[vasaline]

For those working in public accounting, have any of you worked with or known anybody in the field with an unrelated degree (no bachelors or masters in business/accounting) such as biology, history, psychology etc. and have gotten their CPA requirements by going through the community college route. If so how common is it?

[sarita]

I had a completely different major and minor in college… I didn't take any business or accounting classes in my undergrad.

A couple years after graduating, I took all the required accounting and business classes at my local university's extension program. It's not a community college, but the extension program works just like it. You just sign up, pay, and you're in. I don't think it was too hard… just a lot of work and time/dedication. I did really well in my classes – but we'll see how I do on the exams…

Most of the people in my classes were finance or business majors who needed to just take a few extra classes to sit for the exam. But I think there were a few others like me.

FAR 7/3/13 - 82
BEC 8/21/13 - 82
AUD 10/2/13 - 92
REG 12/3/13 - 88

DONE!!!! CA Candidate
Beat the 12/31/13 clock!

[sarita]

I had a completely different major and minor in college… I didn't take any business or accounting classes in my undergrad.

A couple years after graduating, I took all the required accounting and business classes at my local university's extension program. It's not a community college, but the extension program works just like it. You just sign up, pay, and you're in. I don't think it was too hard… just a lot of work and time/dedication. I did really well in my classes – but we'll see how I do on the exams…

Most of the people in my classes were finance or business majors who needed to just take a few extra classes to sit for the exam. But I think there were a few others like me.

FAR 7/3/13 - 82
BEC 8/21/13 - 82
AUD 10/2/13 - 92
REG 12/3/13 - 88

DONE!!!! CA Candidate
Beat the 12/31/13 clock!

[J]

I actually majored in history with a minor in business as an undergraduate (I finished a semester early and knew I was going back for graduate school as I was on an athletic scholarship, so I didn't worry about the double major route). I then completed my MBA the next year. However, I only had a couple of actual accounting courses, so I took those at my community college (where I now teach) several years later in order to have the ability to sit for the CPA. A significant amount of the students were taking classes for the exact same reason, and quite a few were coming from different backgrounds altogether (i.e. no business).

I'm not sure how common it is in terms of the relative percentage of CPA candidates, but there are quite a few of us out there. I really dislike the introductory accounting courses in college (horrible professors) and never considered the CPA route until moving back to the US from overseas a few years ago. Now I think it's the best thing since sliced bread (okay, maybe not quite that much)…

[J]

I actually majored in history with a minor in business as an undergraduate (I finished a semester early and knew I was going back for graduate school as I was on an athletic scholarship, so I didn't worry about the double major route). I then completed my MBA the next year. However, I only had a couple of actual accounting courses, so I took those at my community college (where I now teach) several years later in order to have the ability to sit for the CPA. A significant amount of the students were taking classes for the exact same reason, and quite a few were coming from different backgrounds altogether (i.e. no business).

I'm not sure how common it is in terms of the relative percentage of CPA candidates, but there are quite a few of us out there. I really dislike the introductory accounting courses in college (horrible professors) and never considered the CPA route until moving back to the US from overseas a few years ago. Now I think it's the best thing since sliced bread (okay, maybe not quite that much)…

[MintsRGood]

@InterFC1 my undergrad degree is pre-law! In Michigan you need 39 of your 150 credits to be from a prescribed list of approved business topics, or you could waive that breakdown with an MAC. My MAC program ended up being less classes than going the 39:150 route but if had worked out better the other way I would have taken as many classes as possible at CC!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[MintsRGood]

@InterFC1 my undergrad degree is pre-law! In Michigan you need 39 of your 150 credits to be from a prescribed list of approved business topics, or you could waive that breakdown with an MAC. My MAC program ended up being less classes than going the 39:150 route but if had worked out better the other way I would have taken as many classes as possible at CC!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[whitelilies04]

My undergrad degree is in Child & Adolescent Development. I taught in public school for a few years and realized it wasn't for me. I took and accounting course at a local college and loved it. So I got my basic business units at a JC and i got my upper division units at a local university. I now work at a big 4 and I love it. I work with quite a few people who don't have traditional accounting background.

