@JordanH, what you noted for the UK is very unique as far as getting to a Charter in Accountancy. There is no such "alternate" path in the USA.
Unfortunately, the USA has very rigid rules on completing an Accounting based college curriculum before sitting for the CPA exam. That being said, there are people that have Bachelor's (4 year) degrees in a different profession that go into a 1 - 2 year Master's program that is focused on just Accounting and provides the curriculum required to sit for the CPA exam.
Otherwise, this may be very minor but some states (possibly all) will also provide a license to those providing Accounting services for 15 plus years without a college curriculum that meets the CPA requirements.
Basically, there is no way around a traditional college curriculum in the USA that involve classes as well as exams.
Unfortunately, the USA has very rigid rules on completing an Accounting based college curriculum before sitting for the CPA exam. That being said, there are people that have Bachelor's (4 year) degrees in a different profession that go into a 1 - 2 year Master's program that is focused on just Accounting and provides the curriculum required to sit for the CPA exam.
Otherwise, this may be very minor but some states (possibly all) will also provide a license to those providing Accounting services for 15 plus years without a college curriculum that meets the CPA requirements.
Basically, there is no way around a traditional college curriculum in the USA that involve classes as well as exams.