How to Become a CPA

Today's CPAs can weave their accounting and financial skills into several career areas that were not available in years past.

Information technology, personal financial planning, and forensic accounting are a few examples.

Review the following checklist to see if you have the qualifications to get started on the road to earning a CPA designation.

Before sitting for the CPA Exam candidates must have:

• Graduated college with a bachelor's or master's degree
• Completed at least a total of 24 semester credits in accounting subjects. These subjects include accounting and auditing, business law, finance, or tax subjects acceptable to the State Board of Accountancy.

Requirements needed to pass the CPA Exam include:

Effective April 5, 2004, the Uniform CPA Exam became a two-part, computer-based examination. Please visit www.cpazone.org for full details on new CPA exam requirements.

Requirements for final certification:

• Candidates who pass the exam with only a bachelor's degree need to complete two years of work experience (3,200 hours) to gain certification
• Candidates who pass the exam and gathered 150 credit hours (with specified additional credits) need only one year of work experience to gain certification

Still considering the pursuit of a CPA designation? See a complete list of exam requirements, substantial equivalency, and the 150-Hour requirement.