Getting a job in the field of accounting depends on your ability to prove that you have the education and work experience necessary to qualify for the position you want. In most cases, this means holding a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related business field, although some advanced positions require a master’s degree in accounting for consideration. Many jobs also require additional certification, especially if you want to work as a CPA.
Information About Becoming an Accountant
However, while a bachelor’s or master’s degree is required for many senior-level accounting and management positions, you may be able to work as a junior accountant with only an associate’s degree.
Sometimes, simply having a number of years’ experience as a bookkeeper or working in another position that requires some accounting skills is enough to get your foot in the door.
However, while it’s possible to get these lower accounting positions without a four-year degree, to really advance in the field, you’re going to need to put in the time to earn your degree.
How to Become a Certified Public Accountant
In addition, there are a number of extra certifications for accountants, depending on the specific field of accounting you plan to work in. The most well known certification is the Certified Public Accountant program. To become a CPA, you must pass a rigorous national test and meet specific state requirements. Usually, you must have your bachelor’s degree to become a CPA, although a few states recognize work experience in place of a degree. Many states, in fact, actually require CPAs to take an additional 30 course hours on top of their bachelor’s degree. Because of this, many universities have designed their accounting programs with a fifth year option. Completing this fifth year not only qualifies students to become a CPA but also earns them a master’s in accounting.
But even if you take this fifth year and earn a master’s degree, don’t expect the CPA exam to be a mere formality. In fact, less than half of those who take the test pass all four parts of the test their first time. However, you aren’t required to pass the four sections all at once. Most of the time, you'll have at least 18 months to successfully pass the entire CPA examination. Of course, it's in your best interest to thoroughly prepare for the exam, and you'll find that many professional accounting organizations offer study programs or practice tests that you can use before taking the actual exam.
Accounting Training and Qualifications
In addition to earning your degree and passing the CPA exam, there are a few other qualifications most accountants need. The first is a love for math – or a least a natural understanding of how numbers work. In the accounting world, you'll need to be able to interpret figures and their meanings very quickly. You’ll also need to be able to share what these figures mean with others, so good communication skills are a must. A meticulous attention to detail is also a plus, since leaving off one little number in a spreadsheet can cause huge problems. Finally, accountants must be computer literate, especially in today’s modern world. Nearly all financial records are kept on computer now, and you’ll be expected to know the ins and outs of many different accounting software programs available today.
