Fastest Way To Become a Accountant in New York 2025

From Wall Street investors to real estate investors, New York is synonymous with impressive numbers. Instead of using up precious time in school, you can focus on the fastest way to become an accountant. That way, you'll start earning money faster and recouping your career investment.

Read on to learn about dependable strategies to accelerate your dream of becoming a certified public accountant (CPA).

What Does an Accountant Do?

As a New York State accountant, you can find yourself in an impressive number of roles, depending on your interests. Most accountants are in charge of both financial and administrative responsibilities.

After you receive your licensure, you can expect to handle recordkeeping, tax preparation, budgeting, consulting, and much more. One specialization includes being a management accountant, which focuses on internal business operations. Another example is a forensic accountant, who is expected to investigate potential fraud and other financial discrepancies.

How Long Does it Take to Become an Accountant in New York?

While the exact timeline will depend on your career goals and other factors, accounting coursework at a typical university can take anywhere from four to five years. You may also choose to earn your Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license if you'd like to further your career and open up additional opportunities. Doing this can take about a year because you'll be required to have real-world experience.

The Fastest Way To Become an Accountant in New York

With so many requirements involved, you may be feeling overwhelmed. Don't worry, because there are basic steps you can follow to map out the fastest way to become an accountant.

1. Earn Your Associate or Bachelor's Degree

The fastest path to earning your degree will be an online associate degree in accounting. While a traditional associate degree typically takes around two years to complete, accelerated associate degrees in accounting can be completed in just one year. Those interested in earning their bachelor's degree in accounting can enroll in accelerated programs lasting two to three years, shaving a significant amount of time off of their degree path.

If you already have an undergraduate degree in a relevant field, such as accounting or business, then you can skip this step and start earning your master's. If not, then you can expect to spend anywhere from one to three years in an accelerated program that will teach you the basics of bookkeeping, payroll, and more.

2. Start Working After Graduation

With a qualifying undergraduate degree, you can start working either full-time or part-time within the accounting sector. Doing this will not only give you valuable experience but can also help you fund further schooling.

3. Pursue a Master's Degree

While a master's degree isn't necessary for basic accounting positions, it can help open doors to more profitable opportunities. It can also give you more experience and knowledge if you haven't already taken the CPA exam.

While a bachelor's degree is often a requirement for master's programs, the degree doesn't necessarily need to be in a relevant field. As such, if you have a bachelor's in psychology, for instance, then it'd be wise to pursue a master's in accounting instead of investing in another undergraduate degree. However, with a relevant undergraduate degree, you can earn your master's in as little as one year instead of several years or longer.

4. Take the New York CPA Exam

If you're interested in becoming a certified public accountant, the next step will be to take the CPA exam. Before you can earn a New York CPA license, you'll need to satisfy a number of requirements relating to both your education and experience. Your master's degree will have to come from a school accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). You can also take the exam with only a bachelor's, but you'll need to have completed at least 150 semester hours.

The experience requirements state that the applicant must have at least one year of suitable accounting experience. This is why working as soon as you can is recommended. Keep in mind that the work experience only counts if it's under the guidance of a fully certified public accountant.

Accelerated Accounting Programs in New York

If you want to minimize the number of steps to become an accountant, then you should consider pursuing an accelerated accounting program. Here are some options.

New York University at Stern

New York University's Master of Science (MS) in accounting program is focused on preparing you for CPA licensure. This top-ranked degree program is full-time and features CPA-certified professors who have an in-depth knowledge of the field. Graduates praise the university's networking events, which can help you connect with professionals in auditing firms and other financial accounting businesses.

• Time to completion: One year
• Tuition cost: $65,004
• Accreditation: AACSB

St. John's University

The hybrid MS in accounting program at St. John's University will teach you everything you need to know about auditing, taxation, and the global market. You can even sign up for electives in financial statement analysis, forensic accounting principles, and other subject areas.

This MS is also focused on meeting CPA requirements so that you can work as a fully certified professional after graduating and passing the exam.

• Time to completion: One year
• Tuition cost: $1,575 per credit
• Accreditation: AACSB

Adelphi University

If you're starting without a bachelor's degree, then consider earning one of the fastest accounting degrees from Adelphi University. The school's accelerated program makes it possible to earn both a bachelor's and a Master's of Business Administration in accounting. Every student has access to internships, mentoring, and similar opportunities.

• Time to completion: Five years
• Tuition cost: $47,290
• Accreditation: AACSB

FAQs About the Fastest Way To Become an Accountant in New York

With so many different steps and requirements, you may be wondering about common details relating to becoming an accountant quickly. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by accounting research, the following questions and answers can help you get started on your educational journey.

How Much Does it Cost To Become an Accountant in New York?

The cost of earning an accounting degree can range from around $21,000 to $65,000 or more. Don't forget about the price of the CPA exam, which the New York State Society of CPAs states is $427.

Overall, the exact cost of becoming a New York accountant will depend on your prior full-time experience and professional education. There's also the possibility of receiving one or more scholarships or grants. To further reduce the upfront cost, you can apply for private or government-provided loans.

What Can I Do With an Accounting Degree in New York?

Entry-level opportunities can include anything from a staff accountant to an auditing associate.

If you've earned a master's and have become a licensed CPA, then you'll have even more options. For example, you could work in a public accounting firm. There are also a variety of managerial accounting roles you could fill within the government, information technology, and financial advisory sectors.

What Are the Education Requirements To Become a CPA in New York?

The initial license requirements will depend on whether you have a bachelor's or a master's in accounting. The exam requirements include either a master's from an accredited school or a bachelor's combined with 225 quarter hours of acceptable college-level coursework. Be sure to have your official transcripts ready.

You'll also need one or two years of relevant work experience in attestation or another service area.

Explore Accounting Degrees

Becoming an accountant will provide you with many promising career paths within New York State. By following the fastest route, you can save both time and money.

Don't wait to apply to the schools above or find other academic programs that can take your education to the next level.