If you’ve ever thought about becoming an accountant, right now might be the best time to go for it! The job outlook for accountants is expected to grow faster than average between now and 2033, but recent reporting shows there’s a critical labor issue in the industry as the number of accounting graduates shrinks. In this post, we’re going to dive into that reporting and explore what kinds of jobs you can get with an accounting degree, and how you can earn that degree online.
Reporting in recent years has shown an overall drop in the number of people pursuing accounting degrees, but the need for accountants is projected to grow as the current workforce reaches retirement age. According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), an estimated 75% of CPAs would have reached retirement eligibility by 2020.1
There’s also been a decline in the number of people taking the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Examination, which is a four-part test that someone must pass to become a licensed CPA in the U.S. In 2022, the industry saw the lowest number of exam takers since 2006.2
From the 2012-13 school year to the 2021-22 school year, there was a 16.9% drop in the number of accounting graduates. As states grapple with the shortage of accountants, some are considering changing the requirements that are currently in place to become a CPA. A proposal from two national accounting groups would allow CPA candidates to use an additional year of work experience in place of school work.3
All Certified Public Accountants, or CPAs, are accountants, but not all accountants are CPAs. As of 2023, there were more than 1.5 million accountants in the U.S.,4 and of those, nearly 672,000 are actively licensed CPAs.5 An accountant is a professional who earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting, while a CPA is licensed and able to perform more complex financial tasks.
To become a CPA, you must meet the following requirements:
There are valuable career opportunities as an accountant and as a CPA, so it depends on what kind of opportunities you hope to explore when asking yourself whether you should pursue your CPA certification and licensure.
CPAs are able to pursue a broader range of career paths, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a variety of roles available to an accountant who doesn’t pursue a CPA designation. Below we explore just a few different types of career paths for accountants and CPAs.
Accountant career paths:
Some aspiring accounts think you have to earn at least a bachelor’s degree in the field to open career paths, but in another blog post, we go in-depth into the careers available for those who earn an Associate’s Degree in accounting!
CPA career paths:
To earn your accounting degree online, you need to enroll in and complete an accredited degree program. Before starting your search, you need to first ask yourself what kind of career path you want to pursue. Depending on your answer, you could initially start with an online certification program, like Bryan University’s Bookkeeping and Accounting Undergraduate Certificate program or our Tax Preparer Undergraduate Certificate program.
If you want to pursue a degree program straight away, consider the following questions before you start your search:
Once you answer those questions, you’ll be able to determine if a degree program is right for you.
At Bryan University, we’re committed to student success, and with a variety of options within our accounting program, we’re sure to have exactly what you’re looking for.
We offer a Bookkeeping and Accounting Undergraduate Certificate as well as a Tax Preparer Undergraduate Certificate. Our programs are stackable with dual enrollment, so if you enroll in one of our certificate programs you can enroll in our Associate Degree in Accounting at the same time. This means you can complete your certificate and get to work sooner while still completing your degree! We also offer a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Accounting.
Our programs are 100% online and accelerated so you take two classes at a time to finish fast. All books and course materials are included in tuition, and BU students also receive career search services which include job networking best practices, how to create an eye-catching resume, and ways to sharpen your interviewing skills.
Are you ready to get started? Learn more online today!
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