Miller-Motte Technical College

Accounting Degree Programs, Certification, and Licensing

Accountants and auditors who will be filing reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are required at a minimum to have a bachelor's degree or to be Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). Also, only Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) may file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Many colleges and universities in the United States offer Accredited Accounting Degree programs for their students.

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A majority (42) of the states mandate at least 150 semester hours of college coursework for a CPA, over 30 semester hours in excess of most other bachelor's degree requirements. In addition, for all states CPAs must also pass the Uniform CPA Examination prepared by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and be licensed by their state board of accountancy. Continuing education for CPAs, referred to as continuing professional education (CPE), is also required by nearly all states.

Licensing requirements vary by specific jurisdiction (state, territory etc.). Any person who wants to become a CPA in a certain jurisdiction should learn more about that jurisdiction's specific requirements. If you are seeking a good resource for obtaining CPA licensing information, check out the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.

There are also voluntary certifications for accountants, including:

• The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) - Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
• The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) - Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA), Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP), and Certified Financial Services Auditor (CFSA)
• The ISACA (formerly the Information Systems Audit and Control Association) - Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• The Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation (ACAT) - Accredited Business Accountant (ABA), Accredited Tax Advisor (ATA), Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP), and Elder Care Specialist (ECS) for accountants preparing their clients for retirement
• The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) - Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
• The Association of Government Accountants (AGA) - Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)
• The AICPA offers CPAs - Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP), and Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)

Resources for Accountants and Auditors

• Accounting Salaries, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• Average Starting Salary for Accountants (PDF), Compiled by: The Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, 2008.
• Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB)
• Governmental Accounting Standards Board
• International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)
• National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and NASBA tools (tools about accountancy licensing) and CPE compliance from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)
• Steps to Become a CPA, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• Uniform CPA Candidate Bulletin, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)