How to Become an Accountant: Requirements and Advice

Earning the CPA credential opens doors to high-paying, advanced accounting careers in numerous industries. The 2024 CPA exam comes with a few changes compared to previous years, so make sure to stay in the know if you plan to sit for the exam in or after 2024. There are some financial responsibilities, especially within large businesses and organizations, that require a CPA.

You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs. If you already know you want to be an accountant while still in high school, there are multiple things you can do to put yourself in a great position to better your career down the road. Becoming an accountant or CPA will take years of schooling and practical training, but as long as you know what to expect and are prepared, you’ll steadily make progress towards that goal. When some people hear the word “accountant” they picture endless spreadsheets and people bent over calculators, furiously adding up stacks of receipts. And it’s true that accountants deal with a lot of numbers, but the job goes far beyond just number crunching.

What should I major in to be a forensic accountant?

If you choose an accelerated accounting degree program offered by an online college or on campus, you may be able to finish your bachelor’s in accounting degree in less than four years. By the time you complete your degree, you will have learned, at a minimum, the foundational concepts and technical skills needed for some form of career in the field of accounting. Without this knowledge of accounting principles and the methods used to conduct accounting tasks, you would have a hard time finding success in a role in accounting. A master’s in accounting can help accountants qualify for more job opportunities. This degree builds advanced accounting knowledge and allows students to delve into specialized topics.

• Forensic accountants can also work with government or law enforcement agencies, lawyers, insurance companies and banks.
• It is almost impossible to find a job as an accountant without a high school diploma.
• She earned a bachelor of science in finance and accounting from New York University.
• Not only will it look great on your resume and help you land a better job in the future, but it will help you understand the field better and maybe even lead you to a specialty.

Most bachelor’s degree programs only comprise 120 semester credits. To help you earn those extra 30 credits to meet the 150-credit requirement, many schools offer five-year bachelor’s-to-master’s programs. You could also meet those requirements through a double major or elective courses.

Meeting the 150 Credit Hour Requirement for CPA Certification

Many entry-level positions require a candidate to have a bachelor’s degree. In addition to your degree program, consider taking additional courses in accounting and related subjects, such as taxation, auditing, and financial reporting. This can help you better understand the field and make you more competitive in the job market. Accounting is a growing and competitive field, so professionals who want to advance their career should pursue a master’s degree to deepen their knowledge of the profession. WGU’s Master of Science in Accounting program prepares students with everything they need to know to truly stand out against other professionals in their field.

If you are enrolled in college full-time, it will take no less than four years to earn your bachelor’s degree. Once you earn this degree, you can expect to spend at least one more year completing the credit requirements in an MBA or Master’s in Accounting program. If you complete the graduate program before pursuing your designation, you will study for an additional two years. Choosing an accredited accounting program that meets the education requirements for a certified public accountant (CPA) or other accounting certification is essential.

Earning Potential for Accountants

Any accountants working with tax preparation should be prepared for that busy season. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are highly trusted in their industry, and for good reason. Becoming a CPA is a rigorous process that opens up career opportunities. As a CPA, you could work from home, building a network of clients and helping businesses prepare their taxes each spring. You could also be the CFO of a startup, helping to prepare it for acquisition or public trading. After you pass the CPA exam, your state may have other requirements you need to pass before you can get your CPA license.

Accountants’ duties may include preparing financial statements and reports, evaluating risk and ensuring accuracy and compliance in record-keeping. Accountants might also help develop organizational budgets and advise executives on financial decisions. Forensic accountants must maintain independence and integrity while thoroughly analyzing various situations. Meghan Gallagher is a Seattle-based freelance content writer and strategist. In Marketing Management and a background in digital marketing for healthcare, nonprofit, and higher education organizations.

ISC has the most questions and simulations in total, followed by TCP and BAR. If you’d like to study solo, find a quiet, dedicated space for sessions and make room in your schedule for several hours of exam preparation each week. Consider getting support from a trusted colleague or mentor when necessary. Each exam goes through a multi-step review process to ensure scoring accuracy. CPA candidates must choose one of three disciplines as the fourth section of the CPA exam.

• Therefore, you can take on additional duties related to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that not all accountants can perform.
• As you juggle various spreadsheets, clients and reports, you must keep track of your time and remain aware of strict deadlines to file taxes and reports.
• There is little margin for error when you’re responsible for someone else’s finances.
• The report states that CFE certificate-holders made a median wage of $106,000 in 2022.
• After all, the pass rates for each exam section range from about 40% to 60%, according to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA®)—not the best prognosis.
• A master’s in accounting can help accountants qualify for more job opportunities.

”, progress toward a college degree or certification requirements may not be measured in years but rather in college credit hours. For most entry-level accounting jobs that revolve around the generation of financial records, you need at least four years of college coursework. Location, industry and seniority can affect how much accountants earn. For example, the BLS notes that accountants in the San Jose area—the highest-paying city for this career—earn almost $36,000 more than the national median salary for accountants. Similarly, the median income for accountants in the computer manufacturing industry exceeds that of state government accountants by over $50,000 a year.

Most employers also prefer a professional certification such as the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) distinction. If you’ve ever wondered how long does it take to be an accountant, there’s no exact https://www.bookstime.com/ answer. Many students find that working at a paid or unpaid internship can provide valuable experience that can pay off in higher wages and increased job opportunities after graduation.

Before you pursue an accounting career, you should understand how to use Excel to organize and manipulate data. The skills needed for a successful accounting career may not be what you think. But you need more than that if you want to stand out among the competition and get an accounting job—soft skills like communication and organization what is an accountant are critical as well. As for the degree itself, it’s the same degree that students earn on campus. Typically, diplomas have no indications on them that suggest that the student went to an online college. This is important to point out because some students wonder if an employer will look down upon an online degree.

On the other hand, the highest-paid 10% made more than $128,970—a significant step up. For most students, graduation from some kind of college-level accounting program is at least a year or two away – and very likely several years away. Which role you’re pursuing plays a big part in determining how long to get an accounting degree. However, the answer to how long it takes to earn an accounting degree can be more complicated than you might think. Compared to other accountants, CPAs have more professional responsibilities and privileges.