| Obtaining an accounting degree can prepare you | | | | Programs (ACBSP) |
| for a career as financial analyst, cost accountant, | | | | -Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) |
| internal auditor, operations analyst, technical | | | | -Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) |
| accountant, internal control analyst or accounts | | | | -The National Association of Schools of Art and |
| payable specialist. You may also choose start your | | | | Design (NASAD) |
| own private practice or work as a certified public | | | | -Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools |
| accountant for a top accounting firm such as | | | | (regional) |
| Deloitte & Touche or Ernst & Young. | | | | -New England Association of Schools and Colleges |
| Many accounting students go on to complete a | | | | (regional) |
| master's degree in accounting if interested in | | | | -North Central Association of Colleges and Schools |
| management positions. An advanced accounting | | | | (regional) |
| degree can prepare you for a career as a CFO | | | | -Northwest Commission on Colleges and |
| (chief financial officer), director of budgeting & | | | | Universities (regional) |
| reporting, finance director, tax manager, lead | | | | -Southern Association of Colleges and Schools |
| auditor or VP of finance. | | | | (regional) |
| Aspiring accountants may earn an accounting | | | | -Western Association of Schools and Colleges |
| degree at any number of learning institutions | | | | (regional) |
| ranging from business colleges to specialty schools | | | | In addition verifying accreditation, spend some |
| to traditional colleges and universities. Accounting | | | | time reviewing curriculum and admissions |
| degrees are also offered at all degree levels | | | | requirements. Accounting program curriculum |
| including associate, bachelors, masters, and first | | | | should mirror the curriculum of top accredited |
| professional/doctorate. A number of community | | | | traditional programs. If you are considering an |
| colleges, career schools, and specialty schools also | | | | online accounting degree program, you should |
| offer certificate programs in accounting. | | | | keep in mind that the traditional accounting |
| An associate degree or certificate in accounting is | | | | curriculum is still the standard in the academic |
| the typical path for students interested enrolling in | | | | world. Accredited accounting programs will offer a |
| a bachelor's degree program or obtaining an | | | | variety of specialization areas including: |
| entry-level or support position in the field. An | | | | -Public Accounting |
| associate or certificate is not the typical path for | | | | -Governmental or Institutional Accounting |
| students interested in top positions. Top | | | | -Management Accounting |
| companies look for talented candidates with a | | | | -Internal Auditing |
| bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited | | | | -Information System Auditing |
| college or university. | | | | Required major core courses should include: |
| To get started on a career in accounting, you | | | | -Introductory Accounting I |
| should enroll in an accredited business or | | | | -Introductory Accounting II |
| accounting degree program. You may choose the | | | | -Cost Accounting I |
| traditional format (on-campus), blended format | | | | -Intermediate Accounting I |
| (online and on-campus), or you may choose an | | | | -Intermediate Accounting II |
| online accounting degree. If you currently work | | | | -Tax I |
| full-time or your schedule won't allow for | | | | -Accounting Systems |
| commuting and attending classes at set times, the | | | | -Advanced Accounting |
| online accounting degree is probably the best | | | | -Auditing |
| option. | | | | -Internal Auditing |
| Before enrolling in any accounting degree program, | | | | -Business Law and Ethics |
| whether traditional, blended, or online, you should | | | | Other courses will vary by specialization. |
| check to make sure the program is accredited by | | | | When reviewing admission requirements, check to |
| an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of | | | | make sure the school requests a completed |
| Education (Ed.gov). The top accrediting bodies for | | | | admissions application, official test scores, official |
| business schools and traditional colleges and | | | | transcripts, recommendation letters, and an |
| universities include: | | | | application essay. Most accredited accounting |
| -Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of | | | | programs will not admit students to the program |
| Business (AACSB) | | | | that have less than a 2.50 GPA. Top programs |
| -Association of Collegiate Business Schools and | | | | typically require no less than a 3.00 GPA. |