Bachelor of Science in Accounting
with an Emphasis in Public Accounting
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Career Guide
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Career Guide
Start your GCU journey today.
Overview
What Is a CPA?
A CPA is a certified public accountant, an accounting expert who has achieved professional licensure and who can prepare and analyze financial records.
Not all accountants are CPAs. To become a CPA, an accountant must meet licensure requirements established by their state,(See disclaimer 1) demonstrating specialized knowledge and competencies in the field. CPAs do more than manage financial records; they also analyze potential risks and business opportunities, generating insights and solutions for organizations and individuals. Learning how to become a certified public accountant may be ideal for students interested in accounting.
Role
What Does a CPA Do?
The main goals of a CPA are to help organizations and individuals manage financial risk, capitalize on opportunities and remain in compliance with laws and regulations.
To accomplish their goals, a CPA may analyze documents, analyze financial trends and consult executives or other decision-makers. The main responsibilities of a CPA are:
Compliance
CPAs ensure that financial documents comply with ethical frameworks and regulatory requirements.
Tax Planning
CPAs may prepare and file tax returns for organizations and individuals, as well as represent clients before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Consulting
After conducting a financial analysis, CPAs may offer guidance on areas like budgeting, risk management and long-term business strategies.
Outlook
Is CPA a Good Career?
The job outlook for accounting professionals is positive for the foreseeable future. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job growth for accountants and auditors is expected to be 5% from 2024 through 2034, faster than average. At this rate of job growth, employers expect to hire about 72,800 new professionals during this time period. Additional job openings in this field are expected to replace current accountants and auditors who are retiring or transitioning to other professions, for an estimated total of 124,200 job openings each year from 2024 through 2034.(See disclaimer 2 )The median annual salary for accountants and auditors was $81,680 as of May 2024.(See disclaimer 3)
The BLS suggests that the health of the overall economy influences the growing need for accountants and auditors. The increasing globalization of businesses, such as international mergers and acquisitions, is one factor for the positive job growth rate. The BLS anticipates that certain accounting-related tasks will become increasingly automated, yet this is not expected to negatively affect the job outlook.(See disclaimer 4) According to Statista, the U.S. accounting services industry generated $145.5 billion in revenue in 2025.(See disclaimer 5)
Growth
5%
Projected job growth rate for accountants and auditors from 2024 through 2034(See disclaimer 2)
Industry
$145.5 Billion
Revenue of the accounting services industry in the U.S. in 2025(See disclaimer 5)
Settings
Where Do CPAs Work?
Certified public accountants generally work in office settings, including home offices. They may occasionally travel to meet their clients. A full-time schedule is typical, and some professionals expect to work overtime during certain times of year, such as for quarterly audits and tax season. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants are needed across a wide range of sectors and industries, providing significant flexibility in terms of work settings.(See disclaimer 6)
What is a CPA’s work setting like? Some work settings for CPAs include:(See disclaimer 6)
Accounting Firms
Many CPAs work in accounting, bookkeeping and tax preparation firms, where they provide services to a wide range of businesses and individual clients.
Finance and Insurance
Insurance and finance companies, as well as other corporations, hire CPAs as internal accountants to prepare and analyze their financial documents.
Government Agencies
Government agencies need CPAs to keep track of public funding and ensure compliance.
Self-Employed
Some CPAs establish their own accounting businesses, often working from home offices.
Career Path
How To Become a CPA
You will need to meet education and licensure requirements to become a CPA.
After learning how to become a CPA, aspiring professionals must first earn a relevant bachelor’s degree. Obtaining licensure requires passing an exam and meeting any other requirements established by the state.(See disclaimer 1)
Follow these steps to become a certified public accountant:(See disclaimer 1)
Pass a National Exam
Aspiring CPAs must pass a national licensure exam.
Obtain CPA Licensure
Apply for CPA licensure after meeting any additional state requirements beyond the licensure exam.
