You can attain either an associate or bachelor's degree in accounting. If you already have an undergraduate degree, consider getting your MBA (Master of Business Administration) with a concentration in accounting. Regardless of the degree you're after, most accounting coursework includes financial accounting, auditing, income tax, accounting theory, personal financial planning, bookkeeping, estate planning and nonprofit accounting.
Once you've earned your accounting degree, you may want to add on a CPA (Certified Public Account) certification. CPAs are in demand in the accounting workforce, and having this certification will give you a competitive edge when looking for a job. To take the CPA test, you'll need at least 150 college credits, which means you'll most likely need your accounting degree plus some coursework in a graduate program. The CPA test contains four sections and lasts for two days. Questions include multiple-choice and small case studies, all taken at a computer testing center. You don't have to take the sections back-to-back though; you'll have 18 months to complete the test.
You can also choose to take accounting classes as part of a broader business degree. This may be a good option if you're not positive where you want to go in your career and want to ensure that several business-related fields are open to you. If you find an accounting job, your supervisor may require you to take an accounting training program specifically geared toward that company; some employers require that you have a bachelor's degree or MBA in accounting to qualify for employment.
With an accounting education, you can go into corporate or management accounting, government or internal auditing, consulting or work as an analyst or independent contractor. As new computer software is emerging, the accounting field is growing and changing thanks to technology. Students who pursue programs that focus on computer training will be able to greatly benefit potential employers.