The job outlook for certified public accountants (CPAs) in the United States is strong. The number of CPA jobs available is expected to grow by 5% over the next decade — faster than the national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Here are five things you should know about becoming a CPA:
1. You don't have to major in accounting. Although an accounting major offers you direct preparation for a CPA career, it’s not required for licensure in most states. The more important credential is the credit threshold. Most states require CPAs to complete a certain number of credit hours to sit for the CPA exam.
In New Jersey, for example, the traditional route to a CPA requires 150 credits, including 24 in accounting and 24 in business. In 2026, the state opened a second pathway to the CPA that requires 120 credits (including the 24/24 credits in accounting and business) and two years of work experience.
New York currently requires CPAs to complete 150 credits, with 33 credits in accounting and taxation and 36 in general business.
2. The 150-credit rule is loosening. Historically, aspiring CPAs needed to complete 150 credits, which is 30 more than required for a typical bachelor’s degree. Those extra credits typically come from a master’s in accounting or additional coursework. In 2025, the AICPA (the profession’s national association) and NASBA (which represents state boards that license CPAs) approved a new pathway that more than 44 states have already adopted. (New Jersey’s new pathway, outlined above, launched this year. New York’s will begin in August 2027). This route allows candidates to sit for the CPA exam with a bachelor’s degree, a designated number of accounting and business courses and additional professional experience.
3. Focus on the “three E’s.” Education isn’t the only “E” that’s important for a CPA. You also need to build credentials in two other areas: experience and the exam (more on this in a moment). Each state’s specific requirements for each “E” vary. If you know what state you’d like to practice in after graduation, look at its requirements before making your academic plans each semester.
4. The CPA exam is very different from your average test. CPAs in each state must complete the Uniform CPA Examination, which has four sections. There are three core sections that all candidates take (auditing and attestation, financial accounting and reporting and taxation and regulation). You’ll also choose one discipline section: business analysis and reporting, information systems and controls or tax compliance and planning. To become a CPA, you must pass all four sections.
Each section of the exam takes four hours, and you sit for them one at a time rather than all at once. You can take the sections in any order and generally have 18 months or more to complete all four sections. Again, check the state you want to practice for specific guidance on test-taking time.
5. You’re signing up for a five- to eight-year journey. From your first day of college to the day you receive your license, the full process can take between five and eight years. That covers four years for a bachelor’s degree, one or two more years for a master’s or additional credits, taking the CPA exam and logging around 2,000 hours of supervised professional experience through an internship or entry-level accounting role.
Stevens students who want to pursue a CPA can choose the Accounting and Analytics major in the School of Business, which meets the coursework requirements for licensure. Our program also offers courses that pair core accounting training with forecasting, visualization and predictive modeling skills.
It’s important to note that you don’t have to get a CPA license to work in accounting, but your career choices expand significantly if you do. CPAs can perform specialized audits and represent clients before the IRS, commanding more senior roles and higher pay over the course of a career.
