If you are considering an online accounting class as a way of advancing in your accounting or finance career, you are no doubt wondering whether your class will count toward the CPA exam requirement. No one wants to spend all that time and money on an online accounting class, only to find out that it doesn’t help them qualify toward the exam at the end!
So, to answer this question, you should first know what the CPA exam’s educational requirements are. In order to qualify for the exam, you generally must have a bachelor’s degree in some field (not necessarily accounting). In addition, you should have at least 150 hours of college credit, and of those, 24 must be accounting class credit and 24 must be business credits other than accounting class credit. While this may vary depending on your level of education and/or the state in which you reside, these requirements are what you should keep in mind as you think about an online accounting class.
In order to make sure that the online accounting class of your choice meets this requirement, you should visit that school’s website to see a number of things. First of all, it is imperative that they are an accredited, Title-IV eligible institution, or else the work you have put in might not be recognized. Be wary of “degree mills,” which are institutions posing as accredited colleges that will give you unhelpful degrees. Avoid this unfortunate situation by thoroughly researching the institution of your choice to make sure that it will meet the necessary requirements. Another thing to look at when you visit the online accounting college website is whether they have the flexibility that you need in an online class, and to see if your credits from a previous institution are transferrable, if applicable.
Luckily, accounting is a growing field and a smart bet for the future. Taking an online accounting class proactively while you get valuable experience on the job might even be a smarter plan than trying to go to school full-time. Accounting firms prioritize experience, so working a job in the field while you take the online accounting class is an excellent way to stay on top of your career goals.
On the whole, online accounting classes can and do meet the CPA exam requirements. Once you sign up for them, if the school is accredited, you are held to the same high standards that an accredited brick-and-mortar institution adheres to. The advantages of an online accounting class are more flexibility and the chance to advance without having to pick up and move to a college campus. The ability to keep your day job and work towards a degree that will allow you take the CPA exam makes an online accounting class an excellent option, especially for busy professionals who want to be more marketable.
Give yourself the chance to advance in a hot field and check out the variety of online accounting classes offered to see if there’s one that’s right for you!