Education
CPA Education Requirements
High School Diploma
A high school diploma is a requirement for aspiring CPAs, as it provides a necessary foundation for higher education.(See disclaimer 1) Aspiring accountants may benefit from taking courses in mathematics, including statistics, algebra and calculus. Computer science, business, information technology, finance and economics are also helpful areas to study. High school students may look for relevant extracurriculars, such as the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).(See disclaimer 7 )
College Degree
To obtain licensure as a CPA, you will need to earn an undergraduate degree in accounting. Some students may decide to continue their education and pursue a master’s degree in accounting.(See disclaimer 1)
Internships
Internships can be a valuable step for those pursuing a career as a CPA, offering opportunities to apply accounting knowledge in professional settings while building practical skills. Through hands-on experience, students can gain insight into areas like auditing, tax preparation and financial reporting, while also developing connections within the industry.
Entry-Level Roles
Work experience is helpful for aspiring CPAs. Although work experience requirements are not mandatory in every state, some states may require a certain amount of work experience before obtaining licensure. According to the Arizona Society of CPAs (ASCPA), current aspiring CPAs in Arizona need at least 2,000 hours of paid or unpaid experience working under a licensed CPA. However, starting 12/31/26 the number of hours increases to 4,000 of paid or unpaid experience working under a licensed CPA.(See disclaimer 8)
Professional Certifications
All CPAs must pass the Uniform CPA Examination and meet state-specific licensing requirements, including education and work experience. They are also required to complete ongoing continuing professional education (CPE) to maintain their certification.(See disclaimer 1)
CPA Degree Options
6 Matching Degrees
Master of Science in Accounting
Master of Science in Accounting
with an Emphasis in Tax Compliance and Planning
Master of Business Administration
with an Emphasis in Accounting
Bridge (Master of Science in Accounting)
Bridge (Master of Science in Accounting
with an Emphasis in Tax Compliance and Planning)
Skills
What Skills Does a CPA Need?
CPAs need hard skills in areas such as accounting, forensic accounting, internal auditing and tax accounting. Business administration skills can also be helpful, along with a solid foundation of advanced math skills, including calculus and statistical analysis.(See disclaimer 1)
In addition to hard skills taught in accounting degree programs, CPAs need the following soft skills:(See disclaimer 1)
Attention to detail
CPAs must pay attention to every detail on financial documents.
Organization
CPAs need to critically analyze financial data and identify potential issues.
Critical thinking
CPAs need to critically analyze financial data and identify potential issues.
Effective communication
CPAs need to work well with a variety of stakeholders, communicating information to clients, supervisors and others.
Career Fit
Is a Business Degree Right for Me?
It may be a good fit if you’re interested in working with financial documents and generating actionable insights for business decision-makers. However, there are plenty of other career options in business to consider beyond accounting. Consider your academic and career interests, as well as your soft skills and work preferences, to discover the path that fits you best.
There is a broad range of business degrees that you can choose from, potentially aligning with careers in management, administration, consulting, executive leadership or entrepreneurship. Finance degrees are closely related to accounting programs, and may suit you if you still have an interest in developing financial insights. Other options to consider include supply chain management, business analytics, marketing and project management.
Discover GCU’s Business Degrees
Explore More on Certified Public Accountants
Learn more about becoming a CPA and working in the accounting field with GCU’s collection of related blogs.
CPA vs. Accountant: Understand the Differences and Similarities
Learn the differences between an accountant and a CPA to discover which career path may suit you best.
Licensure: CMA vs. CPA Requirements
Learn about the licensure requirements of CPAs and certified management accountants (CMAs).
Finance vs. Accounting Degree: Which Is Right for You?
Compare and contrast finance and accounting degrees to decide which area is best aligned with your goals.
Turn Your Interest in Accounting Into a CPA Career
Apply to a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting. Study online or on campus at GCU.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, Aug. 28). How to Become an Accountant or Auditor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved April 2026.
- COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Accountants and Auditors, retrieved April 2026.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Accountants and Auditors, as of May 2024, retrieved April 2026. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as accountants and auditors, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, Aug. 28). Accountants and Auditors: Job Outlook. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved April 2026.
- Slotta, D. (2025, Dec. 17). Accounting Industry in the U.S. – Statistics & Facts. Statista. Retrieved April 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, Aug. 28). Accountants and Auditors: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved April 2026.
- Future Business Leaders of America. (n.d.). About FBLA. Retrieved May 2026.
- Arizona Society of CPAs. (n.d.). Become a CPA. Retrieved April 2026.
Approved and verified accurate by the Academic Program Coordinator of the Colangelo College of Business on May 12, 2026.