Successful accountants need to possess a special aptitude for numbers and a close attention to detail. They must also have excellent computer skills and be adept at oral and written communication. This is a career in which education and constant accuracy are of utmost importance....
Make certain you excel in math in high school. Ask your guidance counselor which
classes to take to best prepare you for college and a degree in accounting. Also ask for a list of colleges that offer accounting programs and degrees.
- Write to colleges for their catalogs and applications well before your senior year in high school. In order to receive Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification from a state, you will need to first receive a bachelor's degree in accounting or in a related business field with numerous accounting courses.
- Do research on the degree requirements of the state in which you hope to obtain your eventual CPA certificate. Some states are now requiring 150 semester units for an accounting degree, and others will do so in the future. See the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (aicpa.org) for further information.
- Make certain that the colleges to which you apply offer accounting programs that will fulfill all of the state's current requirements.
- Decide which accounting field best suits your interests. The major fields are public, government, and management accounting and internal auditing. Realize that within each field there are numerous subfields.
- Become proficient with a variety of accounting software packages.
- Work at part-time jobs or internships in accounting firms during your college years, especially during the summer, when you can gain full-time experience in the field. Many firms that hire entry-level accountants after graduation from college require this work.
- Take the four-part, two-day Uniform CPA Examination prepared by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. You will need some accounting experience, in addition to a bachelor's degree, before applying for the test.
Successful accountants need to possess a special aptitude for numbers and a close attention to detail. They must also have excellent computer skills and be adept at oral and written communication. This is a career in which education and constant accuracy are of utmost importance....