Skip to main content
  • Claims Center
  • Contact Us
  • Español
  • Brokers & Agents
Hiscox Insurance
Menu Toggle
  • Home
  • Small Business Insurance Toggle Menu Toggle Menu
  • Why Hiscox Toggle Menu Toggle Menu
  • Resources Toggle Menu Toggle Menu
  • Policy Management Toggle Menu Toggle Menu
  • Claims Center
  • Contact Us
  • Español
  • Brokers & Agents
  • About
  • Get a Quote Get a Quote
  • About
  • Get a Quote Get a Quote
  • Blog Home
    Start Your Business
    Grow Your Business
    Protect Your Business
    Celebrate Courage
    Search

    Twenty-Four Seven

    Sign up to get the latest small business news delivered right to your inbox.
    Grow Your Business
    Wooden blocks spelling CPA

    How to become a Certified Public Accountant

    Finances
    By: Hiscox Blog

    Share Image

    Embed Image

    Copy

    Share Article:

    If you have a degree in accounting, or are considering getting one, a logical career goal would be to become a Certified Public Accountant, or CPA. CPAs interpret financial information to help companies make the decisions that lead to their success. Every company, large or small, needs to ‘account’ for their revenues and expenses, and to use this information to help them stay in business and, hopefully, grow. 

    Becoming a CPA

    There are three components to the requirements to become a CPA:  education, examination and experience. Here’s what you need to know about each of these three Es. 

    Education

    Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in order to qualify to sit for the CPA exam. Moreover, all U.S. states now require or will soon require 150 semester hours of education, which is more than what is provided by a typical four-year undergraduate program. Aspiring CPAs can meet the 150-hour requirement in one of three ways: by completing a five-year program which leads to a master’s degree in accounting, obtaining a master’s degree in another business discipline, or taking enough graduate-level courses to meet the requirement.  

    Some states have different requirements about specific courses you need to take. The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) has a directory of the requirements for each state. 

    Examination

    Once you have completed the education requirements, you must take – and pass – the Uniform CPA Examination®. The exam consists of four sections, and you have to pass all four, although you don’t have to pass them all in one sitting. The sections are Auditing and Attestation, Business Environment and Concepts, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Regulation. To pass, you must get a score of 75 or higher on each section, and you have to pass all four of them within an 18-month period. 

    Most states also require the CPA ethics exam. This is an online course you can take at home, and you typically have two years after passing the CPA exam to take it. Check with your state Board of Accountancy to see if it’s required in your state. 

    Experience

    Even after you’ve passed the CPA exam, you’ll need some experience before you can put those three letters after your name. Most states require at least two years of public accounting experience in order to be licensed as a CPA. You may be able to get your experience at another organization, such as a private corporation or government entity, but it may take longer. Again, check with your state Board of Accountancy for the requirements in your state. 

    Once you have gotten the requisite education, aced the CPA exam, and put in your time in public accounting, you can apply for your CPA license. With your license, you can pursue many different career paths in accounting. For example, you could:

    • continue in public accounting, where you will be auditing and advising other companies on accounting matters
    • work in corporate accounting, as a controller or a chief financial officer of a public or private company
    • work for a government agency or non-profit in a variety of roles 
    • teach accounting in an academic setting 

    Some CPAs specialize in certain areas, such as business valuation, forensic accounting, or financial planning. 

    Becoming a CPA is not easy – there’s a lot of hard work involved. But once you get your license, it can open up the door to a wide variety of interesting employment opportunities. If you decide to go into practice for yourself, be sure to protect yourself with business insurance. Even the most conscientious accountants face the risk of claims and lawsuits, so general liability and professional liability insurance are critically important.


    Protect Your Business

    Protect the business you’ve worked so hard to build. Get a fast, free quote and your business could be covered today.

    Get a Quote
    Get a Quote
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Related Articles

    3 Min Read
    Surety bond card on desk with coffee to help you learn all you need to know about surety bonds

    What you need to know about surety bonds and whether you need one

    Management | Entrepreneur

    Here’s what you need to know about what a surety bond is and whether or not your small business needs one.

    Read More

    7 Min Read
    small business owner sitting at desk reviewing her business finances on screen.

    Small business owners offer advice on finances

    Finances | Small Business Intelligence

    We surveyed 140 small business owners to learn their thoughts about business finances. See what they had to say and gain some insights for your own business.

    Read More

    7 Min Read
    female entrepreneur works on her mobile device in office

    Useful apps that will make small business life easier

    Technology | Tools & Templates

    We’re living in a technological renaissance, to help you navigate we've researched some of the best apps for assisting in the day-to-day management of your small business operations.

    Read More


    We’re here to help.
    We provide tailored insurance for the specific risks you face, so you can take the right risks to grow your business.
    Get a Quote
    Get a Quote

    Footer menu 1

    • What We Cover
      • Business Insurance
      • General Liability Insurance
      • Professional Liability Insurance
      • Errors and Omissions
      • Cyber Security Insurance
      • Workers Compensation
      • Other Coverage
    • Who We Cover
      • Small Business Owners
      • LLC
      • Sole Proprietors
      • Entrepreneurs
      • Side Hustle
      • Contractors
      • Home Businesses
    • For Our Customers
      • Refer a Friend Program
      • Covid-19 Response
      • Claims Center
    • For Business Owners
      • Save with our Partners
    • About Hiscox
      • About Us
      • Careers
      • Contact Us
      • Hiscox Corporate
      • Investors
      • Foundation
      • Newsroom
      • We Stand Together
      • Affiliate Partner Program

    Footer menu 2

    • Accessibility
    • Site Map
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Legal Notices
    • Español

    Feefo Reviews: Hiscox rated 4.7/5 with 1,067 reviews between January 1, 2022 - January 1, 2023

    * Any cost, premium, or coverage stated before an official customer quote are estimates and an approximation and are not guaranteed. Actual cost, premium, and coverage are subject to the unique considerations of each individual risk. Customer quotes are based on the information provided to Hiscox, and are subject to required underwriting and rating factors. Until an official customer quote is provided, all communication on this website or advertisement is provided as an example for informational purposes only, and is neither an offer nor a guarantee of available premium or coverage. Any coverage afforded by the products described are subject to and governed by the terms and conditions of each policy issued. This information may not be used to modify any policy that might be issued. Any information provided to assist in understanding the coverage we offer does not modify any insurance policy, nor does it imply that any claim is covered.

    © 2023 Hiscox Inc. All rights reserved. Underwritten by Hiscox Insurance Company Inc., 30 N. LaSalle St., Suite 1760, Chicago, IL 60602. As of December 31, 2021, HICI had admitted assets of $1,250,758,353 and policyholders surplus of $332,792,666. Total liabilities were $917,965,687 (inclusive of $433,752,764 of loss reserves) and paid-up capital stock was $4,242,000.

    icon-facebook
    icon-youtube
    icon-twitter
    icon-linkedin