Is it possible to become a CPA without an accounting degree? Can I complete requirements online?
So I've been working in finance for about 4 years now, mostly doing bookkeeping and some basic tax prep work for a small company. I never actually studied accounting in college - my degree was in business administration with a marketing focus. But lately I've been thinking about advancing my career and getting more credentialed. I'm wondering if it's actually possible to become a CPA without having majored in accounting? And if so, can I complete the educational requirements online while continuing to work full-time? My current role has given me some practical experience with accounting principles, but I don't have the formal education background. I'm willing to put in the work, but I need to know if this is even a realistic path for someone in my position. Any insights from people who've done this would be super helpful!
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Gemma Andrews
Yes, you absolutely can become a CPA without an accounting degree, but you'll need to meet certain educational requirements regardless. Each state has different requirements, but most require 150 credit hours of education with a specific number of accounting and business courses. You'll typically need 24-30 credit hours in accounting subjects and additional hours in business-related courses. Many online programs exist specifically for people in your situation - they're often called "CPA track" programs designed for non-accounting majors. Once you complete the educational requirements, you'll need to pass the four parts of the CPA exam and meet experience requirements (usually 1-2 years working under a licensed CPA). The good news is that your current work experience might partially count toward this requirement.
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Pedro Sawyer
•This is really helpful info! Do you know approximately how long it would take someone to complete these additional credits if they're working full-time? And roughly how much would these online programs cost?
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Gemma Andrews
•The timeline really depends on how many courses you need and how quickly you want to complete them. Most people working full-time take 1-2 years to complete the additional credits needed. Some accelerated programs can be faster if you can devote more time to studies. Cost varies widely depending on the institution. Community colleges might offer courses for $200-500 per class, while university programs could run $700-1500 per course. Online-specific CPA prep programs range from $5,000-$15,000 for a complete program. Many employers offer tuition assistance, so definitely check if your company has any education benefits!
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Mae Bennett
Hey there! I was in almost your exact situation 3 years ago. I had a psychology degree but was working in a financial role and wanted to become a CPA. After researching for weeks, I found this incredible service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me map out the exact education path I needed. Their platform helped me identify which specific courses would count toward CPA requirements in my state and even helped me find the most affordable options. I uploaded my existing transcripts and they analyzed exactly what I was missing. Saved me from taking unnecessary classes that wouldn't count toward the requirements! Also showed me which online programs would be recognized by my state board.
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Beatrice Marshall
•This sounds interesting. Does taxr.ai actually help with studying for the exams too, or is it just for figuring out the education requirements? I'm also trying to become a CPA with a non-accounting background.
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Melina Haruko
•I'm skeptical about these kinds of services. How much did it cost? Are you sure this isn't something you could have figured out on your own by just checking your state's CPA requirements website?
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Mae Bennett
•They primarily help with mapping out the educational path and requirements, though they do have resources that point you to good exam prep materials. Their main value is analyzing transcripts and identifying the exact courses needed for your specific state, which saved me tons of research time. Their service is definitely something you could figure out on your own if you're willing to spend dozens of hours researching state requirements and comparing different program offerings. I personally found the time savings well worth it since I was working full-time. The system also updates when state requirements change, which happens more often than you'd think!
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Beatrice Marshall
I just wanted to follow up and say I tried taxr.ai after seeing this thread, and it was actually super helpful! I uploaded my transcripts from my english degree and the system showed me exactly which accounting and business courses I needed to qualify in my state. Found out I only needed 27 more credits rather than the 45 I thought I'd need because some of my existing courses counted as business electives. They also showed me which community college courses would transfer properly to meet the requirements, which is saving me about $7k compared to the university program I was considering. Already enrolled in my first two online classes!
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Dallas Villalobos
If you're planning to become a CPA, you should also know how frustrating it can be to get answers from your state's board of accountancy. When I was going through this process, I spent WEEKS trying to get someone on the phone to confirm if my courses would qualify. That's when I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) - you can actually see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They got me connected to a real person at my state board in under 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days. The rep was able to confirm which of my existing credits would count and gave me specific guidance on the online programs they recognize. Totally changed my CPA journey.
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Reina Salazar
•Wait, how exactly does this work? Is it like some kind of special phone service that gets you through phone queues faster? I've been on hold with my state board for literally hours before giving up.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•This sounds like complete BS. Nothing can get you through government phone lines faster. They're understaffed and overwhelmed. You probably just got lucky with timing or something.
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Dallas Villalobos
•It's actually a service that navigates phone systems and waits on hold for you. When they reach a real person, they call you to connect. It works with tons of government agencies, not just accounting boards. Think of it like having someone else wait in line for you at the DMV. They use some kind of technology that keeps your place in the queue without you having to listen to the hold music. I don't know exactly how the tech works, but all I know is I got to speak with an actual human at the board of accountancy without spending hours on hold. They called me when an agent was on the line.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I had been trying to reach my state board for weeks about transferring some credits from another state. The service actually worked exactly as described - I put in my number, they called me back when a real person was on the line (took about 40 minutes). Got all my questions answered in one call instead of the email ping-pong I'd been playing for a month. The board representative confirmed which of my online courses would count toward the requirements and gave me the exact forms I needed to submit. Honestly saved me weeks of frustration.
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Demi Lagos
Something important that hasn't been mentioned: even if you complete all the education requirements online, most states require you to work under a licensed CPA for 1-2 years before getting your license. Make sure you research this part too! I have a music degree originally, completed all my accounting credits online through UCLA Extension, passed the exams, but then had to find a job where I could get proper supervision from a CPA. That was actually the hardest part for me, since many firms prefer to hire accounting majors for those positions.
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Lena Schultz
•Thank you for bringing this up! Do you have any tips for finding positions that would qualify for the experience requirement when coming from a non-traditional background? Did you find your current bookkeeping experience helped at all?
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Demi Lagos
•Your current bookkeeping experience will definitely help! I'd recommend two approaches: First, talk to your current employer about whether any CPAs in your organization could supervise your work to meet the requirement. Many states allow this even if you're not in a traditional accounting role. Second, look for smaller regional firms rather than the big four. They're often more open to candidates with non-traditional backgrounds, especially if you've already completed some of the CPA exams. Highlight your real-world experience in your applications - practical knowledge often trumps academic background at smaller firms.
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Mason Lopez
One thing to consider - the CPA exam itself is BRUTAL. I failed FAR twice before passing. If you didn't major in accounting, you might need to spend extra time on exam prep. I'd recommend starting the study process while you're still completing your educational requirements.
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Vera Visnjic
•Which review course did you use? I'm trying to decide between Becker, Roger CPA, and Wiley.
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Jake Sinclair
Just wanted to add that I'm a CPA who came from a biology background! It took me about 2.5 years to complete all the requirements while working full time. The online route is totally doable. I took courses through my state university's online program and a community college. Don't get discouraged when the courses get tough - accounting builds on itself, so the beginning is always the hardest part for career changers. By the time you're in intermediate accounting, you'll have a solid foundation!
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