How Long Does It Take To Become a CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is an accountant who has met specific education, examination, and experience requirements. They are qualified to perform tasks that regular accountants cannot legally do.

Obtaining the CPA certification can be challenging in terms of time and effort, but it also opens doors to higher salaries (approximately 10-15% higher) and better job opportunities (including those outside of pure accounting, such as financial planner/advisor, business analyst, actuary). It's also widely recognized as a sign of high professionalism and prestige.

There are three steps to achieving it.

Step 1: Education (4 years)

To become a CPA, most states require at least a bachelor's degree and 150 college credits. This usually includes accounting courses, but not necessarily an accounting degree. Some business courses, such as finance or management, may also be required. While some states allow you to take the CPA exam before you graduate, others require you to complete your degree first. Check with your state board of accountancy for specific details.

Meeting these educational requirements typically takes four years with a bachelor's in accounting, or additional coursework after earning another degree.

Step 2: Exam (from 1 day to 1.5 year, optimally 1 month)

The CPA Exam is a four-part computer-based test, and each section must be completed within four hours. You may take a 15-minute break within each section at a testing center. It's not an open book exam. Pass rates for the CPA Exam typically range from 41% to 58%.

The four sections are:

1. Auditing
2. Business Concepts
3. Financial Accounting
4. Regulation

Most states allow you to take each section separately, in any order. You can also take two, three, or all four sections at the same time. The exam uses three types of questions: multiple choice (most common), simulations, and written responses (least common).

While it's possible to take more than one section in one day, it's not recommended. The CPA exam window is set for 18 months, so that's the maximum amount of time you have to pass all parts. Assuming you don't want to wait that long and want to take one part per week, it will take you one month.

Step 3: Experience (1 year)

Most states require CPAs to have at least one year of relevant work experience (1,800-2,000 hours). This experience typically includes auditing, financial statement preparation, or accounting education. As usual, the exact timeframe for completing this experience varies from state to state.

To summarize entire process, you'll need 4 years to study, one month to take the exam, and another year to gain experience. A total of 5 years.