Looking to get CPA. best route?

happy1
Thu, 01 Sep 2016 19:05:15 +0000

I’m a CPA as is my S. Here are a few general guidelines that I hope will help you get started:

Education – I would recommend going to a brick and mortar accredited college if possible. That generally provides the best educational experience and will also give you the best career placement options. To be a CPA now one needs an undergraduate degree and a total of 150 credits. Most bachelor’s programs are about 120 credits so many CPA candidates now go on and get a one year master’s in accounting (although a masters degree is not required). Each state board has slightly different regulations as to required coursework etc. so I suggest you look up the requirements for your state board of accountancy. In terms of the online option, I just don’t know anyone who has gone that route but I would certainly ask a lot of questions about job placement and CPA exam pass rate of people who have gone through the program.

Exam - The CPA exam is 4 parts and is a difficult exam. Taking a good review course (ex. Becker) can be a big help. My S took the exam after he got his master’s degree and before he started work. Again, you can check with your state board to see what you would be eligible to sit for the exam. My S (who recently became a CPA) took all four parts of the exam the summer between finishing his master’s degree and starting work.

Work - In addition to meeting the educational requirements and passing the exam, one needs to work two years in public accounting to become a CPA (or one year with a master’s degree). The typical experience is to work for a public CPA firm. ( A Big 4 job is considered a plum job, but any public firm will get you the experience you need for the CPA.) In some states you can also work for a CPA in a private company doing financial statement type of work but again you need to check your state’s rules. Note that many new hires to CPA firms do not have the exam fully passed yet (although if you do it is a benefit for sure) so you can get the experience while you are still finishing up the CPA exam.

Misc. – Where you go to school can impact the job you get. Many people are hired into public accounting firms through the career placement offices at their colleges. Having a CPA is important but also your early work experiences and education will also come into play in making your a candidate for a number of jobs as you move forward in your career.

Hope this helps a little.