HOW TO BECOME AN ACCOUNTANT

1. Step 1
EARN THE RIGHT DEGREE
Although not required, most accountants attend college and earn a bachelor’s
degree. However, a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field is
considered the minimum education requirement for those who plan to become a
CPA. Some states even require advanced coursework beyond the normal
bachelor’s degree in subjects such as financial reporting, taxes, auditing and
other non- accounting business areas. A total of 150 credit hours in accounting
and related areas are commonly needed. Students interested in becoming a CPA
should check the specific education requirements in their jurisdictions. Many
CPAs also continue their post-secondary education and earn a master’s degree.

Accounting degree programs are very popular and commonly available at

colleges and universities throughout the United States, as well as through
distance learning. Prospective students should always confirm that a program is
fully accredited before beginning a course of study.

2. Step 2
PICK A SPECIALTY
Virtually all accountants and CPAs specialize in one or more areas of practice.
The two general areas of specialization are public accounting and corporate or
business accounting. A number of sub-specializations also exist, such as
environmental accounting, internal auditing, managerial accounting and taxes.
Often, the specialty you select coincides with the accounting degree you earned.

3. Step 3
DECIDE BETWEEN ACCOUNTANT AND CPA
 There is a difference between an accountant and a Certified Public Accountant.
Accountants (also referred to as “public accountants”) are typically individuals
hired to work in the accounting departments of businesses, but lack several of
the qualifications of a CPA. Accountants, for example, may not possess state
certification or licensure. Accountants can perform certain limited tasks, such as
the preparation of financial statements. They may also prepare tax returns if they
have passed the required IRS test or received a Preparer Tax Identification
Number. They may not, however, conduct audits or review financial statements.

Certified Public Accountants must meet a number of specific requirements,

including earning a college degree, passing all parts of the CPA exam, and
working for a set number of hours (usually 1800) under the supervision of an
actively licensed CPA. CPA’s can perform all of the same tasks as a public
accountant, but additionally may conduct audits, review statements, and
represent clients before the IRS.

In deciding which type of accountant career to pursue, an individual must

honestly assess his or her personal goals and willingness to put in the
considerable time and effort needed to become a CPA.

4. Step 4
PASS CPA EXAM
All states require CPA candidates to pass all four parts of the CPA exam. Those
four parts are: Audit and Attestation; Financial Accounting and Reporting;
Regulation; and Business Environment and Concepts. The CPA exam is offered
during the first two months of every quarter, and typically over the course of
several days. Candidates may take the test parts in any order they choose, but
once they have passed one part, they must successfully complete the other three
parts within 18 months. Given its degree of difficulty and breath of subject matter,
most CPA test candidates enroll in private test preparation courses.

5. Step 5
 LAND AN ENTRY-LEVEL JOB
Before you graduate, try to get an accounting internship or find another way to
get some experience to pump up your resume. Take the necessary steps to
create a resume and sign up for a career-focused social media platform such as
LinkedIn. When it’s time to apply for entry-level accounting positions, you’ll be
ready to hit the ground running. Sites like LinkedIn have job postings and let you
apply for these jobs directly from the site. Check your school’s job listings, watch
out for networking opportunities, and visit both local and national job search sites.
Also search out sites created especially for new grads, such as
collegerecruiter.com.

6. Step 6
LOOK FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Once you land your first job, it’s tempting to sit back and enjoy the ride after all
the hard work of college. Now is the time, however, when you should be thinking
about the next moves you’ll need to move up the career ladder. Earning a
certification in an accounting specialization or a master’s degree in accounting
could help boost career climbing, and if you haven’t earned your CPA, it’s
something you may want to look at down the road.