Fastest Way To Become an Accountant in Texas 2025

Becoming an accountant is a great way to pursue high-demand career paths in finance. Perhaps you live in Texas and would like to learn more about entering the accounting field. In particular, you'd like to know more about the fastest way to become an accountant.

If this sounds like you, keep reading. Below, we'll discuss how to become an accountant quickly, look at some Texas schools offering accelerated degree programs, and answer various questions you may have.

What Does an Accountant Do?

Accountants are finance professionals who work for accounting firms, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individual clients. They must have several years of professional education and experience in recording and interpreting financial data. Job duties vary but often involve:

• performing routine audits
• preparing tax documents
• checking financial statements for accuracy
• using accounting information systems and programs
• offering financial advice and risk analysis services

Accountants often specialize in a particular area of accounting. Common specializations include management accounting, professional accounting, auditing and attestation, and financial accounting.

How Long Does it Take to Become an Accountant in Texas?

Students must follow several steps to become an accountant, especially if they are interested in becoming a certified public accountant (licensed CPA). The entire process can take up to seven years or more.

At minimum, all accountants must have at least a bachelor's degree. This is required even for entry-level career opportunities in the field. It typically takes about four years for full-time students to earn this degree.

Some career paths also require advanced education, such as graduate certificates or master's degrees. These programs often add one to two years to your timeframe.

Many jobs also have some work experience requirements; you may be able to meet these requirements through internships or entry-level jobs. If you wait until after graduation to pursue these opportunities, you'll need to spend an additional year gaining this required work experience.

Finally, earning CPA certification can take additional time. The Uniform CPA Examination consists of four sections, and students are encouraged to study and prepare for each one. It can take a year or more to earn this certification; however, students can complete the exam in much less time if desired.

The Fastest Way To Become an Accountant in Texas

There are several ways you can accelerate your path to an accounting career in Texas. Let's take a closer look at some tips for becoming an accountant quickly.

1. Complete Accelerated Degree Programs

The fastest way to become an accountant is to shave time off the educational requirements. You can do this by completing accelerated degree programs. Accelerated bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and combined programs are all available.

Students in accelerated bachelor's programs can earn their four-year degree in just one to three years depending on the number of transfer credits they have. Accelerated master's programs are designed to be completed in one year or less. Combined degrees, also known as 4+1 programs, allow students to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree within five years or less.

2. Work Internships and/or Entry-Level Jobs

Since many careers require basic experience, completing internships or entry-level jobs can help you land desired positions more quickly. In many cases, you may be able to gain this work experience while still in school, helping you save valuable time.

If you are planning to become a CPA, you'll need to gain 12 months of full-time or 2,000 hours of part-time work experience under the supervision of a licensed CPA. This experience is typically gained after graduation. To meet the requirements in the shortest timeframe possible, opt for the 12 months of full-time experience.

3. Get CPA License

You can take the CPA exam after earning your bachelor's degree but must meet additional requirements to earn your license. These include having at least 150 semester hours of college credit, including at least 27 credit hours of upper-level accounting courses and a three-credit ethics course. You must also meet accounting work experience requirements to get your license.

According to the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TSBPA), CPA candidates must meet all licensing requirements within 36 months of passing the CPA exam. To speed up the process, students are encouraged to work on meeting additional requirements while completing each section of the CPA exam.

4. Meet Other Texas CPA Licensure Requirements

In addition to passing the Uniform CPA Exam and meeting all education and experience requirements, CPA candidates must pass a background check, as well as an open-book exam covering the TSBPA's Rules of Professional Conduct. Candidates must also submit an oath of office and an application for the issuance of the CPA certificate and associated application fee.

Students are encouraged to meet as many of the Texas CPA requirements as possible while completing their educational and experience requirements. Combining the steps can help candidates reach their career goals more quickly.

Accelerated Accounting Programs in Texas

Pursuing accelerated online accounting degrees from accredited colleges can help students fast-track their path to becoming accountants. Let's look at some top schools in Texas offering quick accounting degree programs.

Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University is a public school with a combined accounting degree designed for highly motivated learners. The 150-hour program enables students to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science in accounting within five years or less.

This highly-practical program prepares students to work in either auditing or taxation and to achieve high scores on the CPA exam. Various internship opportunities are available, which can help students gain valuable experience as they rapidly progress toward their career goals.

• Time to completion: Less than 5 years
• Tuition cost: $6,956 to $11,852 per year on average
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley offers bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting. The bachelor's degree is considered a traditional program, but the online Master of Accountancy (MAcc) can be completed in an accelerated one-year timeframe.

The master's program consists of 30 credit hours and is typically completed within one year. Those who earn a bachelor's degree and then immediately enroll in the master's program can meet all educational requirements to become a Texas CPA within five years.

• Time to completion: 5 years
• Tuition cost: $4,993.20 per semester BBA; $472.22 per credit hour MAcc
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

University of Houston

The University of Houston is a public school providing both a traditional bachelor's degree and an accelerated master's degree in accounting. Both programs can be completed within five years � students with transfer credits may finish more quickly.

The accounting specialization is offered as one of several business administration concentrations at the undergraduate level. Meanwhile, the Master of Accountancy program offers three specializations. Both programs help students prepare for accounting careers and, when taken together, can help students pursue CPA licensure in a faster-than-average timeframe.

• Time to completion: 5 years
• Tuition cost: $409.25 to $936.73 per credit hour
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

FAQs About the Fastest Way to Become an Accountant in Texas

If you still have questions about getting accounting credentials fast, you're not alone. Read on as we answer some frequently asked questions you may be wondering about.

How Much Does it Cost to Become an Accountant in Texas?

Accounting degree costs can vary widely. Public schools generally provide lower tuition rates than private schools, and bachelor's degrees may offer lower per-credit-hour rates than master's degrees � though overall, master's degrees typically cost less. The average yearly cost of tuition at Texas public schools is $6,892. Among the schools in this article, yearly rates range from around $6,900 to more than $11,000 on average.

What Can I Do With an Accounting Degree in Texas?

You can pursue various career paths in accounting depending on the type of business courses you took in school. Some of the many job titles to consider include:

• financial analyst
• financial examiner
• auditor
• sales manager
• personal financial advisor

What Are the Education Requirements To Become a CPA in Texas?

Students must complete at least 150 hours of college credit for CPA licensure eligibility. Other CPA requirements include completing at least 27 hours of upper-level accounting coursework and a three-credit-hour TSBPA ethics course.

Explore Accounting Degrees

If you're ready to start your accounting career, explore the colleges and universities featured on Learn.org. Contact any of the schools to find out more about their accounting programs and choose the right one for you.