You should check requirement specific for residents in CA; it may be quite different from other states. It doesn't require an accounting major to sit for CPA exam, but normally requires a bachelors degree plus some credits in accounting field. If I were you, I would directly go for a master in accounting first - some university's curriculum aims at helping student pass CPA exam. This way you can get a master degree and pass CPA almost at the same time. And it'd be easier for you to get a job than having a bachelors degree. Certainly because you don't have background in accounting, you may need to take some prerequisite classes.