How to Become an Accountant: Degree and CPA Path

Most accountants start with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, then work in public accounting, a company, a nonprofit or government. Many also pursue the CPA license, which requires passing the Uniform CPA Examination plus meeting education and experience requirements set by your state board of accountancy. Not every accountant needs a CPA, but it opens more doors, especially in audit and public practice.

What accountants do day to day

Accounting is less about doing math and more about organizing information, applying rules and explaining what numbers mean. The work depends on the area:

Audit: testing a client’s financial records and controls to support an opinion on whether they are accurate.
Tax: preparing returns, researching rules and helping individuals and businesses plan ahead.
Corporate accounting: month-end close, financial reporting, budgeting, payroll and accounts payable or receivable.
Government and nonprofit: tracking public funds and grants, and meeting reporting rules.
Advisory: helping organizations with systems, risk and financial decisions.

Expect spreadsheets, accounting software, deadlines and plenty of communication with people who are not accountants. Public accounting has busy seasons, especially around tax deadlines and year-end audits, when long hours are normal.

The education routes

Bachelor’s in accounting: the standard path, covering financial accounting, managerial accounting, tax, audit and business law.
Community college first: introductory accounting and general education at lower cost before transferring. Confirm credits will transfer; see how transfer credits work.
Master’s in accounting: common for students adding the extra credit hours that some licensing paths require, and for career changers.
Bookkeeping certificate: a shorter route into bookkeeping roles. Bookkeepers record transactions; accountants typically analyze, report and advise.

The CPA license in general terms

The CPA is a state license. The general requirements are education, passing the multi-part CPA exam and supervised work experience, and many states also require an ethics exam. For years, most states required 150 semester hours of education, more than a typical bachelor’s degree. Many states have adopted or are considering an alternative that accepts a bachelor’s degree plus additional work experience. Because these rules have been changing, check your state board of accountancy for current requirements before planning your coursework.

Other credentials suit other paths: the CMA for management accounting inside companies, and the enrolled agent credential, earned by passing an IRS exam, for tax specialists.

A step-by-step path from high school

Take an accounting or business class if your school offers one, along with statistics and economics.
Try keeping real books: a club treasurer role or bookkeeping for a family business.
Choose an accounting major, or a business major with an accounting concentration.
Apply for internships early. Accounting firms often recruit interns a year or more ahead.
Plan your credits with your state’s CPA requirements in mind.
Start working, take the CPA exam sections and log experience under a licensed CPA.

Ways to try accounting early

Take an introductory financial accounting course. If debits and credits click, that is a good sign.
Volunteer with a free tax-preparation program for low-income households during tax season; many train volunteers.
Hold informational interviews with an auditor, a tax accountant and a corporate accountant. Their days are very different.
Shadow someone during busy season to see the real workload.

Who does well in accounting

Accountants who do well are detail-oriented, comfortable with rules, good at spotting what does not add up and able to explain findings clearly. A common reason people leave public accounting is busy-season hours, though many move into corporate, government or nonprofit roles rather than leaving the field. Automation and AI are taking over routine data entry, so judgment, communication and data skills are becoming more valuable; see AI skills for your career. For current pay and outlook, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Becoming an accountant later

Career changers with a bachelor’s in another field can take accounting courses through a post-bachelor’s certificate or a master’s program designed for non-accounting majors. Before enrolling, confirm the courses meet your state’s CPA education rules. Backgrounds in finance, operations or small business are an asset. Our guides on career change and the mid-career pivot can help with timing.

Where a mentor helps

The accounting path asks for planning across years: course sequencing, early internship recruiting, credit hours toward licensure and studying for exam sections while working full time. A mentor helps students and young professionals build that plan, stay accountable to study schedules and prepare for interviews and the first job. Mentors are not career counselors with credentials, admissions counselors or licensing experts. See career and education mentoring and mentoring for college students.

Common questions

Do you need a CPA to be an accountant?

No. Many accountants work without a CPA, especially in corporate and government roles. The CPA is required to sign audit opinions and is valued for advancement.

How long does it take to become a CPA?

Typically a bachelor’s degree, plus either extra coursework or additional experience depending on your state, plus time to pass all exam sections. Check your state board for the exact rules.

Is accounting a good major if I am not great at math?

Accounting uses arithmetic and logic more than advanced math. Organization, attention to detail and clear writing matter as much as math ability.

What is the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?

Bookkeepers record day-to-day transactions. Accountants analyze and report that information, prepare taxes and advise, and usually need a degree.

Get started

Working toward an accounting career and want help with the long-range plan? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.

How to Become an Accountant: Degree, CPA Path and Career Options