Oh, no, it doesn't have to be free - you can do certain types of accounting work without having a CPA license, so some people will actually work in accounting for years before taking the exam and getting their license. The trouble is that I have to find paying work that fulfills the accounting requirement, so I can't just get a job doing data entry or something. I mean... I can? I don't really know if there's some kind of time limit. But at some point eventually I will have to work at least 2,000 hours in accounting and I'd like to get it done ASAP.
Some people do end up having to volunteer just to get the hours in, though. Blargh.
Some people do end up having to volunteer just to get the hours in, though. Blargh.