accountant
  Expert Interview. 3 March 2020.}
- Remember, once you’ve attempted a part, in following one and half year you must have to attempt other three parts as well as successfully passing them to complete the course.
- This part makes CPA a complicated course and many students fail CPA due to the same reason.
- Finally, the candidate should acquire minimum 1800 hours physical experience under an Authorized CPA holder.
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Enroll in a CPA course at a reputed university or college.
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Consider taking physical or online courses. Many universities and colleges offer both physical and online course.
- The institutes are providing a proper guideline so students a can pass in their first attempt.
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Study while continuing your working career. Job holders can also keep their CPA preparations on while continuing their jobs. So, in the same time, if they’re working under a licensed CPA holder, they’re actually keeping them one step ahead. Later they don’t need to give an extra 1800 hours according to the CPA passing requirements. It will be a great idea to save your time and start a career as early possible as CPA.
- This only became possible because of online CPA courses. Where students can pick a suitable time to attend live classes online either they can download and prepare themselves for CPA exams.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do I get started studying for the CPA exam?

John Gillingham, CPA, MA
Certified Public Accountant & Founder of Accounting Play
John Gillingham is a Certified Public Accountant, the Owner of Gillingham CPA, PC, and the Founder of Accounting Play, Apps to teach Business & Accounting. John, who is based in San Francisco, California, has over 14 years of accounting experience and specializes in assisting consultants, bootstrapped startups, pre-series A ventures, and stock option compensated employees. He received his MA in Accountancy from the California State University - Sacramento in 2011.

John Gillingham, CPA, MA

Certified Public Accountant & Founder of Accounting Play

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Don't start the process unless you've allocated the right amount of time, money, and energy. Typically, you have to pass all of the exams within a certain timeframe. Make a game plan and factor in all of the variables that will go into really doing it. I recommend taking the more difficult exams first.