Fastest Way To Become an Accountant in 2025
Becoming an accountant usually takes four to six years, but there are ways to fast-track this process so that students can reach their career goals faster.
Finances can be complicated, which is why many businesses and individuals opt to hire accountants. As a result, the job market for accountants looks positive.
Accountants need to know how to handle sensitive financial information, so becoming an accountant means earning at least a bachelor's degree. One of the best ways to become an accountant quickly is to pursue accelerated accounting degrees online. However, there are a few other things you can do to speed up your career path. Keep reading to discover the fastest way to become an accountant.
What Does an Accountant Do?
Accountants help individuals and businesses manage their finances. Their job duties often include:
- organizing, analyzing, and maintaining financial records
- examining financial statements to ensure that they're accurate and in compliance with laws and regulations
- calculating taxes, preparing tax returns, and ensuring taxes are paid on time
- inspecting and auditing account books and accounting systems to ensure efficiency and identify potential fraud risks
- suggesting ways to reduce costs and improve profits
- making financial recommendations to management
Accountants need to have strong critical thinking, communication, and organizational skills. They also need to be detail-oriented and skilled in math.
Most accountants work for accounting firms or services. Others may work for finance or insurance companies, or government agencies � or they may be self-employed.
How Long Does it Take to Become an Accountant?
The length of time it takes to become an accountant depends, in part, on what type of accountant you want to be and what types of certifications you want to pursue.
At a minimum, you'll need a bachelor's degree, which takes an average of four years to complete. If you want to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you'll need an additional 30 credits, which will take another year or two to complete.
How To Become an Accountant in Three Steps
As mentioned, the steps to become an accountant can vary depending on the type of accountant you want to become and how far you want to go with your accounting career. Below, we've listed four steps to becoming a certified accountant.
1. Earn an Undergraduate Degree
The first step to becoming an accountant of any kind is to earn an undergraduate degree. While some firms hire bookkeepers, accounting clerks, and auditing clerks with an associate degree, you typically need a bachelor's degree to work as an accountant.
Bachelor's degrees usually require 120 credit hours and take around four years of full-time study to complete. Depending on your school, you may earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) in accounting or a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in accounting.
2. Consider a Master's Degree
While many employers will hire a candidate with a bachelor's degree, some may require a master's degree. Additionally, a master's degree is often how students receive enough hours to sit for the CPA exam, although it is not a requirement � they simply need to earn 150 hours of college credit, which may include graduate-level coursework.
Master's degrees usually require around 30 credits and take about one to three years to complete. Some schools offer Master of Accounting or Accountancy degrees, while others offer accounting majors within MS or Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs. The programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) are often the highest quality.
3. Gain Work Experience
If you're fresh out of school, you may need to start with entry-level positions, such as bookkeeping, even if you have a bachelor's degree. As you gain experience, you can work your way up into higher-level accounting jobs.
To gain that experience, look for internship opportunities while in school. This not only gives you experience to list on your resume, but also allows you to network with potential employers.
There are some certifications you can obtain once you have some work experience, even if you don't have a master's degree. For example, the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) offers the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) to applicants who complete a bachelor's degree, have work experience, and pass the certification exam.
How Do I Become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)?
CPA licensure requirements vary slightly between states, but all states require candidates to have at least 150 hours of education. To fulfill this obligation, many students earn a 30-credit master's degree on top of their 120-credit bachelor's degree.
Some schools offer accelerated bachelor's-to-master's pathways to help students quickly reach the 150-credit requirement. Others offer certificate programs or additional coursework for undergraduate students. Options like these are usually the fastest ways to become an accountant with a CPA certification.
Many states allow students to sit for the CPA exam even if they haven't reached the 150-credit mark yet, but they can't obtain licensure until they finish the credit requirement. You can learn more about requirements in specific states through the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) or the Board of Accountancy for your state.
Once you've met your state's credit threshold, you must take and pass the four-part Uniform CPA Examination from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Once you do this, you can apply for licensure with your state.
You also have the opportunity to earn additional certifications from the AICPA. These specialty certifications stack on top of your CPA certification and include options like Certified Financial Forensics (CFF), Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP), and Personal Financial Specialist (PFS).
Education Requirements for Accountants
As mentioned, the minimum requirement to become an accountant is to complete a bachelor's accounting program; however, many accountants choose to continue their studies and complete a master's program.
Accounting degrees cover core topics in the accounting field, such as financial planning and tax preparation. Some offer concentrations or specializations so that students can take courses that align with their career goals. Common concentrations include:
- cost accounting
- financial accounting
- forensic accounting
- tax accounting
Note that if you choose to obtain your CPA license, you'll need to complete continuing education hours to keep your license current.
How Much Does it Cost to Become an Accountant?
Many factors can impact how much it costs to become an accountant. This includes the school you attend, how many years of school you complete, and what financial aid options you accept.
The average cost of an undergraduate degree is roughly $9,750 per year at a public in-state school and $38,421 per year at a private school, according to the Education Data Initiative. Meanwhile, the average cost for a master's degree at a public school is $51,740.
All students should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to find out what federal, state, and institutional aid they qualify for. Additionally, scholarships are available through organizations such as the AICPA.
If you choose to pursue certification or licensure, you will likely need to pay fees for these. These fees can vary by certification and by state.
Accounting Salary and Career Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for accounting professionals is $79,880 per year. Other types of financial specialists, like financial advisors and financial analysts, have a mean annual wage of $80,090.
Still, several things can affect your salary, including where you live and your accounting role. There are multiple types of accounting positions, including:
- government accountants
- internal auditors
- management accountants
- public accountants
Employment of accountants, auditors, and other financial specialists is expected to grow 6% by 2033, according to the BLS. This is slightly faster than the average growth for all occupations.
Explore Accounting Degrees
Start your journey toward an accounting career path by exploring the accredited degree programs featured on Learn.org. Contact individual schools to learn more about their accounting degrees and possible accelerated options. Use the list below to see what accelerated accounting degree options are available in your state: