9 Steps How To Become A Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

(doylc.com) How to Become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) - Certified Public Accountants, or CPAs, are licensed professionals who administer exams and help businesses and other institutions manage their finances. If you love working with numbers and want a career in accounting, read this article to learn where to start!

• Preparation for the course

1. Graduate from high school. Alternatively, you can take the General Education Development (GED) exam. You must do one of these things to apply to a four-year institution.

Take the SATs, the standardized test required for college admission, your junior year and apply to more than one school to keep your options open.

2. Get a bachelor's degree. Most states, with few exceptions, require CPAs to have at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance. These programs typically last four years, and tuition and coursework vary by school. Students take courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, business administration, auditing and marketing.

Certain companies also require that a CPA have a master's degree. Increase your job prospects by earning a Masters in Finance or Accounting. These programs usually last one to two years.

Some states allow potential candidates to substitute relevant work experience for a bachelor's degree.

3. Get certified in your state. To practice as a certified public accountant, you must pass the four-part Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and meet additional certification requirements for your state. Some states also require prior accounting experience as a prerequisite for licensing. The Unified CPA exam consists of the following four sections:

Examination and Certification (AUD). Subsections include internal controls and gathering and documenting information.

Business Environment and Concepts (BEC). The subsections include business structure, economic concepts, financial management, and information technology.

Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR). The subsections include concepts and standards for financial statements, typical items in financial statements, and accounting and reporting for government entities.

Regulation (REG). Subsections are Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Business Law, and Federal Taxes.

4. Find a job as an accountant. CPAs can work in a variety of settings, including corporate, corporate, government institutions, and schools. Job openings for CPAs and other accountants/auditors are expected to increase by 22% between 2008 and 2018 to meet increased demand from new financial regulations.

Chartered accountants can specialize in specific areas such as forensic accounting, tax advice, and medical compensation.

CPAs may be employed by corporations or government agencies, or they may be self-employed through their own practice.

Certified CPAs must meet continuing education requirements to keep their license current.

• Passing the exam

5. Pass the CPA exam. To qualify as a CPA, the following parts of the exam must be passed:

testing and certification

Financial Accounting & Reporting

regulations

Environment & Concepts

6. Recognize what is expected. The CPA course is quite complex to understand. Here is a list of actions you need to take.

Each quarter of the year, you can take CPA exams in the first two months of the following quarter.

Students can choose which part they want to try.

Remember that after attempting one part, you must attempt and pass three more parts over the following year and a half to complete the course.

This part makes CPA a complicated course and many students fail for the same reason.

Finally, the candidate should acquire at least 1800 hours of physical experience under an authorized CPA holder.

7. Enroll in a CPA course at a reputable university or college.

8. Consider taking physical or online classes. Many universities and colleges offer both physical and online courses.

The institutes provide the students with appropriate guidelines for passing the first attempt.

9. Study part-time. Job holders can also continue their CPA preparations while continuing their work. So when they operate under a licensed CPA holder, they are one step ahead at the same time. Later, they don't need to add an additional 1800 hours per CPA requirement. It's a great idea to save time and start a CPA career as early as possible.

This has only been made possible by online CPA courses. Where students can choose a convenient time to take live courses online, they can either download and prepare for CPA exams.