WKBT April 8, 2021 8:48 AM Brian O'Connell - Forbes Advisor Posted: Updated: April 10, 2021 6:08 AM A CPA, or certified public accountant, is a highly trained financial professional specializing in accounting. Though many people associate CPAs solely with tax preparation, they perform a wide variety of financial-related tasks, from financial reporting to audit work and forensic research. CPA Requirements The requirements to become a CPA vary state by state. Generally speaking, though, to become a CPA, you must: 1. Have a bachelor’s degree with at least 150 credit hours 2. Have at least two years of public accounting work experience 3. Pass all four parts of the CPA exam; this is the same from state to state and covers topics like auditing, business environment and concepts, financial accounting and reporting, and regulation