How Long Does It Take to Be a CPA: What Most People Get Wrong

So, you're thinking about those three letters. CPA. It's the gold standard, the "black belt" of accounting. But let's be real—nobody wants to be a "candidate" forever. You want to know the finish line.

Honestly, if you ask a room full of accountants how long it takes, you'll get ten different answers. Some powered through in five years. Others took a decade because, well, life happened.

In 2026, the landscape is shifting. For decades, the "150-hour rule" was the brick wall everyone hit. You needed five years of college just to get the license. But right now, we’re seeing a massive wave of "Pathways" legislation. States like Minnesota, Ohio, and New Jersey are finally opening doors for people who have a standard four-year degree but more "on-the-job" grit.

The Standard Timeline: 6 to 7 Years

For most people, the journey takes about six to seven years from the day they step into their first "Intro to Financial Accounting" class.

Here is how that usually breaks down:

• 4 Years: Getting your Bachelor’s degree (roughly 120 credit hours).
• 1 Year: Grabbing those extra 30 credits (the "150-hour rule") or a Master’s.
• 1 Year: Working under a licensed CPA to check off the experience box.
• The "X" Factor: Passing the four-part Uniform CPA Examination.

You can technically do some of these things at the same time. Many people start their work experience while they're still studying for the exams. But don't underestimate the exam. It's a beast.

The New 120-Credit Revolution

As of early 2026, the "accountant shortage" is actually working in your favor.

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Governors across the country have been signing bills like crazy. If you live in a state like New York (effective late 2026) or California, there is a new "120-unit track." Basically, you can get licensed with a regular bachelor's degree if you're willing to put in two years of work experience instead of one.

It’s a trade-off. Do you want to spend more time in a classroom paying tuition, or more time in an office getting paid?

The "Indiana Model" and Beyond

Indiana is a great example. Starting in 2027 (and we're seeing the prep for it now in 2026), they’re offering three clear paths:

1. The Fast Academic: A Master’s degree plus one year of work.
2. The Middle Ground: A Bachelor’s plus 30 extra credits and one year of work.
3. The Professional: A Bachelor’s degree plus two years of work.

This is huge. It means if you're a career changer or just can't afford a fifth year of school, you aren't locked out. You just have to "pay your dues" in the field for an extra twelve months.

How Long Does the CPA Exam Actually Take?

The exam is where the wheels usually fall off the wagon for people.

You aren't just taking one test. You’re taking four: AUD (Auditing), FAR (Financial Reporting), REG (Taxation), and one Discipline (like BAR, ISC, or TCP).

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Most experts—and by experts, I mean the people at Becker or UWorld who live and breathe this—recommend 300 to 400 total hours of study. If you have a full-time job and a life, that usually means about 3 to 4 months per section.

The 30-Month Clock

Here’s a bit of good news: the old "18-month rule" is dying.

For years, you had to pass all four sections within 18 months of passing the first one. If you didn't, your first credits started expiring. It was a stressful treadmill. In 2025 and 2026, almost every jurisdiction has moved to a 30-month window.

That extra year is a game-changer. It means if you fail a section (and about 50% of people do on their first try), you don't have to panic. You have time to breathe, regroup, and retake it without losing your other hard-earned passes.

Real-World Examples of the Timeline

Let's look at two different people, just to show how much this varies.

The "Sprinting" Route (5.5 Years)

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• Year 1-4: Bachelor’s in Accounting. Takes 15 credits per semester plus two summer classes to hit 135 credits.
• Year 5: Finishes the last 15 credits while working as an intern. Starts studying for the first exam section in May.
• Year 6: Works full-time at a Big 4 firm. Passes one exam every three months. By December, they've hit their 1-year experience mark and passed all four parts.
• Total: 5.5 years.

The "Life Happens" Route (9 Years)

• Year 1-4: Bachelor’s degree.
• Year 5-6: Works in industry, realizes they want the CPA. Starts taking community college classes at night to reach 150.
• Year 7: Passes FAR on the first try. Fails AUD. Takes six months off because of a busy season at work.
• Year 8: Passes AUD and REG.
• Year 9: Passes the Discipline section. They already have years of work experience, so they apply for the license immediately.
• Total: 9 years.

Both of these people end up with the same license. The "CPA" after your name doesn't come with a timestamp of how long it took you to get it.

The Hidden Time-Sucks

Registration is a nightmare. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Applying to your State Board and NASBA to even get your "Notice to Schedule" (NTS) can take 4 to 8 weeks. They have to manually review your transcripts. If you went to three different colleges, you have to track down every single official transcript.

Then there’s the score release. For "Core" sections (FAR, AUD, REG), scores usually come back in 1-2 weeks. But for the "Discipline" sections, you might be waiting 6 to 10 weeks. If you're waiting on a score to see if you passed your final section, those two months feel like two years.

Practical Next Steps to Speed Things Up

If you want to shave time off your journey, you have to be strategic.

1. Check your state's "sit" vs "license" rules. Many states let you sit for the exam at 120 credits even if you need 150 for the license. Get the hard stuff (the exams) out of the way while you're still in "study mode."
2. Order transcripts early. Like, yesterday.
3. Choose your Discipline wisely. If you're a tax person, take TCP. Don't try to be a hero and take BAR just because it sounds prestigious. The fastest path is the one you actually pass.
4. Use the 2026 Pathways. If you're in a state that just passed a 120-credit/2-year experience law, look at the math. An extra year of salary is often better than a year of tuition debt.

Ultimately, becoming a CPA is a marathon, not a sprint. Whether it takes you five years or ten, the career stability and salary bump remain the same. Start by mapping out your specific state's requirements on the NASBA website today, as the 2026 rules are much more flexible than they used to be.