Fastest Way To Become an Accountant in North Carolina 2025

There are many opportunities to start a new accounting career in North Carolina. This lucrative field paves the way for employment in several areas: governments, nonprofits, auditing firms, accounting firms, private companies, and more.

There are, however, many prerequisites to becoming an accountant. It's important to know a little more about the field, including how to pass the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, and implement a plan for the quickest way to become an accountant.

What Does an Accountant Do?

Accountants are responsible for an array of important auditing, financial, and business services. They prepare financial statements, explain accounting principles, serve on the board of accountancy for major companies, conduct audits, and so forth. Because they can have influence over millions of dollars, accountants must possess the utmost integrity.

Most states, including North Carolina, require years of education before entering the accounting field. This involves getting a CPA license, usually after finishing a bachelor's degree in accounting, numerous accounting courses, and ultimately the certification itself. Finally, accountants must keep their expertise current by continuing professional education throughout their careers.

How Long Does It Take To Become an Accountant in North Carolina?

It takes about five to eight years to become an accountant in North Carolina, assuming the candidate desires to obtain CPA licensure. The North Carolina CPA requires at least 150 courses, normally including 120 hours of undergraduate study along with the other 30 hours from an accounting certificate or master's degree program.

The difference between completing the work faster or slower could come down to enrolling in either full-time or part-time study. Then again, you can hasten the process by entering an accelerated program at certain universities offering CPA certification.

The Fastest Way To Become an Accountant in North Carolina

There are several steps to accelerate your career in accounting. Review the steps below.

1. Earn a Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's in accounting is the starting point for your journey toward becoming a CPA almost anywhere in the U.S., including North Carolina. There are some options for undergraduate education, though. Some future CPAs pursue the traditional accounting degree, whereas others begin their journey in related fields, such as financial accounting, business administration, business law, or economics.

Irrespective of the selected concentration, it would be wise to include some undergraduate coursework in accounting and auditing. Overall, a typical bachelor's program will require about 120 semester hours to finish.

2. Find Entry-Level Accounting Work

Why do you need entry-level experience to become an accountant? Because the State of North Carolina requires at least one year of professional experience (along with passing the Uniform CPA Exam) for CPA eligibility.

Initial work experience should come from paid internships or lower-level accounting jobs, often with salaries as high as $40,000 to $50,000. This component is an essential step to becoming a licensed CPA since you cannot receive licensure without practical accounting experience.

3. Research Accounting Specializations

Once you've built a modest amount of accounting experience, you can explore advanced careers in marketable specializations. In North Carolina, there is always a high demand for more expertise in the areas of tax law and forensic accounting.

This is true for almost anywhere in the state, including urban areas, like Raleigh or Charlotte. Nearly every business and government entity has a need for qualified accountants.

4. Earn a Master's Degree in Accounting

A master's degree will help you complete the educational requirements for becoming a CPA. Once again, you have the option to obtain either a Master's in Accounting, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), or even a specialized Master's in Forensic Accounting.

The advanced degree, combined with the multiple years of experience you've gained practicing accountancy, will prepare you for the Uniform CPA Examination in North Carolina. By delving into deeper accounting topics, or by teaching accounting as a graduate assistant, you can hone your skills even better.

5. Pass the NC CPA Exam

After finishing the requisite work experience requirements and education, candidates may sit for the CPA exam. Applicants must receive a passing score of 75 or higher for an examination, which will test them on concepts like business analysis, information systems, tax compliance, and financial reporting.

Below are the minimum requirements for taking the CPA exam in North Carolina:

• must be 18 years old
• North Carolina resident and U.S. citizenship
• Social Security number
• good moral character

For CPAs, exemplary moral character comes from knowing and adhering to the rules of professional ethics and conduct for the accounting field. The CPA exam has a $230 application fee and an application you can access by visiting the North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners. The North Carolina CPA board's website has plenty of other information on test content, the exam application, and explanations of the various sections of the exam.

The fastest way to meet the CPA exam requirements in North Carolina would be to follow these important steps to become an accountant.

Accelerated Accounting Programs in North Carolina

For those seeking the fastest way to become an accountant in the Tarheel State, consider enrolling in one of the North Carolina colleges offering accelerated programs in accounting. This makes it easier to get through the heavy volume of accounting credit hours in the shortest amount of time.

Elon University

Elon University offers a 3+1 program which combines the bachelor's degree with a Master of Science in Accountancy (MSA), allowing undergraduates to take all 30 graduate credit hours while still completing the four-year degree. They allow students to apply any bachelor's degree toward this accelerated program, but many do so while finishing a degree in business administration.

• Time to completion:Four Years
• Tuition cost:$47,897
• Accreditation:Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)

North Carolina State University

North Carolina State University (NCSU) allows their brightest accounting students to enroll in an accelerated bachelor's/master's program to obtain the necessary credentials much faster. You must have at least a 3.5 GPA to qualify for this program, with at least 75 accounting hours before applying for acceptance into accelerated online accounting degrees.

• Time to completion: Four years
• Tuition cost: $46,000
• Accreditation: AACSB International

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) permits students to earn their master's degree program in only 12 months following undergraduate coursework. Enrolled undergraduates do not need to take the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) to apply. Prospective applicants must have at least a 3.5 GPA, earn no less than a B in UNCG's intermediate accounting course, and transfer students must complete at least 30 semester hours of accounting at the university.

• Time to completion: Four years
• Tuition cost: $16,000 (in-state)
• Accreditation: AACSB International

FAQs About the Fastest Way to Become an Accountant in North Carolina

Consider these frequently asked questions regarding education requirements, experience requirements, exam fees, and other costs related to the field of accounting.

How Much Does It Cost To Become an Accountant in North Carolina?

Cost estimates depend on how much you pay for formal education, combined with CPA exam fees, and expenditures related to test prep. Many prospective CPAs may spend more than $1,000 preparing for the North Carolina CPA exam. However, the most important cost-saving measure involves finding and enrolling in the most affordable degree programs.

What Can I Do With an Accounting Degree in North Carolina?

A bachelor's degree in this field qualifies the holder for entry-level accounting work. If you want to advance to higher-paying salaries in accounting, consider acquiring the CPA credential. This enables you to handle more complex tax audits, large company payrolls, and other elements of accounting complexity.

What Are the Education Requirements To Become a CPA in North Carolina?

North Carolina CPAs must possess a bachelor's degree and at least 150 semester hours of higher education. This must be in accounting or in an equivalent subject, such as economics, business, or finance. All education must come from an accredited institution.

Explore Accounting Degrees

If you're looking for fast ways to become an accountant, follow the steps above and explore the many other programs featured on Learn.org. You'll find all you need to know about other degree types, financial aid, expected salaries for specific fields, how to find an accredited college for any field, and much more.