Most careers have a “gold standard” that indicates mastery of the subject matter.  For accounting, it’s the CPA, which stands for certified public accountant.

While you can most certainly work in the accounting field without being a CPA, you will limit your options.  To become a CPA, you must graduate from college with a degree in accounting or an accounting major, pass that exam, and have a certain amount of professional experience.  That experience and your CPA designation will also give you entry into other interesting careers.  It’s not at all uncommon for CPAs (or former CPAs) to be working outside the accounting field, but in a related field such a business, management, finance, banking, economics, etc.

Finally, the CPA exam many not be as “un-passable” as you’ve imagined.   It’s true that many people take it more than once before they successfully pass it, but it is a complex and comprehensive exam.  There are CPA Exam Review providers who have a good track record of helping candidates pass the exam.   If you have an aptitude for numbers and details you might want to consider a career in accounting.  It’s an honorable and rewarding profession.