Embodiment of the invention provide a method for programming an integrated circuit, methods for programming a plurality of cells, an integrated circuit, and a cell arrangement. An embodiment of the invention provides a method for programming an integrated circuit having a plurality of cells. The method includes grouping the plurality of cells into a first group of cells and a second group of cells depending on the cell state the cells should be programmed with. The first group of cells and the second group of cells each having a plurality of cells. The method further includes concurrently programming the cells of the first group of cells with a first cell state. After having programmed the cells of the first group of cells, the cells of the second group of cells are concurrently programmed with a second cell state, which is different from the first cell state.