
They should earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting or in an area of business that includes considerable accounting coursework. Prospective CPAs don’t need to follow a different curriculum than students without this ambition. What to Expect From an Accounting Degree Without CPAĪ common misconception is that CPAs take different accounting courses or programs than non-CPAs. No one program is necessarily a better choice for career preparation in accounting, but BBA programs with a concentration in accounting tend to have a broader business focus than BS or BA programs. Some accountants choose to earn a master’s degree, often as part of meeting the educational requirements for CPA certification.īaccalaureate degrees in accounting can be Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programs. Accountants typically have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). So, what do you need to be an accountant? Generally, a college degree and accounting coursework are sufficient to get started on this career path. Given that requirement, it’s clear that there must be accounting roles available for professionals without the CPA credential otherwise, it wouldn’t be possible to acquire the necessary experience to be eligible for certification. In most jurisdictions, candidates for CPA certification need a minimum of two years of work experience in public accounting, according to the American Institute of CPAs.

Not only are there plenty of accounting roles for which a CPA designation is not required, but you generally need at least some work experience as an accountant before you can become a CPA.

Some prospective accountants fear that they can only get a job in this profession if they do earn their CPA.
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Certain benefits accompany the CPA professional credential, including more career opportunities and higher earning potential, but not having this credential won’t keep you from having a fulfilling and profitable career in accounting. If the prospect of having to undertake the CPA exam fills you with anxiety, you should know that your career isn’t doomed if you can’t – or just choose not to – earn this credential. Few certifications are as challenging to obtain as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.
