The timeline from start to license is typically three to five years
Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) takes longer than most professional licenses because you must complete education, pass a four-part exam, and gain work experience — and these steps often overlap rather than happen in sequence. Most people finish in three to five years, but the path varies depending on whether you already have a bachelor's degree, how quickly you pass the exam sections, and how your state counts your work hours.
The shortest realistic timeline is about 18 months: a person with a bachelor's degree in accounting who passes all four exam sections on the first attempt and works full-time in a may have access to role. The longest commonly takes five to seven years if you need to complete a master's degree, retake exam sections, or work part-time. Your state board of accountancy sets the final rules, so the exact requirements depend on where you plan to be licensed.
Key Takeaways
- You must hold a bachelor's degree (in any field), pass the Uniform CPA Exam, complete 150 credit hours of education, and work 1,000 to 2,000 hours in accounting under a licensed CPA — the exact hours vary by state.
- The Uniform CPA Exam has four sections that you can take in any order, and most people pass all four within 12 to 18 months of starting, though retakes add time.
- Work experience and education can happen at the same time, so you do not have to finish school before you start counting hours toward your license.
- Your state board of accountancy controls the final approval, and processing times for the CPA certificate itself usually take four to eight weeks after you meet all requirements.
Education requirements: 150 credit hours and a bachelor's degree
You need a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in any subject — it does not have to be accounting. You also need 150 total credit hours of college-level coursework, which is 30 credit hours more than a typical four-year degree. Most people meet this by completing a bachelor's degree (120 credit hours) plus a master's degree or additional undergraduate courses (30 more hours).
If you already have a bachelor's degree in a non-accounting field, you can take a master's degree in accounting, taxation, or business (usually 30 to 36 credit hours, taking one to two years full-time), or you can take individual courses at a community college or university until you reach 150 hours. Some people spread these courses over several years while working, which extends the timeline but lets you earn money at the same time.
Your state board specifies which courses count toward the 150-hour requirement — typically accounting, auditing, taxation, and business law courses. Not all online or community college credits transfer, so check your state board's website before enrolling. A few states allow you to count work experience hours as a substitute for some education, but this is rare.
The Uniform CPA Exam: four sections, typically 12 to 18 months to complete
The Uniform CPA Exam is administered by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and has four sections: Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG). You can take the sections in any order and at your own pace, but you must pass all four within a rolling 18-month window — if you pass one section, you have 18 months to pass the other three before the first one expires.
Most people take one or two sections per testing window (the exam is offered in four windows per year: January–February, April–May, July–August, and October–November). If you pass on the first attempt, you might finish all four sections in 6 to 12 months. If you retake a section, add another two to four months per retake. The exam costs about $60 to $100 per section to register, plus study materials and prep courses, which range from $500 to $3,000 depending on whether you use a self-study book or an instructor-led course.
You must meet your state's education requirements (usually at least 120 credit hours) before you can sit for the exam, but you do not need all 150 hours completed. Many people take the exam while finishing their remaining coursework.
Work experience: 1,000 to 2,000 hours under a licensed CPA
After you pass all four exam sections, you must complete work experience in accounting under the supervision of a licensed CPA. The number of hours required varies by state: most require 1,000 to 2,000 hours, which equals roughly six months to one year of full-time work. Some states allow you to count work done before you pass the exam, so you may be able to start accumulating hours while you are still studying.
The work must be in a role that involves accounting, auditing, taxation, or financial reporting — not general business or administrative work. Your supervising CPA must sign off on your hours, usually through your state board's online portal. If you work part-time, the timeline stretches: 1,500 hours at 20 hours per week takes about 14 months instead of 6 months.
Some employers, particularly large accounting firms, have formal CPA-track programs that structure your work to meet these requirements and may even pay for exam prep. If you work at a smaller firm or in-house accounting department, you may need to track your own hours and ask your supervisor to verify them.
State board review and certificate issuance: four to eight weeks
Once you have passed all four exam sections, completed your education hours, and finished your work experience, you submit your process to your state board of accountancy. The board reviews your transcripts, exam scores (which NASBA sends automatically), and work experience verification. This review typically takes four to eight weeks, though some states are faster and others slower.
During this time, the board checks that your education meets its specific requirements (some states require certain courses in taxation or auditing, for example) and that your work experience was genuinely under a licensed CPA. If anything is missing or unclear, the board will ask you for more documentation, which adds two to four weeks.
Once approved, your state issues a CPA certificate and you can use the CPA credential. Some states also require you to take a jurisprudence exam (a short test on state accounting laws) before final approval, which adds another week or two.
Timeline variations: how your situation affects the total time
If you have a bachelor's degree in accounting and work full-time at an accounting firm, you might finish in 18 to 24 months: take the exam over 12 months, complete 1,000 work hours in parallel (which you may have already started), and get your certificate in 8 weeks. If you have a bachelor's degree in a different field, add 12 to 24 months for a master's degree or additional coursework. If you work part-time or need to retake exam sections, add 6 to 12 months per retake or per part-time year.
Some states allow you to count work experience before you pass the exam, which means you can overlap exam preparation with work hours. Other states require you to pass the exam first. Check your state board's rules before you start, because this can save you a year or more.
A few states have reciprocity agreements, meaning if you are licensed in one state, you can transfer your license to another without retaking the exam. However, you may need to meet that state's specific education or work experience requirements, which can add time if they are stricter than your original state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take the CPA exam while I am still in school?
Most states require you to have at least 120 credit hours (a bachelor's degree) before you sit for the exam. Some allow you to take it in your final semester if you are on track to graduate. Check your state board's website to confirm, because the rule varies.
What happens if I fail one section of the CPA exam?
You can retake that section in the next testing window (about two months later). Your other three passing scores remain valid for 18 months from the date you passed the first one, so you have time to retake without losing progress. Most people pass all four sections within two or three attempts.
Do I have to work full-time to count my hours toward the CPA license?
No. Part-time work counts as long as it is in an accounting role under a licensed CPA. If you work 20 hours per week, it will take longer to reach 1,000 or 2,000 hours, but the hours still count. Some states allow you to count volunteer work or internships as well.
Can I get a CPA license in one state and then move to another?
Yes, through reciprocity. If you are licensed in one state, you can usually transfer to another without retaking the exam, though you may need to meet that state's specific requirements or pay a reciprocity fee. Some states have stricter education or work experience rules, so check before you move.
How much does it cost to become a CPA?
Costs vary widely depending on your education path and exam prep method. Exam registration is about $240 to $400 total (four sections). A master's degree costs $15,000 to $50,000. Exam prep courses range from $500 to $3,000. If you already have a bachelor's degree and use free study materials, you might spend $1,000 to $2,000 total; if you pursue a full master's degree, expect $20,000 to $60,000.