Determine whether you want to manage funds or be an accountant. Review the various courses and certifications available for each field. Professional accountants are required to obtain the Certified Public Accounting (CPA) certification. Specializations include corporate accounting, forensic accounting, auditing and tax preparation. Higher levels of certification in finance include the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or licenses administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. This qualifies you to trade corporate securities.
Choose the level of training necessary to perform in your industry. A master's degree provides more opportunities and allows you to assume executive-level duties. Pursuing certifications will enable various rights and responsibilities in your field.
Select a school that you desire to attend. Research institutions that offer finance and accounting courses. Decide if you prefer to learn on-campus or online. Verify if the chosen institution has accreditation.
Enroll in the program you have you selected. Degree programs can last between two and four years. Certification training can last six weeks to a few months.
Attend all the classes and training. Follow the degree program as provided by the institution. Become efficient in the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Learning GAAP is essential to learning advanced finance and accounting.