Fastest Way To Become an Accountant in Arizona 2025

The accounting field is a great career choice for anyone with a penchant for numbers, tax law, business law, and other marketable skills. This applies to professionals in Arizona, but the education process and experience requirements involve significant effort. Consider these important strategies geared toward the fastest way to become an accountant.

What Does an Accountant Do?

Accountants provide several services to businesses, government entities, and non-profits. They conduct audits, manage balance sheets, handle data processing, and help clients navigate the financial aspects of their business environment. Many accountants perform crucial duties full-time or part-time at a company � some may work remotely.

Aspiring accountants must pursue higher education (at least a bachelor's degree) to obtain employment. Career advancement requires accountants to get the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential.

How Long Does It Take To Become an Accountant in Arizona?

You can become an entry-level accountant as soon as you receive a bachelor's degree. However, the full CPA usually takes longer. While Arizona allows applicants to take the CPA exam before completing coursework, most CPAs finish their courses first.

Arizona requires applicants to complete 150 hours of accounting-related education, but they can sit for the CPA exam once they've finished at least 24 non-duplicative semester hours of accounting and 18 semester hours of related courses.

The Fastest Way To Become an Accountant in Arizona

If you want to quickly get started in the accounting field, there are ways to accelerate the time it takes to become certified. Use the following practical steps to become an accountant fast in Arizona.

1. Earn Your Bachelor's Degree

This is the first step along the fastest way to become an accountant. Even without a CPA, Arizona accountants enjoy high-salary careers with just a Bachelor's in Accounting (BA) degree.

You can get yours within 120 semesters at an accredited Arizona university. Degree programs should focus on accounting courses, business law, business administration, financial accounting, or economics. Some accounting majors will minor in computer science or information systems to improve their technological expertise. This is valuable for accountants who desire greater career flexibility.

2. Get Work Experience

Arizona requires 2,000 hours of work experience for CPA eligibility. Accountants build this experience by working for tax preparation companies, assisting with financial audits, employment with government agencies, and more.

This experience may be paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time, and can begin with college internships. Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, and other urban areas offer plenty of work opportunities for new accountants.

You can prove you've completed your job experience by getting your supervisor to complete a Certificate of Experience (COE). This must come from someone holding a CPA license or similar credentials.

3. Prepare for and Take the CPA Exam

The Arizona CPA Exam has four parts: auditing and attestation, taxation, financial accounting, and one other sub-discipline. There is also a mandatory ethics exam, requiring a passing score of 70%.

Each exam section takes about one hour to complete. The minimum eligibility requirements to sit for the exam include U.S. residency, being 18 years of age, and a Social Security number.

CPA hopefuls must apply to the Arizona State Board of Accountancy. You will indicate which CPA disciplinary sections you want by issuing a Notice to Schedule (NTS) for the Uniform CPA Examination. This part of the application process has a six-month window for completion.

4. Maintain Your CPA Licensure

Arizona accountants must renew their licenses every two years. This includes 80 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) from an accredited institution. These CPE hours must include the following topics.

• professional ethics (four hours)
• live classroom webinars (16 hours)
• accounting, taxation, auditing, business law, and consulting (40 hours)

It costs $300 to renew the CPA license each time. If you have a CPA from another state, Arizona will allow reciprocity, provided the other state has similar licensing standards.

Accelerated Accounting Programs in Arizona

If you wish to complete the CPA faster, consider enrolling in one of Arizona's accelerated online accounting degrees.

Arizona State University

Arizona State University (ASU) offers accelerated bachelor's and master's degrees. The former allows undergraduates to finish an accounting degree in three years. The latter prepares you to become a licensed CPA faster by finishing the bachelor's and master's degrees in just five years.

• Time to completion: Five years
• Tuition cost: $32,000 (in-state)
• Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Liberty University

Every Liberty University program has an online format, including the 3 Plus 1 accelerated business sequence. It allows students to begin higher-level courses during their junior year, providing an opportunity to complete a bachelor's and master's degree in four years. You can do this in the fields of accounting, business administration, information systems, and information technology.

• Time to completion: Four years
• Tuition cost: $565 per credit hour (full-time)
• Accreditation: AACSB

University of the Southwest

University of the Southwest offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in accounting. Its program covers the cost of books, laptops, and other services. This program is 100% online and takes 12 months to complete.

• Time to completion: Five years
• Tuition cost: $649 per credit hour (graduate courses)
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

FAQs About the Fastest Way to Become an Accountant in Arizona

If you still have questions about how to become an accountant faster, review these FAQs. We'll address typical degree program costs, what you can do with an accounting degree, and the education requirements for CPA candidates.

How Much Does It Cost To Become an Accountant in Arizona?

There are three primary cost factors for pursuing an accounting career: academic tuition, CPA exam fees, and study materials. Degree costs vary by institution, but it's often cheaper to enroll in an online program as an Arizona resident.

There is a $100 application fee to sit for the CPA exam. Many candidates spend between $1,000 and $6,000 for CPA review materials before attempting the exam.

What Can I Do With an Accounting Degree in Arizona?

Arizona accountants perform an array of important roles. They secure employment in private firms, state governments, the federal government, and tax preparatory businesses.

If you have the work experience and credentials, you can become an accountant in various settings. You can even pursue a master's degree to qualify for teaching accounting in Arizona.

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

CPAs must have at least 150 hours of accounting or accounting-related semester hours. This begins by obtaining a bachelor's degree, followed by upper-level coursework through a program certified by the American Institution of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Arizona has several university learning options: online, on-campus, or hybrid. You can learn more about CPA exam requirements by contacting AICPA or asking the faculty members of your accounting department.

Explore Accounting Degrees

You can learn more about accounting, professional education, degree programs, and financial aid on Learn.org. Discover the fastest way to become an accountant and utilize our effective resources.