There are many reasons why one would want to become an accountant. It’s a stable job, there’s room to advance in that particular career, the earning potential is great, you can work pretty much anywhere you would like to, and you can become your own entrepreneur if you’re good at what you do.
Keep in mind, that if this is your career choice, you’ll still need to keep up with whatever industry changes there are and keep your certifications up to date. However, if you don’t mind doing the work, whether stressful or not; this could very well be the career for you. Get your Certified Public Accounting information at CPA Exam Bootcamps and watch your career take off.
Let’s look at the 5-step process to becoming a certified public accountant.
- Enroll in a degree program
- Choose your career path
- Find an internship
- Take the CPA Exam
- Start your job search
ENROLL IN A DEGREE PROGRAM
You will need to earn a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. While earning your degree you’ll learn about tax laws, business, management, auditing, statistics among other things. Try to excel in your classes so you can go on to pursue your master’s degree.
CHOOSE YOUR CAREER PATH
This is where you’ll decide on which career path you would like to take. You can specialize in managerial accounting, finance accounting or tax accounting, or you can get certified as a CPA. If you choose to continue on with your education and pursue your master’s, you would be opening yourself to other opportunities and a higher salary.
FIND AN INTERNSHIP
Finding work as an internship can be very valuable to your career. When you are ready to take on your first job, you’ll have experience under your belt that can result in a better paying job. Your internship may even lead to a job offer if they like your work. Make sure to do the best that you can, be professional and it doesn’t hurt to build a network of accountants around you. Attend networking events and find a good mentor to help you. You’ll be thankful in the end that you did.
TAKE THE CPA EXAM
You’ve gone to school, interned and now it’s time for you to take your exam. Just remember, if you fail any portion of the exam, you will have to re-take it. You will be tested on
- Auditing and attestation
- Regulation
- Financial accounting and reporting
- Business environment and concept.
START YOUR JOB SEARCH
Now that you’ve met all of your requirements, it’s time to search for your dream job! Polish your resume and start your search. There are so many job boards on the internet that you shouldn’t have any issues landing your first accounting job.
After all of your hard work, you’re deserving of a great job and an even greater salary. Continue to learn what you can in the field and apply it to what you already know and keep rising to the top!
© New To HR