A CPA degree online is not technically a whole degree program. It is more likely to be an online preparatory course that will help you get ready to take the CPA licensing exam after you’ve finished your bachelor’s degree, or a bachelor’s or master’s degree accounting program that includes CPA exam prep. This is because by 2009, all but four U.S. states and D.C. will require CPA candidates to complete 150 semester hours of college coursework: the typical 4-year bachelor’s degree plus an additional 30 hours more. If you’re looking for a CPA degree online, you should check out the minimum education requirements of the state you want to be licensed in. In some states, it may make sense to pursue a master’s degree/CPA degree online.
CPA degree online prep programs are probably worth the financial investment: the 4-part CPA exam is notoriously tough. You’re not required to pass all four parts at once, but most states will require you to pass all four sections within 18 months of the first one you pass. (Fewer than half of CPA candidates pass every part they attempt on the first try.)
CPA Degree Online Careers
CPA degree holders work for businesses, governments, nonprofit organizations, or individuals, providing accounting services and advice on a wide range of accounting issues such as the business balance sheet, safeguarding assets, payroll and compensation, employee healthcare benefits, data-processing, and paying taxes correctly. Auditors check financial statements and inform investors and authorities that the statements have been correctly prepared and reported. Combining their knowledge of accounting and finance with law and investigative techniques, forensic CPAs help authorities investigate white-collar crimes such as securities fraud and embezzlement, bankruptcies and contract disputes, as well as organized crime activities such as money laundering.
What’s the Job Outlook?
Growth of jobs for CPA degree holders is predicted to be very strong between 2010 and 2016, fueled by the recent financial scandals and the resultant regulations. If the economy recovers from the recession and begins to grow again, that will also boost accounting job growth.
How Much Does It Pay?
According to Payscale, CPAs with a year of experience may reach a median salary as high as $60,000 a year, while CPAs with 5-10 years of experience may have a median salary of $80,000. It goes up from there.
