license
Certified Public Accountant
AICPA / State Boards of Accountancy
$1,500
exam fee · checked 2026-08
400 hrs
400 hours — about 40 weeks at 10 hrs/wk
1 yr
renewal cycle — this is a recurring cost
AICPA / State Boards of Accountancy — official page →
Where it is actually asked for
- Accountant or Auditor in New York83%15 of 18 postings
- Personal Financial Advisor (national)58%22 of 38 postings
- Accountant or Auditor in San Francisco57%12 of 21 postings
- Accountant or Auditor in Fresno53%8 of 15 postings
- Accountant or Auditor in Sacramento53%8 of 15 postings
- Accountant or Auditor in San Diego53%8 of 15 postings
- Accountant or Auditor in San Jose53%8 of 15 postings
- Accountant or Auditor in Los Angeles50%8 of 16 postings
- Accountant or Auditor (national)47%65 of 138 postings
- Financial Manager (national)20%28 of 137 postings
- Financial Manager in New York19%4 of 21 postings
- Financial Manager in Fresno14%3 of 22 postings
- Financial Manager in Los Angeles14%3 of 22 postings
- Financial Manager in Sacramento14%3 of 22 postings
- Financial Manager in San Diego14%3 of 22 postings
- Financial Manager in San Jose14%3 of 22 postings
- Financial Manager in San Francisco10%4 of 40 postings
- Computer Systems Analyst in Fresno10%2 of 20 postings
- Computer Systems Analyst in Los Angeles10%2 of 20 postings
- Computer Systems Analyst in Sacramento10%2 of 20 postings
- Computer Systems Analyst in San Diego10%2 of 20 postings
- Computer Systems Analyst in San Jose10%2 of 20 postings
- Financial and Investment Analyst (national)9%7 of 79 postings
- Computer Systems Analyst in San Francisco8%2 of 25 postings
- Marketing Manager in Albany5%2 of 39 postings
- Marketing Manager in Buffalo5%2 of 39 postings
Where it barely came up
It appeared in these samples, but rarely. If one of these is the job you want, this credential is probably not the thing standing between you and it.
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in Austin5%1 of 22 postings
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk (national)4%1 of 23 postings
- Operations Research Analyst (national)4%1 of 25 postings
- Marketing Manager in New York4%3 of 77 postings
- Management Analyst in Fresno3%2 of 59 postings
- Management Analyst in Los Angeles3%2 of 59 postings
- Management Analyst in Sacramento3%2 of 59 postings
- Management Analyst in San Diego3%2 of 59 postings
- Management Analyst in San Jose3%2 of 59 postings
- Market Research Analyst (national)3%1 of 35 postings
- Computer Systems Analyst (national)3%3 of 106 postings
- Management Analyst in San Francisco3%2 of 74 postings
- General and Operations Manager in Albany2%1 of 45 postings
- General and Operations Manager in Buffalo2%1 of 45 postings
- Medical and Health Services Manager (national)2%2 of 100 postings
- Light Truck or Delivery Services Driver (national)2%1 of 53 postings
- Executive Assistant (national)2%1 of 55 postings
- Management Analyst (national)2%6 of 335 postings
- Customer Service Representative (national)2%1 of 58 postings
- Marketing Manager in Fresno2%1 of 58 postings
- Marketing Manager in Sacramento2%1 of 58 postings
- Marketing Manager in San Diego2%1 of 58 postings
- Marketing Manager in San Jose2%1 of 58 postings
- Marketing Manager in Los Angeles2%1 of 59 postings
- General and Operations Manager (national)1%4 of 303 postings
- General and Operations Manager in New York1%1 of 79 postings
- Marketing Manager (national)1%4 of 330 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in Fresno1%1 of 118 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in Los Angeles1%1 of 118 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in Sacramento1%1 of 118 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in San Diego1%1 of 118 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in San Jose1%1 of 118 postings
- Marketing Manager in San Francisco1%1 of 143 postings
- Data Scientist (national)1%2 of 350 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager in San Francisco0%1 of 210 postings
- Computer and Information Systems Manager (national)0%1 of 343 postings
- Project Management Specialist (national)0%1 of 350 postings
These percentages describe the samples we read, listed above with their sizes and dates. They are not a statement about the whole labour market, and absence from this page means we have no evidence either way — not that the credential is worthless. How we know →