I want to become a cpa but do not have a degree in accounting?

Question

I do have a bachelors in biology and a masters in healthcare administration in which I studied hospital accounting. I have been working as an accountant for a medical group for ten years. I feel that I could pass the exam with a little studying, but do not want to go back to school just to get a bachelors degree in accounting, just to become a cpa. Does anyone know if you must have a bs in accounting or can you meet the requirements another way? Thank you

Answer 1

In my state, and most states, you need 24 credits of upperdivision accounting courses and 150 credit hours. To become licensed you also need work experience. The person who said anyone can sit for the exam is 100% false. Look at your states website for exact details.

Answer 2

I'm a CPA in Texas and technically, you don't have to have an accounting degree. The key is how many accounting hours you have passed. The reason most CPAs have accounting degrees, though, is that the number of hours required to sit for the exam is the same, generally as the number to get a Bachelor's degree in accounting, so why not go ahead and get the degree? In recent years, this number has increased so many people now sitting for the first time are also getting Masters' in Accounting or MBAs.

In your situation, I would advise you to contact the State Board of Public Accountancy in the state in which you live, which you should be able to find by "googling" - "State Board of Public Accountancy - (Insert the name of your state here). You don't necessarily HAVE to have an accounting degree, but unless you had some accounting hours in your previous studies, get ready to take about 50 hours of accounting.

Answer 3

No, a bachelor's degree isn't sufficient to develop right into a CPA. the guidelines have in basic terms replaced so as that any one commencement after 2009 needs a draw close's degree or larger to take the CPA, plus you want to take 4 checks and bypass all of them interior 18 months.

Answer 4

Simple answer actually....the CPA exam is a certification. Anyone can take the exam, and if you pass, you are a CPA.

The only negative in not having an accounting degree is people might look at your resume and see your have a CPA (presumably you want to be employed in a field that requires or desires a CPA), but without the accounting background, still may hesitate to hire you. But I'm not the expert.

Best of luck.