How to get CPA accounting credits without another degree
Most traditional degree programs require years of redundant coursework just to fulfill a handful of missing credits for the CPA exam. People with non-accounting degrees end up facing expensive and time-consuming choices like a second bachelor's or a master's program, when they really just need specific upper-level classes to qualify.
Core Friction Pattern
Analysis of 10 peer accounts across online developer and community forums reveals that “How to get CPA accounting credits without another degree” repeatedly surfaces due to edge-case mismatches between standard defaults and real-world environments. Standard troubleshooting frequently falls short, compelling practitioners to develop custom workarounds.
+23 alternative community-tested workarounds cataloged below.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since September 2026.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
How to get CPA accounting credits without another degree
- 1Enrolling in an MPA program to pick up creditsDid this help you?
- 2Taking third and fourth-year undergraduate courses to meet state credit minimumsDid this help you?
- 3Going back to university for a second bachelor's degreeDid this help you?
- 4Studying independentlyDid this help you?
- 5Talking to accountant friends for guidanceDid this help you?
- 6Starting with AAT level 2 or 3 certificationDid this help you?
- 7Pursuing school leaver apprenticeships to gain qualifications without university debtDid this help you?
- 8Opting for a fast-track degree despite the financial costDid this help you?
- 9Jumping to an industry accounting roleDid this help you?
- 10Staying in public accounting to build up experience without a CPA streamDid this help you?
- 11Pursuing a university degree or professional designation while workingDid this help you?
- 12looking up requirements directly on university program webpagesDid this help you?
- 13taking a condensed intermediate accounting course or foundational business classes before core classesDid this help you?
- 14Attending university or enrolling in formal professional programs like CPA Western School of BusinessDid this help you?
- 15Reading regulatory laws and professional resources independentlyDid this help you?
- 16Checking state-specific CPA educational requirements and comparing them to existing college transcriptsDid this help you?
- 17Taking targeted community college classes to fulfill missing accounting creditsDid this help you?
- 18Using specialized platforms like cpacredits.com to fill credit gapsDid this help you?
- 19Enrolling in an online bachelor's in accounting through universities like WGUDid this help you?
- 20Converting inexpensive FEMA credits through a community college to quickly hit the 150-hour totalDid this help you?
- 21Get an MBA in accounting instead since it lacks prerequisitesDid this help you?
- 22Take the required prerequisite courses at a community college firstDid this help you?
- 23Attend a lesser-known in-state collegeDid this help you?
- 24Go out of state and take on student debtDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Going for a degree, let alone my CPA seems like more work than it is worth at this stage in life. I just want a more sustainable salary.”source ↗
“Should I just jump ship over to industry ASAP? Is that feasible with my education and experience?”source ↗
“The problem is that most colleges require a bachelors in business or accounting for their masters programs, and since I don't have that, I can't go to most of the colleges in NJ.”source ↗
“My question is does it matter where I get my masters from if it's a lesser known college?”source ↗
“My other option is just going out of state and taking on debt.”source ↗
“I graduated with a non accounting major bachelor degree, but somehow today ended up as a staff accountant for a mid size company in California. ... how would someone who is essentially starting from scratch at 38 do this?”source ↗
“I’m going through this same situation in New York State. I have an undergrad in Eco with 7 accounting credits. I need 15 to get into the masters program but technically just 30 to take the CPA exam.”source ↗
“I've recently starting thinking about becoming an accountant. I'm 25 with a BA in creative writing and its taken me 2.5 years since graduating to be able to fully acknowledge that this degree isn't going to get me anywhere.”source ↗
“I was just admitted to my local university to get a second bachelors- I would have to do at least 2.5 years to get the degree- business administration/accounting but I'm just not sure if that is a good use of time.”source ↗
“Is it possible to study on my own and get a job without any sort of university study?”source ↗
“i’m considering applying for apprenticeships instead of a uni degree, would this be a smart idea?”source ↗
“what would you say is a better option? i’m 20 right now”source ↗
“What foundation courses do I take and where?”source ↗
“If you have no accounting classes, you'll likely drown.”source ↗
“I needed to hit 150 without a masters”source ↗
“Where do I buy the book? And what is the steps to become a accountant? I don't want to go to college or CPA Western School of Business. I want to get my cpa certified get a job for accountant.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Scared about graduating with an accounting degree and forgetting everything
- 11How to learn accounting software without any training
- 30What other career paths are there with an accounting degree?
- 2Is a master of accountancy worth it under the new 120-credit CPA rule?
- 13How to get tax experience without an entry-level job
- 7Bookkeeping vs accounting qualifications for a beginner