Yes, it is possible to become a CPA without initially having 150 credits, though it varies significantly by state, and 150 hours remain the standard for full licensure in most jurisdictions. While most states require 150 hours to be licensed, many allow candidates to sit for the exam with only a bachelor's degree (120-128 hours).
You can't. Every state requires you to have a certain accounting credit to be eligible for the exam as well as for the license. Generally, a candidate must have 120 credits (in some states the requirement could be 150) from a NAAC recognized college.
The 150 Credit Rule for CPA License. Here is where many candidates get confused: meeting the 120 credit requirement allows you to sit for the exam, but you need 150 credits to actually obtain your CPA license.
While most states traditionally require 150 college credits for CPA licensure, several states, including Ohio, Virginia, California, Texas, Utah, Iowa, Illinois, Delaware, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania, are introducing or have passed laws for alternative pathways, often allowing licensure with 120 credits plus significant relevant experience, aiming to address talent shortages and make the profession more accessible. These changes often involve a bachelor's degree, passing the Uniform CPA Exam, and substantial work experience.
What State Is Best for the CPA License? If you want to take the CPA exam as early as possible with fewer requirements, Alaska is a good state to get your CPA license in because it allows candidates to sit while completing an undergraduate degree if within 18 hours of meeting bachelor's degree requirements.
However, in 1988, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) recommended that state accounting boards raise that requirement to 150 credit hours. For the most part, adding this requirement came from the idea that extra education before licensure would make for more well-rounded CPAs.
To meet the CPA Certification Requirement, you typically need to complete a bachelor's degree with enough accounting and business credits, finish a total of 150 educational credit hours, clear all four parts of the CPA exam, and gain practical work experience as required by the state board you apply to.
Complete the right coursework
After checking your state's requirements, confirm that you've completed the essential number of credit hours to get a CPA without an accounting degree. Most states require 150 college credit hours, which is beyond the number you need for a typical bachelor's degree.
You'll need 150 semester hours (225 quarter hours) which takes most people around five years. You'll need at least 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) to sit for the CPA Exam. Passing all four sections of the CPA Exam takes between one and two years. You'll need at least one year of qualifying employment.
Earn a master's degree.
While candidates can sit for the Uniform CPA exam with a bachelor's degree (120 semester hours), many states require 150 hours of education to obtain CPA licensure. A master's degree in accounting satisfies the 150-hour requirement.
In recent months Texas, Tennessee, Iowa, Georgia, Indiana, Utah, Montana, Virginia, Hawaii, Ohio and New Mexico have passed new laws easing the path to CPA licensure.
Yes, you can get a CPA without a master's degree, but you must still meet your state's specific education requirements, primarily the 150 semester hours of college credit and specific upper-level accounting/business courses, which a master's often fulfills easily but can also be achieved through additional undergraduate study or community college courses.
Having a relevant degree in a complementary field such as accounting is not a prerequisite to begin the CPA Program. However, a relevant degree will help provide the base knowledge and competencies required to commence start your CPA Program studies.
While most states still require 150 credit hours for full CPA licensure, several states like Virginia, Ohio, South Carolina, Oregon, Utah, California, and Arkansas are introducing alternative pathways, often substituting the extra education with additional professional experience (like two years) after earning a bachelor's degree and passing the CPA exam, making the path to licensure more flexible for entry. Some states, like New York, allow sitting for the exam with 120 hours, though the license still needs 150 hours to complete in some cases.
While all CPAs are accountants, not all accountants are CPAs. In fact, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and CPA licensure data, only about 50% of accountants in the United States are actively licensed CPAs.
Students, recent graduates, and people with plenty of time to study should aim to sit for and pass 4 sections of the CPA Exam in about 6 months. This would have you taking an exam every 6-7 weeks and studying about 22-26 hours each week.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the highest-paying states for CPAs in the U.S. are the District of Columbia, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and California, with average salaries ranging from $89,000 to $105,000 per year.