Which is a more secure career path? Becoming a CPA or going to Business School?
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 at
3:17 am
CPA – Certified Public Accountant
Business School – Many different jobs (Maybe higher pay?)
Please list the pros and cons of both. Thank You!
I know the requirements.. I was just inquiring about what you think the better career path is. I’m leaning towards business school because of the amount of opportunities it presents.
Tagged with: business school • career path • certified public accountant • jobs • pros and cons
Filed under: CPA
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I am going to grad school for my MSA (master’s of science in accountancy) and will eventually take the CPA exam. It is a very stable career and there are many areas you can go into – auditing, tax, forensic, etc. You can make a decent income with just a bachelor’s, must most places don’t pay well without a master’s degree. I personally plan on getting more than one, perhaps an MBA next. But you can always change your mind later. If you get your bachelor’s in finance or marketing, you can always go back for your master’s in accounting (or vice versa). It’ll take about a year. But I know you can easily make $100k as an auditing CPA with 5 years experience.
As far as business programs, I have 2 friends in marketing and they do not enjoy it at all. One is working on her MBA now to get out of that field. She makes a decent income, but nothing great. I have another friend who majored in finance and makes a lot of money and loves it.
Honestly, the average salaries for both are similar, so do what makes you happy. Even if I only make $60k, I’ll be happy, and that is what will boost my success. Good luck.
To become a CPA the state may require a Bachelors degree in accounting.
Well, I’m an Actuarial Science major (lol) BUT accounting is my backup–so…I hope this helps.
Accounting is a good stable career position. Most accountants that I know are still working.My mentor has been a CPA for 15 years (no masters) and she’s still employed right now.
She works with a law firm these days and earns somewhere around $70,000/year. She worked with the Big Four (ernst and young) when she was fresh out of school and I think this helps her pay to a GREAT extent.
Although…with hard work you can still get a good salary. But–y’know…where you go to school and where you happen to work really can help the situation.
Don’t accountants have to have a CPA to advance, anyway…? These designations will help you and your paycheck, if nothing else.
Anyway–I know that most universities (in Texas) offer a 5 year Accounting program (since you need 150 hours to sit for the CPA anyway, I think).
http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/dept/accounting/
http://www.mccombs.utexas.edu/mpa/integrated/
http://www.utsa.edu/gcat/chapter6/COB/accdept.html
http://www.utsa.edu/ucat/Chapter3/5year.html
With this program, you can take grad level courses during your senior year.
You receive your BA and MACY(master of accountancy) upon graduation.
It’s a good deal, imo.
Check the programs in your area–they may offer this.