What Do You Need to Study to Become an Accountant?
Accountants work in a variety of business settings from private, independent solo practices to large accounting firms that handle bookkeeping and financial management for large companies. Accountants also work for government agencies as auditors and comptrollers. The work can be meticulous but rewarding. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage of accountants involved in tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services is $61,480.
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Certified Public Accountants
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Certified public accountants, or CPAs, are accountants who have completed formal education in the field, an ethics course, and who have taken and passed a challenging and comprehensive exam on accounting, tax planning, auditing and related fields. Because CPAs are licensed at the state level, each state has different specific requirements.
General Business
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Most states require substantial coursework in business courses, primarily in business law, covering concepts such as limited liability, business ethics and miscellaneous business courses such as entrepreneurship, risk management, human resources, economics and business administration. Expect to take as many as 24 semester hours in general business coursework to prepare to be licensed as a CPA in your state.
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Accounting Coursework
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In addition to the general businesses, you must take additional coursework that specifically supports the accounting profession. Examples include taxation, tax planning, auditing techniques, finance, accounts payable and bookkeeping.
Other Requirements
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Most states will require a bachelor's degree as well as successful completion of the Uniform CPA Examination. The examination is extremely challenging with a passing rate of less than 50 percent.
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