This article will look at the CPA statistics in the United States and break down the numbers of CPAs in the US.
Table of Content
- 1 How Many Accountants are CPAs?
- 2 What Percentage of Accountants are CPAs?
- 3 CPA Demographics
- 4 Male/Female Balance
- 5 Diversity in the Accounting Profession
- 6 What’s the Number of CPAs by State?
- 7 CPA in other countries
- 8 What is a CPA?
- 9 What Does a CPA Do?
- 10 Is a CPA Better Than an Accountant?
- 11 Can You Get a CPA Without an Accounting Degree?
- 12 How Long Does It Take to Become a CPA?
- 13 Read More Accounting Articles
How Many Accountants are CPAs?
By looking at the NASBA (National Association Of State Board Of Accountancy) as of August 24, 2021, there are 669,130 actively licensed CPAs in the United States.
There are currently 1,392,200 accountants & auditors in the United States. This number is according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (US BLS). However, the BLS doesn’t account for what percentage of those hold a CPA license.
What Percentage of Accountants are CPAs?
The percent of accountants that hold a CPA license in the US is between 35-50% the reason that there isn’t an accurate percentage is that US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the US has 1,392,200 accountants however the BLS isn’t able to differentiate general accountants and CPAs.
The NASBA website shows there are currently 669,130 CPA licenses issued however this doesn’t take into consideration active & in-active licenses.
NASBA uses ALD (Accountant Licensee Database) which also doesn’t take into consideration 3 states (Hawaii, Utah & Delaware). So unfortunately our numbers don’t consider those 3 states and the number of active licenses. However, looking at averages there are 35-50% of CPA accountants in the US.
CPA Demographics
The image above is a survey done recently amongst accountants it breaks down accountants by race, amount of enrolments, graduates, new grad hires, professional staff, CPA’s & Partners.
Male/Female Balance
In the past CPAs were more male-dominant however in the past years there are more females getting into professional accounting careers. In 2018 49% male and 51% females were hired as CPA accountants.
Diversity in the Accounting Profession
Very similar to the male & female balance the diversity of accountants is also balancing out a lot more as there are more Blacks, Asians & Hispanics entering accountancy roles. Universities and colleges are also seeing an increase in racial and ethnic diversity entering schools. For example, Latino & black students that applied for a CPA firm increased by 2% from 2016 to 2018.
What’s the Number of CPAs by State?
The highest amount of CPA’s is the states with the highest densely populated areas such as:
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Illinois
| California | 148,500 |
| Texas | 114,410 |
| New York | 112,030 |
| Florida | 71,520 |
| Illinois | 51,740 |
CPA in other countries
The CPA exam is conducted in various countries, not the just USA. Other countries that conduct the CPA exam are:
- Japan
- Bahrain
- Lebanon
- Kuwait
- UAE
- Brazil
- England
- Scotland
- Ireland
- Germany
What is a CPA?
The CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is a licensed accounting professionals committed to protecting the public interest. The CPA is provided by the board of accountancy for each state in the US.
Other countries have certificates that are similar to a CPA such as CA (Chartered Accountancy).
What Does a CPA Do?
A CPA means you can act as a consultant when it comes to taxes and accounting. A Certified Public Accountant can also help companies or individuals reach their finical goals by providing trusted financial advice.
Is a CPA Better Than an Accountant?
A CPA is a better-qualified accountant to perform accounting duties. A CPA account must also meet the state licensing requirements. One thing to take into consideration is that not all accountants are CPA’s however all CPAs are accountants.
Can You Get a CPA Without an Accounting Degree?
Yes, it’s possible to become a CPA accountant with a degree. However, it has become a lot harder to become a CPA accountant without a degree.
Most states have adopted a 150 credit hour rule in which students can attend prior to becoming certified.
If you don’t have a college degree this is an alternative path you can go down and try to achieve your additional college credits.
How Long Does It Take to Become a CPA?
Attain your CPA license it can take anywhere from 18 months to 24 months (This includes AICPA examinations). This is after you finish completing your degree or 150 credits at college.
A CPA license can be very lucrative and for accountants, it can be worth the years of studying and exams, check out our article on how much accountants earn.