Certificate in Accounting

Accounting is an extremely broad and diverse career field. Its reach extends far beyond the offices of public accounting firms and the Internal Revenue Service. Everybody needs accountants. From retail businesses to law firms, if it's an organization that makes money, chances are it has an accounting department. If you're interested in pursuing an accounting career, but don't have time to complete a two- or four-year program, then maybe you should check out schools that offer certificates in accounting. Accounting certificates are meant to give the student a thorough grounding in the area of accounting and financial reporting. They come in two forms: introductory certificates and post-baccalaureate certificates.

Introductory Certificates

Introductory certificates are aimed at those who are interested in accounting but don't have the resources, time, or desire to pursue a longer degree program. These certificates provide a general overview of accounting practices and techniques, and prepare the student for entry-level jobs in the accounting sector. Possible jobs include working as an accounts receivable/payable clerk for a retail company, or as an auditing assistant with the Internal Revenue Service.

On average, most introductory certificate programs take about a year to complete as a full-time student and up to two years if you are pursuing it online or part time. These programs often consist of about 18 credit hours of class, and can cost from $1,500 to $5,000 depending on your school. In general, there are very few prerequisites for earning an introductory certificate, although a solid understanding of basic mathematical concepts, economics, and statistics is recommended.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Post-baccalaureate accounting certificates are geared toward students who are either already in the accounting field and want to further their professional knowledge, or who possess a bachelor's degree in another discipline and want to break into the accounting profession. Compared to the introductory certificate programs, the post-baccalaureate programs involve a more intense investigation into the concepts of accounting.

In order to enroll in a post-baccalaureate certificate program, most schools will require that you possess a bachelor's degree, though not necessarily related to accounting. On average, most post-baccalaureate programs take about a year to complete, and consist of 27 credit hours of class (not including any prerequisites that may not have been fulfilled prior to enrollment).

Because these programs involve more credit hours than introductory programs, they tend to be more expensive. A typical one-year post-baccalaureate certificate program can cost from $4,000 to $8,000, depending on your school and the time of year.

Once finished, you will be well-prepared to enter the accounting field, and you will have either fulfilled or be close to fulfilling all of the requirements necessary to take the Certified Public Accountant Exam and become a CPA. Graduates from these programs can expect to work for such employers as large accounting firms, corporations, the Internal Revenue Service, and auditing agencies. In this diverse discipline the possibilities are limitless.

Article Resources:

University of Washington: Accounting Certificate Program
Oregon State University: Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program
UC Berkeley: Accounting Certificate Program
University of Maryland University College: Certificate in Accounting
Linfield College: Post-baccalaureate Accounting Certificate