Educational Requirements
To become a certified public accountant in North Carolina, according to the state’s CPA governing board, the North Carolina State Board of Certified Public Accountant Examiners, applicants must complete a class on the North Carolina Accountancy Statutes and Rules. In addition, they must have passed the Uniform CPA Exam, completed 150 semester hours of college-level education, and earned a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in accounting. Twenty-four hours are required from a selection of specified subjects.
Salary
The annual average wage of accountants and auditors in North Carolina is $66,770. The North Carolina area — including Columbus, Harnett, Lenoir, Moore, Sampson, Vance, and several other counties — ranks among the top five of nonmetropolitan areas in the country with the highest employment for accountants. Employment for this occupation is predicted to expand through 2020 because of changes in financial regulations and companies needing to be more accountable with their finances. Those with professional recognitions, such as being a CPA, have the best job prospects.
CPA Licensing in North Carolina
Besides passing all portions of the CPA Exam and taking a course on the North Carolina Accountancy Statutes and Rules within one year of applying for certification, applicants in the state must meet educational requirements and have one year of experience in the public accountancy under the direct supervision of a licensed CPA. Certificates must be renewed annually. Educational requirements for becoming a CPA are as follows:
- Must have completed 150 semester hours of education
- Must have completed 24 semester hours of coursework with three-credit-hour courses in eight of these 10 subject areas: communications, computer technology, economics, ethics, finance, humanities/social science, international environment, law, management, and statistics
- Must have completed a bachelor’s degree or higher with a concentration in accounting; those with master’s or advanced degrees in accounting, tax law, economics, finance, business administration, or a law degree from an accredited program have fulfilled the hour requirements
Continuing Education Requirements
Certificates must be renewed annually. Active CPAs in North Carolina must complete 40 hours of continuing professional education each year, with at least two hours of ethics in regulatory or behavioral professional ethics or conduct. If a person completes more than 40 hours in one year, the extra hours up to 20 hours can be rolled over into the next year. Courses must meet the requirements of the Board’s rules on continuing education, must be offered by a registered CPE sponsor, and must increase the professional competency of the CPA.
Accounting Jobs in North Carolina
North Carolina is home to some of the top aerospace and defense companies in the country, and they provide many opportunities for accountants in the state. Working either for the government or private companies, accountants and auditors have the chance to take part in many different types of accounting, including cost accounting, internal auditing, and budget analysis. The agricultural industry of the state has transitioned from tobacco to biotechnology, but still provides numerous opportunities for accountants for financial advice and even farm accounting.