Becoming a Certified
Public Accountant
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.
Accounting | Animation
| Architecture | Automotive
| Business | Culinary
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Design
Graphic Design | Health
Care Administration | Industrial
| Information Technology (IT) | Interior
Design
Massage Therapy | MBA
Degrees | Medical & Health
Care | Music | Photography
| Web Design | Online
Degrees
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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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