FAR - passed, 11/12
AUD - passed, 5/13

[whitelilies04]

My undergrad degree is in Child & Adolescent Development. I taught in public school for a few years and realized it wasn't for me. I took and accounting course at a local college and loved it. So I got my basic business units at a JC and i got my upper division units at a local university. I now work at a big 4 and I love it. I work with quite a few people who don't have traditional accounting background.

FAR - passed, 11/12
AUD - passed, 5/13

[vasaline]

Reason I'm inquiring about this is because I have a degree in psychology but afterwards I went to a community college to get the required classes to sit for the cpa exam. I just found out that I passed my last section so I'm currently working on my resume and cover letter to send to cpa firms around my area.

I wanted to see if anyone/know anyone that have gone the route I've taken and successfully transitioned into a public accounting position.

[vasaline]

Reason I'm inquiring about this is because I have a degree in psychology but afterwards I went to a community college to get the required classes to sit for the cpa exam. I just found out that I passed my last section so I'm currently working on my resume and cover letter to send to cpa firms around my area.

I wanted to see if anyone/know anyone that have gone the route I've taken and successfully transitioned into a public accounting position.

[Anonymous]

Good luck and please update us on your progress. I am in a similar boat – behavioral science degree going back to complete credits for the CPA.

[Anonymous]

Good luck and please update us on your progress. I am in a similar boat – behavioral science degree going back to complete credits for the CPA.

[tarepanda]

I was a history major and philosophy minor. My interest was in languages though and after college I spent a yr in France and then moved to Korea to try my luck with learning Korean. I eventually got into the accounting field after getting a job at the Seoul office of one of the Big 4, as a translator/editor in Int'l Tax (advisory). I got interested in tax & tax law and decided to get my master's in accounting. Graduated 2 yrs ago and am working towards getting my CPA. I think if you're interested in the subject matter you'll do great. I think having that interest and always learning and wanting to improve as a professional is key to making a good transition in accounting (& succeeding in anything, really).

Most of my coworkers were straight up business or accounting majors who went on to get their CPA licenses. One of my coworkers though was unique, a Russian B.A. in undergrad. She took foundation accounting & tax courses on her own and then passed the CPA exam. She is also just super bright, and has become the go-to person in the dept. I went back to Seoul last year to work for her team, and she is now a partner!

2012 (Kaplan)
REG: 70, 72
2013 (Kaplan, Wiley Test Bank & textbooks, Ninja audio)
FAR 2/21/13: 75
REG rematch 4/2/13: 84
AUD: 5/22/13: 86
BEC: 7/30/13 ... 86!

[tarepanda]

I was a history major and philosophy minor. My interest was in languages though and after college I spent a yr in France and then moved to Korea to try my luck with learning Korean. I eventually got into the accounting field after getting a job at the Seoul office of one of the Big 4, as a translator/editor in Int'l Tax (advisory). I got interested in tax & tax law and decided to get my master's in accounting. Graduated 2 yrs ago and am working towards getting my CPA. I think if you're interested in the subject matter you'll do great. I think having that interest and always learning and wanting to improve as a professional is key to making a good transition in accounting (& succeeding in anything, really).

Most of my coworkers were straight up business or accounting majors who went on to get their CPA licenses. One of my coworkers though was unique, a Russian B.A. in undergrad. She took foundation accounting & tax courses on her own and then passed the CPA exam. She is also just super bright, and has become the go-to person in the dept. I went back to Seoul last year to work for her team, and she is now a partner!

2012 (Kaplan)
REG: 70, 72
2013 (Kaplan, Wiley Test Bank & textbooks, Ninja audio)
FAR 2/21/13: 75
REG rematch 4/2/13: 84
AUD: 5/22/13: 86
BEC: 7/30/13 ... 86!

[Anonymous]

I love all the diverse backgrounds!

[Author]

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