With the job market for good Certified Public Accountants (CPA)
growing according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, many people
have expressed their interest in becoming a CPA. Lora Schwacke, a former CPA of
twenty years, explains the steps involved in becoming a CPA:
- Earn an accounting degree. In most states in the United States, accountants need to accrue at least 150 classroom hours of education before they can even take the series of exams to earn certification. Most aspiring accountants use their undergraduate degree studies to soak up their educational hour’s requirement.
- Get a job. Before you can get certified, you have to work for at least two years as an accountant. If you have an accounting degree, you should have no problem finding a job as an entry-level accountant at an accounting firm or within the accounting department of almost any business.
- Take the exams. To earn certification, you have to take four exams administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. After you pass the first of the series, you have eighteen months to pass the other three.
- Maintain license. Most states require CPAs to renew their licenses by completing continuing education coursework.
Lora Schwacke built a long and impressive career over twenty
years as a CPA. She retired in 2004 and became a substitute teacher so that she
could have more control over her schedule and spend more time with her husband
and two daughters. She calls her career as a CPA very rewarding and recommends
it many undergraduate students.
