Becoming a Certified Public Accountant


	Featured Accounting School: University of Phoenix View more information on Account degrees

The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a designation given to experienced accountants to benchmark their level of competency. The CPA is accepted as an industry standard in all 50 states and is held by accountants with a wide range of disciplines and specializations. If you are pursuing an accounting career, you'll need to complete an accounting degree to test for the CPA.

The standardized CPA-certification exam administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is recognized throughout the country. Forty of the states require the 150-semester-hour requirement. Some states also stipulate hours of professional experience before approving your CPA licensure.

To meet the 150-semester-hour requirement, you can combine an undergraduate accounting degree with a master's degree from the same school; combine your undergrad in another subject with a master's degree in accounting; or complete a five-year professional accounting degree program.

Curriculum That Leads to a CPA Competency
To prepare for the CPA exam, make sure that your accounting degree program spans the essential fields of taxation, auditing, managerial control, computer software, economics, and business law. The CPA exam will test your knowledge in four sections:

Auditing and Attestation
Business Environment and Concepts
Financial Accounting and Reporting
Regulation

Your preparation path is quite specific. You'll need to know government regulations pertinent to spending, taxation, and economic planning. Your finance training forms a backbone in practice. You'll need to understand cash flow, valuation, capital acquisition and sales. Expect to take courses in business law and ethics as well as in information systems including hardware and database/spreadsheet software.

Below are more details about some select schools offering accounting degrees:
You can also view:

Types of Accounting Degrees | Bookkeeping Classes | MBA in Accounting
MBA with a Finance Specialization | Computerized Accounting Courses | Accounting Technology Classes/Degrees
Taxation/Tax Accounting schools/classes/degrees | Industrial Accounting courses/degrees/classes
Government and Non-Profit Accounting courses/degrees/classes | Forensic Accounting Classes/Degrees

Please note: The links below lead to forms where you can request further information. Filling out a form doesn't commit you to anything at all. It's just a way for you to get the information you need so that you can make an educated decision about which schools you'd like to consider.


		University of Phoenix With convenient class locations as well as online learning, University of Phoenix makes quality higher education highly accessible. Whether you’re seeking an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, we can help you reach your goal while you work—and much sooner than you might expect. In fact, University of Phoenix has helped thousands of students achieve the higher education they need to achieve higher success. We can help you too. Find out more. Click here to request more information.

		Strayer University At Strayer University, we fit your life. Established in 1892 and accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Strayer University is dedicated to providing quality higher education programs for working adults like you. Classes are designed to fit your busy schedule, meeting on evenings, weekends, and asynchronously on the web. Undergraduate and graduate programs are available in accounting, business and internet technology.

		AIU Online Financial accounting communicates economic information and serves as a vital tool for business decision-making. Today's increasingly complex business environments demand experienced professionals who have a thorough understanding of financial and accounting practices. AIU Online developed the Bachelor's of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance degree program to prepare students interested in pursuing such careers as Public Accountants, Internal Auditors, Controllers, Loan Officers, Personal Financial Advisors and many others. The AIU Online Bachelor's (BBA) in Accounting and Finance is designed to take advantage of a significant increase in the anticipated demand for qualified finance professionals in the next few years. This degree program is structured to provide a strong foundation for motivated professionals looking to advance in many interesting financial careers. Graduates will also have a strong foundation for continued studies, should they decide to advance into the AIU Online MBA program in the future.

		DeVry University Everything we do at DeVry, from our career-oriented majors and our hands-on approach to learning to our practitioner faculty and accelerated schedules, is focused on your career success. Best of all, we have the stats to prove it. More than 90% of DeVry grads were employed in their areas of study within 6 months of graduation* in fast-growing fields like Business, Information Systems and Healthcare Technology. This means you'll earn more than a degree at DeVry. You'll get career education that leads you straight into the professional world. Small classes and individual attention reinforce comprehension. Hands-on learning makes you productive from day one on the job. Learn where and when you want. Onsite at 80+ DeVry locations, online, days, evenings, weekends or through a flexible combination of options. You can even switch between classroom and online study, course by course. Our Student Finance Advisors work with you to make sure that you have as many student financial aid options as possible. Whether it's scholarships and grants, loans, work programs, or a combination, we can put together a student financial aid package that works for you. Accelerate your studies and earn a bachelor’s degree in 3 years or an associate degree in less than 2. *For June '06, October '06 and February '07, in al DeVry programs and locations combined, 93% of DeVry graduates in the active job market system-wide were employed in their chosen field within 6 months of graduation.

		ITT Technical Institute The ITT Technical Institutes offer degree programs in some of today's hottest technical areas. By getting an education from an ITT Tech, you can take advantage of many benefits including: Curriculum designed with employers in mind Convenient class schedules Financial aid to those who qualify Career Services to help you look for a job Click here to start preparing for your future at ITT Technical Institute!

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