| Becoming an accountant is a fairly straight | | | | accounting firms offer great opportunities for |
| forward process. In general becoming an | | | | entry level accountants. They have numerous |
| accountant requires obtaining education and | | | | career tracks to choose from and provide great |
| experience. Like most other professions there are | | | | training. If you survive a few years with a big |
| certifications and specialties available that pay | | | | four you will be well on your way to a high level |
| higher salaries. Accountants are in high demand | | | | accounting career. Even if you don't stay with the |
| and with the right combination of education and | | | | firm you will have opportunities with their clients. |
| experience earn high salaries. | | | | If you don't go with a big four there are plenty of |
| To begin a career as an accountant apply for | | | | corporations and small firms that are always |
| admittance at a college or university and begin | | | | looking for entry level accountants. |
| taking the prerequisites for entering the business | | | | Once in the working world you can decide |
| school. This will usually take the first two years of | | | | whether to be a corporate accountant, a public |
| a four year program. Once admitted to the | | | | accountant, an auditor with a public accounting |
| business school select accounting as your major. | | | | firm or an internal auditor or any number of other |
| This will require taking about 30 semester hours in | | | | career options. You may decide to take the CPA |
| accounting courses some statistics and other | | | | exam to advance your credentials. Usually if you |
| business courses, economics marketing, etc. | | | | are with a CPA firm passing the exam results in a |
| Some states now require either a Masters degree | | | | promotion and big increase in pay. To become a |
| or a 150 hour bachelors program to be eligible to | | | | CPA you must pass the exam and also have a |
| sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) | | | | certain amount and type of experience. The |
| Exam. | | | | experience requirement varies from state to |
| After the entry level accounting courses students | | | | state but the exam is uniform throughout the |
| can obtain part time internships or jobs | | | | United States. Also as a CPA you can always |
| performing accounting related functions that will | | | | start your own practice. |
| provide experience. This will help later on when | | | | As an accountant the sky is the limit as far as |
| looking for the first professional position. But even | | | | career advancement and salary are concerned. |
| more importantly it will help the student decide if | | | | There are always plenty of opportunities for the |
| accounting is really the profession he/she wants. | | | | ambitious accountant. Partners in the big four |
| Not everyone is cut out to be an accountant and | | | | make hundreds of thousands of dollars and |
| unless you are suited for this type of work there | | | | partners in smaller firms may even earn more. Big |
| is a high burn out rate in the first couple of years. | | | | companies pay well for top accounting talent as |
| After completing the accounting program and | | | | well. Any accountant worth his/her salt in 10 |
| receiving a business degree start interviewing for | | | | years should easily be making six figures. Learn |
| jobs. There are usually plenty of job opportunities | | | | how you can make in accounting salary reviews. |
| available for accounting graduates. The big four | | | | |