By DeVry University
January 10, 2024
12 min read
Every business needs to track its finances, create financial reports for review by internal or external stakeholders and keep track of taxes paid to federal, state or local authorities. This work is done by accountants and auditors. Because accounting is an essential function of any business, accountants and auditors may find employment in private-sector corporations, nonprofits, government agencies and other public-sector organizations, or they can be self-employed. If you’re considering a career in accounting, it’s important for you to understand the considerable breadth of this occupation and how its various fields and specializations may align with your personal and professional goals.
When planning your career, remember that titles may vary by employer and some roles may require years of experience or additional qualifications.
The work environment for accountants will vary according to the type of work they do. Most accountants work in an office environment, but some work from home and others may travel to visit clients.
Each exam section is taken separately and, once you’ve passed all 4 sections, you may be required to take an additional ethics examination required by your state before applying for your state-issued CPA license.
According to BLS, all states require CPA candidates to complete 150 semester hours of college coursework to be licensed and to take continuing education courses, including ethics courses, to maintain licensure. Furthermore, to retain your certification and AICPA membership, you must meet certain continuing professional education (CPE) requirements.
If you’ve already earned an undergraduate degree in accounting or finance, our Graduate Certificate in Accounting Certification Preparation program with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam Preparation Emphasis can help prepare you for the CPA exam.1 This career-focused program can help you earn the academic credits required to take the CPA Exam and includes courses that integrate Becker Professional Education’s CPA Exam Review.
Please keep in mind that job requirements vary by employer and employment in some of these occupations may require years of relevant experience.
As mentioned above, remember that job requirements vary by employer and employment in some of these occupations may require years of relevant experience.
1Credits and degrees earned from this institution do not automatically qualify the holder to participate in professional licensing exams to practice certain professions. Persons interested in practicing a regulated profession must contact the appropriate state regulatory agency for their field of interest. For instance, typically 150 credit hours or education are required to meet state regulatory agency education requirements for CPA licensure. Coursework may qualify for credit towards the State Board of Accountancy requirements. However, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the state board of accountancy for the jurisdiction in which they are applying to determine whether they have completed the appropriate credit hours and coursework to qualify to take the CPA exam. Employees of DeVry University and its Keller Graduate School of Management are not in a position to determine an individual’s eligibility to take the CPA exam or satisfy licensing.
2https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm#tab-1Growth projected on a national level. Local growth will vary by location. BLS projections are not specific to DeVry University students or graduates and may include earners at all stages of their career and not just entry level.
3Program, course and extended classroom availability vary by location. In site-based programs, students will be required to take a substantial amount of coursework online to complete their program.
