Accounting Degrees in North Carolina
Introduction
One of the major economic engines of the South, North Carolina boasts a GDP of $517.9 billion, which ranks 10th in the country. Three of the “Big Four” international CPA firms have offices in North Carolina (KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Ernst & Young), along with Dixon Hughes Goodman, the largest financial firm in the region. North Carolina is also home to 12 Fortune 500 companies, including Bank of America and Lowe’s. Over 1,600 licensed CPA firms offer their services across North Carolina—a number that’s steadily rising along with the state’s population and economic growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Projections Central predicts a 13.8% increase in accounting jobs by 2026, which is more than 3% above the national average.
North Carolina at a glance
Population | 10,273,419 |
Per Capita Income | $25,774 |
Unemployment Rate | 3.8% |
Fortune 500 Companies | 12 |
Licensed CPA Firms | 1,601 |
Accounting Programs in North Carolina
Search our comprehensive school directory to explore the accounting programs in North Carolina, including campus-based, online and hybrid programs.
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- Degree Levels
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Accounting Salaries and Employment
North Carolinian accountants and auditors can expect to notice drastic job growth of 16.7% over the next seven years, culminating in the creation of over 38,000 additional positions between 2012 to 2022. Firms like Dixon Hughes Goodman, which generated $310.00 million in revenue last year, are major accounting employers in the state.
CPAs working in top-paying cities like Charlotte, Durham-Chapel Hill and Wilmington can anticipate earning between $37,280 and $134,370 depending upon licensure, specialty and years of experience.
Projected Job Growth for Accountants
Accounting Salaries by Specialty
Associate Degree Recommended
Bookkeeping and Auditing Clerks
Payroll Clerks
Credit Counselors
Bachelor's Degree Recommended
Cost Estimators
Tax Examiners and Collectors
Master's Degree Recommended
Accountants and Auditors
Budget Analysts
Personal Financial Advisors
Financial Managers
Top-paying cities for accountants
- Durham-Chapel Hill
- Greensboro-High Point
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia
- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton
- New Bern
Major firms headquartered in North Carolina
Count | Firm | Location | 2014 Revenue (in millions) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Dixon Hughes Goodman | Charlotte, NC | $371 |
Accounting Today named these firms among the highest performing in a multi-state region. Rankings as based upon reported net revenues from 2014. Source: Accounting Today, "Top 100 Firms and Regional Leaders"
Becoming a certified public accountant (CPA) in North Carolina
Future CPAs of North Carolina who need to sit for the CPA Exam in order to become licensed must meet the requirements listed below. The Board offers CPA exams from various vendors who have contracted with NASBA, but all are the Uniform CPA Exam prepared by the AICPA.
Several colleges and universities in the state have accounting programs with top passing rates. The scores from the schools ranked by their CPA passing rates below include both first time testers and candidates returning to attempt the exam again, as is common for many students.
Eligibility for CPA Licensure in North Carolina
To be eligible for CPA licensure in North Carolina, candidates must meet the qualifications listed below:
- Be a minimum of 18 years old
- Be a citizen of the U.S.
- Have a Social Security number
- Fulfill the 150 hour educational requirement
- Hold a baccalaureate degree
- Complete 30 semester hours of undergraduate accounting courses
- Complete 20 semester hours of graduate accounting courses
- Complete 1 year of supervised work experience or 4 years of unsupervised experience in accounting
- Take and pass the Exam on North Carolina Rules of Professional Ethics and Conduct
Age Requirement | 18 |
Citizenship Requirement | Yes |
Residency Requirement | No |
Social Security # Requirement | Yes |
Education Requirement for Licensure | Bachelor's degree (150 hours) |
Participates in International Programs | No |
Hours in Accounting | 30 semester hours |
Exam Sitting Requirements | 120 hours |
Experience Requirements | 1 year of accounting experience |
Ethics Exam | State exam |
The Board strongly recommends candidates to visit the AICPA website to complete the tutorial and sample tests prior to registering for the exam. Fees for each examination vary to cover actual costs of examination services. Specific fee information available upon request.
Source: The American Institute of CPAsCPA exam fees in North Carolina
- Application Fee $230
- Auditing & Attestation $208
- Financial Accounting & Reporting $208
- Regulation $208
- Business Environment & Concepts $208
Certifying and Professional Organizations
The North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners, as an independent, self-funded occupational licensing board, is responsible for administering the Uniform CPA Exam prepared by AICPA and granting CPA licensure to those who meet the requirements. The Board also registers firms, renews licenses, continuing education programs and peer review compliance.
Future and current CPAs are eligible to join the North Carolina Association of CPAs, which is comprised of over 30 committees, task forces and advisory groups that keep in contact with the AICPA, the State Board, the IRS and the Financial Accounting Standards Board to ensure that members are up-to-date on accounting standards.
North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners
Address
1101 Oberlin Road, Suite 104
Raleigh, NC 27605
Phone Number
(919) 733-4222
North Carolina Association of CPAs
Address
3100 Gateway Centre Boulevard
Morrisville, NC 27560
Phone Number
(919) 469-1040