How Long Does It Take to Become a CPA?

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a highly respected professional designation in accounting. CPAs are recognized for their expertise in auditing, tax preparation, and financial planning. Becoming a CPA involves several distinct stages, each requiring a specific time commitment.

Meeting Education Requirements

The journey to becoming a CPA begins with satisfying specific educational prerequisites, most notably the “150-semester hour rule.” This widely adopted standard across most U.S. jurisdictions requires candidates to complete 150 semester hours of college coursework, which exceeds the typical 120 hours needed for a standard bachelor’s degree.

Many aspiring CPAs fulfill this requirement by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting, which typically takes four years, followed by a master’s degree in accounting or taxation. This graduate-level study often adds one to two years to the total educational timeline. Alternatively, some universities offer specialized “fifth-year” programs designed to integrate the additional 30 hours into a combined bachelor’s and master’s curriculum.

Another common pathway involves completing a bachelor’s degree and then acquiring the remaining hours through additional undergraduate courses, community college credits, or online programs. The educational phase usually spans five to six years for most candidates. Specific course requirements, such as a minimum number of accounting, business, or ethics credits, are determined by each individual state board of accountancy.

Navigating the CPA Examination

After fulfilling the educational prerequisites, candidates must navigate the rigorous CPA Examination. The exam consists of four separate sections: Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG).

A critical element of the exam is the 18-month rolling window rule. Candidates must pass all four sections within an 18-month period, which begins on the date they pass their first section. Failing to pass all sections within this timeframe means any section passed outside the window will expire, requiring a retake.

Preparing for each section demands a significant time investment. Candidates typically dedicate 80 to 100 or more hours of study per section. This totals approximately 320 to 400 or more hours for the entire examination.

Before candidates can schedule an exam section, they must first apply for a Notice to Schedule (NTS). This application is typically submitted to their state Board of Accountancy, often facilitated through the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). The application requires submitting official academic transcripts and proof of meeting the specific educational requirements.

Candidates can usually find the NTS application on their state board’s website or through the NASBA portal. The processing time for NTS applications can range from several weeks to a few months, depending on the volume of applications and the specific jurisdiction.

Once the NTS is received, candidates can then schedule their examinations through Prometric, the testing administrator. Many candidates aim to schedule within a few weeks to allow for final preparation. The CPA Exam is generally offered year-round, though specific blackout dates exist around score release windows.

Most candidates take between 12 and 18 months to pass all four sections of the exam, including any necessary re-takes.

Fulfilling Experience Requirements

After successfully passing all four sections of the CPA Examination, candidates must then satisfy the practical work experience requirements. Most jurisdictions mandate a specific amount of relevant work experience, commonly ranging from one to two years.

Relevant experience typically encompasses activities such as accounting, auditing, taxation, and financial advisory services. This work must often be supervised by an actively licensed CPA who can attest to the candidate’s professional development and adherence to professional standards.

This experience can be acquired in various professional environments, including public accounting firms, corporate accounting departments, or government agencies. Many candidates begin accumulating this experience concurrently with or immediately following their CPA Exam journey.

The process of documenting and verifying this experience usually involves submitting specific forms to the state board of accountancy. These forms often require the supervising CPA to attest to the candidate’s fulfilled responsibilities and the duration of their engagement.

Applying for Licensure

The final administrative step in becoming a CPA involves submitting a comprehensive application package for licensure to the specific state Board of Accountancy. This application is submitted after all other requirements, including education, successful completion of the CPA Exam, and the required work experience, have been met.

Candidates must often provide official transcripts verifying their 150 semester hours of education directly from their academic institutions. Verification of passing all four CPA Exam sections is usually handled directly between NASBA, Prometric, and the state board, reducing the burden on the applicant.

Additionally, the application requires the submission of experience verification forms, which must be accurately completed and signed by the supervising CPA. Some jurisdictions also require candidates to pass a state-specific ethics exam, which assesses understanding of professional conduct and responsibilities unique to that state’s regulations. This exam must be completed before the final application can be approved.

Once the complete application package is received by the state board, the processing time can range from several weeks to a few months.