<p>If I want to work in Orange County area, is going to UCI Merage a good choice? Would I get a solid job opportunity if I do well at UCI?</p>
<p>So since the CPA requirement is 150 credits will it really take people approximately 5 years to finish? Which schools best prepare their students for the CPA requirements and exam.
Or can I go to school finish an accounting degree in four years and then if I work for sometime then go back to school for an MBA that concentrates on something not accounting will I still be able to qualify for the CPA.
And which is an “ideal” plan to follow?</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I originally applied to college with the intention of majoring in either Finance or Accounting (more on the Accounting side). I’m taking the intro to business class right now and we’re on the chapter discussing accounting. My original plan was to get a CPA. But now I think i’m interested in forensic accounting also. What are the steps to become a forensic accountant? What schools offer courses needed to become a forensic accountant? I did some googling and some places said to get a CPA but weren’t really specific after that. I currently attend Baruch College so plan on doing the 5 year accounting program for the CPA (Got 12 credits last semester, 16 this semester, and plan on doing 15 or more for the rest of the college years as well as maybe some summer/winter classes so i should be good for the 150 credit requirement)</p>
<p>caboy26,</p>
<p>UCI would be a good choice if you want to get into OC area, as accounting firms, especially the big 4 (except EY) OC offices recruit pretty heavily here.</p>
<p>You can minor in accounting, or major in business admin with a specialization in accounting.</p>
<p>But with only pathway 1 for CA CPA’s now, you will need 150 semester/225 quarter units to sit for the CPA. Firms will want to know if you will have 225 quarter units by the time of graduation. AP & community colleges have helped me, as well as taking more than 16 units per quarter if you need to.</p>
<p>I believe you need 36 accounting quarter units, 36 business, and some XX amount of ethics-qualified units.</p>
<p>jacefromLA,</p>
<p>the 150 requirement is part of the reason why people go for their macc’s (masters in accountancy)-- since they couldn’t finish it in their 4 yrs undergrad.</p>
<p>I’m just another fellow student, so not too knowledgeable regarding schools & upper degrees, but I believe people typically get their CPA first, and then decide if they want their MBA’s after working a few years. Just go for the macc if you can’t finish the reqs in 4 years.</p>
<p>StrictlySB - It’s great that you’re thinking ahead to forensic accounting but you need to research further how credentials work together in the accounting world. The CPA designation is more of a foundation credential recognized in both PRIVATE and PUBLIC industry. Other credentials compliment that such as the CMA or the CFE as you are talking about being a Certified Fraud Examiner. </p>
<p>The CFE is attained the same way the CPA is, you have to join the American Association of Fraud Examiners (Student pricing is $40) and then you have apply for the exam which is 4 parts like the CPA, pass the application with background check (No issues of Moral Turpitude such as theft or embezzlement are allowed).</p>
<p>You have to have a bachelors degree plus 2 years of relevant fraud investigation work experience. </p>
<p>A close friend of mine just graduated with 150 credits and decided not to do the CPA, but rather be a CMA. He landed a job with a firm auditing a property segment for fraud. This will allow him to get his CMA but also qualify him for the CFE which pair nicely together. </p>
<p>The program I student teach with currently is creating classes blended with criminal justice to really make students more marketable for fraud examination down the road.</p>
<p>I guess my point to all this goes back to the top, because the requirements are similar, pursue either a CPA or CMA which are the meat and potatoes, or foundations of our trade and THEN go for the fraud license so that you don’t knock yourself out of job options later.</p>
<p>Anyone have any input or opinions on this program: </p>
<p>DePaul University : Strobel Honors Program</p>
<p>It’s an honors accounting at Depaul University in Chicago. Is this well known? Is it a very good option if one wants to go into accountancy? Or is it really no different/better than any other undergrad accounting?</p>
<p>Hello, my question is this: Do I need an internship the summer of my Junior year as an Accounting student? I really want to study abroad. I’m hoping to get my masters and do a fifth year at my school and then become a CPA. So do the Big 4 recruit more during the summer of Senior year if you’re planning this route?</p>
<p>My 24 year old son is a well-paid accountant .He graduated from Tufts in Econ with a 3.6 GPA .He graduated in 2009 ,a lousy year for finding a job . Thanks for giving a nod to a well-paid mostly unnoticed field until recently .</p>
<p>Has anyone done the Becker Fast Track? I’m seriously considering doing it over the summer and hopefully getting most of the tests out of the way before I start working in September.</p>
<p>In addition, is the 24 semester accounting unit requirement for the CPA license itself (just like the 150 unit requirement) or is it for the license and the test qualification? As far as I know, all you need to take the test is a bachelor’s degree, but I just wanted to double check.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>State boards of Accountancy require certain prerequisites in order to sit for the CPA exam. Among them are a bachelors degree, between 24-36 credits in accounting, depending on the state, some law courses etc. Some states require the 150 credits before taking the test and some don’t. Each state has their own nuances. For example, Florida won’t allow CPA experience to count unless you took at least one UPPER LEVEL law courses. Taking two law courses isn’t enough as strange as that may seem. This is why I usually recommend to students to study accountancy in the state that they want to practice in and take the exam in. This way, schools in that state will know about their own state requirements.</p>
<p>Bottom line: you need to check with your local state board of accountantancy for the requirements.</p>
<p>@ taxguy,</p>
<p>Would you say that brooklyn college accountant graduate has the same opportunity as the graduate from Baruch?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>Will be attending the University of Texas at Dallas and had some questions that anyone could help with? </p>
<ol>
<li><p>What is the outlook for being part of Big 4 of middle size firms in the Dallas area? Does UTD hold weight pretty well in the whole employment scheme of things?</p></li>
<li><p>What is the path of obtaining partner in a smaller firm?</p></li>
<li><p>Really thinking about Dentistry vs. Accountant, (may go double major w/bio?) but any suggestions. I like both (know an accountant and dentistry discussing) but Dentistry is most for the ability to make 200k+ with private practice rather well. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Just wondering, if you entered college with enough AP credits to graduate in 4 years with 150 credits, would you be at a disadvantage when applying to accounting firms like the Big 4?</p>
<p>ac33527 - Chances are many of your AP credits will not count toward the CPA credit requirement unless they were actually taken at a university like students who dual enroll. I would double check the state requirements where you intend to practice for credit requirements. Here in Michigan we have to have all 150 completed at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.</p>
<p>Hi I want to go into the finance industry but I also want to get my accounting degree an take the CPA exam. Is it true that its good to have a accounting background in the finance field. Also do account firms hire some finance majors.</p>
<p>Regarding DePaul and the Strobel Honors program - they are very well known and well regarded in the midwest, especially in Chicago! Many Chicago-based Big 4 partners, CFO’s and corporate controllers are DePaul alums. Numerous DePaul professors have won the ILCPAS “Educator of the Year” award. However, if your goal in life is to go to college in Illinois and then immediately move to California, then I would recommend UIUC - or better yet, go to school in CA. But keep in mind, once you’ve got that first job and your CPA license, its what you have done on the job that will count - not where you went to school.</p>
<p>ac33527 - This probably depends on the state in which you take the CPA exam. Check with the state in which you intend to test. I do know that in IL at least, if those AP credits were accepted by your undergrad school for university credit, they do count towards your 150 required credits. My D did just that and is starting at a Big 4 firm this fall.</p>
<p>Thanks for the help! I also have another question. Do CPAs have to work on Sundays?</p>
<p>ac33527, Normally the answer is no. However, it varies by firm.</p>
<p>ac33527, generally no, but during busy season yes.</p>