Becoming a CPA in Texas: Part I - Education

If you wish to become a CPA in the State of Texas, you've come to the right place! Because prior generations of CPAs screwed up horribly (think Enron, WorldCom, and Arthur Anderson, to name just a few), becoming a CPA is now more difficult than ever. But with a little dedication, endless hours of studying, and a conscious decision to forgo sleep and basic personal hygiene, you too can become one of the elite! Keep reading for a list of easy-to-follow steps as you begin your journey towards achieving accounting nirvana.

The first part of this endeavor begins with getting an education. Don't even think about trying to sit for the CPA exam until you achieve the steps below.

Step 1: Complete the appropriate education requirements as set forth by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy. That means getting 150 hours of college credit, 30 hours of upper level accounting, 24 hours of business classes, and a Board-approved ethics class. No problem, bachelor's degree in accounting should take care of that, right?

Wrong! You won't get 150 hours just by fulfilling the basic requirements of most undergraduate accounting programs, and believe it or not, you probably won't get 30 hours' worth of accounting classes either. You will have to shell out extra cash for an MBA to get those extra credit hours, or else boycott your over-priced private university's draconian academic policies and opt for a community college instead. I chose the latter.

Step 2: Survive community college. The thing about going from community college to a real university is that you're moving forward in the world. Try doing it the other way around and see what a real kick in the balls feels like. When I did my upper level accounting classes at my local community college, I took 3 classes at 3 different campuses. My most dreaded class was Accounting Ethics - because it happened to take place in a suburb 45 minute from my house, it was 6 hours long, and it started on Saturday mornings at 9 AM. The other students in my classes didn't seem to care about their grades; half the time no one even showed up, which was pretty stupid because the majority of one's grade was determined by the simple act of showing your face in the classroom twice a week. No need to study, learn, pass a test, or even look alive--just be present.

Congratulations, if you're still reading this that means you've survived Part I. You are ready to move on to the next step. Stay tuned for instructions how to survive the exam application process!