A method and system for rapidly acquiring a spreading code, used in a code division multiple access (CDMA) system. A first long code and a second long code, with each long code having a length of N chips, are generated. The first long code is different from the second long code. The first long code and the second long code are transmitted at a first phase angle and at a second phase angle, respectively, on a carrier signal, over a communications channel using radio waves. The first long code and the second long code may be transmitted at an in-phase (I) angle and at a quadrature-phase (Q) angle, respectively, on the carrier signal. From the communications channel, an I-phase acquisition circuit and a Q-phase acquisition circuit may acquire, in parallel, the first long code and the second long code from the I-phase angle and the Q-phase angle, respectively, of the carrier signal by searching, in parallel, N/2 chips, the first long code and the second long code.