Being a certified public accountant takes a lot of work, yet can be rewarding.
With a growing number of universities offering college coursework online, it is now possible for a student to earn a degree as a certified public accountant (CPA) completely online. There are many distinct advantages to taking online accounting classes, including the fact that you can complete these courses at your own individual pace, which allows you to hold down a job or raise a family while attending school.
A certified public accountant degree may be quite lucrative, and the job outlook for an accountant or CPA is fairly stable, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. An advanced accounting degree can open up the door for a number of job opportunities and positions in the business and finance sector.
The job of the certified public accountant is to analyze and prepare financial documents for businesses, organizations and individuals. CPAs can create financial plans and budgets and are instrumental in preparing tax documents for their clients. Many businesses keep certified public accountants on staff.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants and auditors median salary is $61,000 per year, or about $30 an hour.
Reply! is a great source for finding online CPA schools to begin your journey towards a career as a CPA.
To become a CPA, a student needs to attain a postsecondary bachelor's degree in accounting and then seek out additional certification from an accredited college. Typically, the completion of an accounting degree takes around four to five years. The route for getting the certified public accountant degree, however, takes additional time.
When you complete accounting courses online, you can work faster or slower than you would work in a traditional classroom setting. This is due to the fact that online courses are designed to meet the student's schedule. This may speed up the completion of the accounting degree, or it may allow you more time to complete the coursework if needed.
Although CPA requirements vary from state to state, all states require that the would-be CPA meet requirements for education, experience and examination, which are referred to collectively as the "three Es."
Each state Board of Accountancy is responsible for establishing requirements for the state that it governs. You can visit the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy to determine the requirements in your state. In most states, candidates will need to complete 150 semester hours of business and accounting courses.
Once you have met the requirements for education and experience, you can take the CPA exam, which follows the guidelines of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). This 14-hour exam must be passed satisfactorily before the accountant can enjoy the title of certified public accountant and be awarded the certified public accountant degree.
Although attaining a degree as a certified public accountant involves a lot of hard work and dedication, it can be quite rewarding and fulfilling.
Photo credit: Certified public accountant's calculator and coffee by Dennis Wong via Compfight CC.