I want to become a CPA. i have my B.A., but it is in art. what do i need to do to complete the process?

Do i need to get a whole new B.A. or can i just take the additional accounting classes? when i looked for the requirements for taking the CPA test, the web site said one needed a B.A. with a concentration in accounting.like i said, my concentration was in art. i'm not sure exactly what to do.

It varies from state to state. In general, you need to complete 150 hours including 36 hours of accounting in order to sit for the exam. You also need to work in the accounting field for at least one year.

If you do not have accounting credits, begin taking accounting classes. Most likely those additional classes will bring your total hours above the 150 required.

I heard more and more CPA's are getting laid off now. So, what should accounting majors do now? They just missed the boat.

And what do you think the prospects for 2010 are? Accounting majors who are graduating now and will, most likely, pass the CPA exam in 2010. Do you think they'll have it better?

Actually according to several websites, including the Bureau of Labor's Accounting is a very good industry to get into and has a lot of projected growth.

I am an attorney and an excellent test taker ( perfect SAT, perfect LSAT score). Is there any way I can skip the education requirements and just study for the CPA exam?

Also if I can't ,are there any tests or certifications I can get to enhance my law degree without going back to school I have the time to study, I just don't have the money or time to go back to school and my job prospects aren't very good lately. Thanks.

Each state has their own requirements in order to take the CPA exam, but I believe all of them require that you have between 24-36 semester hours of accounting classes (up to 6 hours can be ethics classes). I'm going back to school right now to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam, and it will take me a year and a half from start to end, taking no more than 2 classes at a time.

I'm not sure where you're living, but check to see if any of your local community colleges offer a post-baccalaureate programs for students that just need to take the classes to be eligible for the CPA exam. I'm going to one that offers all of their accounting classes online, and they're classes that usually you can only find at a 4 year college.

I want to become a cpa (certified public accountant) i was just wondering is it hard? How long is the schooling and what are some good schools for accounting in the united states. what do they make per year? any additional information is greatly apprieciated. Thanks sooooooooooooooooo much.
Brit

Where on God's Earth can you only make $30k with a CPA license? In Houston you can't even get one for less than $60k!

Okay, anyway, this is the AICPA website, they will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about how to become a CPA in your state (some variation on that). Generally, however, you need a college degree in SOMETHING with lots & lots of accounting & other business courses. You need to have good moral character (no felonies, etc.) & you have to pass a test. The test is a big, long, hairy mess that you used to have to take over 2 days all at once. Now, you get to take it one section at a time at a computer in a testing center (Thomson Prometric) near you. BTW, I NEVER in a million years thought I would be an accountant, but it has been the best decision of my life.

Best wishes!

Does an Associate of Arts Degree in Accounting qualify someone to become a CPA? Does an Associate of Arts Degree in Accounting qualify someone to become a CPA?

No, you'll need 3x that education.

Every state requires that to sit for the CPA exam you have a bachelor's degree (it can be in anything) and 150 semester hours of college credit. The specific course credit varies from state-to-state but usually includes something like 30 hours of accounting and 30 hours of business courses in those 150 hours.

While many are getting a 5-year bachelor's degree (150 hours) as many are getting a usual 4-year bachelor's (120 hours) and following it with a master's degree to reach the 150 hours. An MBA and CPA combination is a pretty lucrative pair.

Note too that some states require a certain amount of supervised experience before you can become a CPA. Those states tend to have a category for licensed accountant as well as the CPA designation.

An AAS in Accounting (or AA or AS) would qualify you to become an accounting clerk/technician, AP clerk, AR clerk, income tax preparer, bookkeeper, or very junior accountant.

Understand that all accountants are not a CPA. CPA is a specific sort of accountant and there are many others that follow different paths. For some of those jobs at the entry level, the associates degree is sufficient. Most advancement will require a bachelor's degree if not a master's degree in accounting.

What do I need to study to become a CPA and for how long? What do I need to study to become a CPA and for how long?

Requirements vary from state to state. Every state requires a a 4 year degree with a concentration in Accounting. Most states require a fifth year of education (aka, the 150 hour requirement) to sit for exam.

The CPA exam consists of 4 parts. You must pass all 4 parts of the CPA exam within an 18 month window (passing score on each section is a 75). Sections can be taken one at a time, but if you don't pass all 4 within the 18 month window, you will start to lose credit for sections & have to retake them. The length of time it takes to pass all 4 sections really just depends on the person taking them (I did it in 6 months - with a full time job and 3 little kids).

Not all states have work requirements. But for the states that do, the work requirement is typically required to become licensed, NOT to sit for exam. That is, you can take the CPA exam while you are fulfilling the work requirement.

If you are not an American citizen, you'll also want to research states requirements for that (e.g. Alabama requires candidate to be American citizens).

Do the research - I've given you some links below. It's a hard journey, but very rewarding onnce you make it! Good luck!

I would like to study to become an accountant do i have to go to uni to become a CPA?

I live in Perth Australia, does anyone know what i would have to study without having to go to uni

Most CPA instiutes require that applicants hold at least a bachelor's degree *and* have a certain number of education hours in accounting, finance and math.

So unless Australia is the exception to the above rule then you will require a stint in university to obtain a degree.

Is getting a JD (In addition to CPA) needed to become a succesful tax accountant?

I am about to graduate from college and awaiting an offer from a Big Four CPA firm to work in the Tax Department. I met with a big four tax partner recently and he told me that they only expected me to become a CPA. I asked him about the importance of getting a JD and told me it was not necessary. He said it would not by any means hurt my chances of being succesful or going up the ladder. He said studying it would be a personal preference to gain better understanding or to develop skills on tax laws.

What do you guys think?

To be a tax accountant you wouldn't need the JD. If you wanted to become a tax attorney it would be needed though.

What may help you is to get a Masters in Accountancy from a university. It will make you more marketable.

Good luck!