[Anonymous]

The beauty of Florida BOA rules is that you can take the exam with just an undergrad. The curse of Florida BOA rules is that you can take the exam with just an undergrad.

I’m now in a pickle, and a little indecisive at the moment. I’ll need an additional 13 credit hours once I pass BEC (hurry up Nov 24th!) before the BOA will issue my license. I’m torn as to whether or not I want to just grab some quick classes and get them over with, or if I want to turn it into a full fledged master’s degree. Typical MAcc program from my research is 30 credit hours. So I’ll be half way there anyway after the 13. Just not sure if the added cost will be worth it. From what I’ve been told, once you have the CPA, the pay bump for a MAcc is minimal. So it seems the break even on the financial and time costs would be extremely long and slim.

Any thoughts?

[Lion_of_the_Rock]

I'd only get Master's if I wanted to teach at the community college level one day for more side dough.

Extra classes at comm college level probably way less expensive than MAcc program and will do the trick (at least in VA).

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 74, 79
FAR - 75

You have to buy a ticket to win the raffle.

[HeartsMimiCPA]

I graduated with a BA in Economics, to qualify to sit I just took the required class at local community colleges. I'm going back now to get my Masters only because i'm considering getting a PhD to teach and my 4 yr BA grades were tragic. If I wasn't interested in teaching I definitely would not be going for a masters….unless you can go for free.

AUD - 65, 89!
REG - 70, 89!
FAR - 78!
BEC - 77!

Finally!
Experience 06/30/15
Ethics-Done

VA Licensed 09/15/15

[Gatorbates]

I just piece mealed my credits together to get the required hours. In my opinion, once you have your license, a Masters really doesn't help you much.

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[Anonymous]

I'd take 13 credits basket weaving dude.

Let's face it: Nobody cares if you have your masters in accounting. People only get it to qualify for the CPA. Colleges have pushed these unnecessary degrees on wet-behind-the-ears undergrads preaching “increased marketability” when the reality is that any accounting beyond an undergrad should be learned on the job. Period.

I should clarify that there is value in a Masters in Taxation, especially when taught at a law school (the best ones in my area seem to be) or a top MBA program (after a few years of experience). I say this because most AACSB accredited programs (generally considered the gold-standard in business education) only touch on tax and the great MBA programs are case-based study which integrate theory and real life business problems.

[taxgeek83]

I second Bill – with your license, a masters won't matter too much. The only job postings I've seen that require or highly prefer a masters along with a license are tax jobs, and the masters is in tax. A general accountancy masters is too broad, and I don't think it will give you much more than a license. Tax is more specialized, and thus preferred. If your interests lie there and you have the option, go for it. If not, underwater basket weaving all the way. I took a class years ago as a kid and actually kind of liked it. 🙂

[Tripp11]

As already covered, the only way I would take the extra classes to obtain my Masters would be if I thought I would teach someday. If I never thought I would teach, there's no way I would take the extra classes.

AUD - 93
BEC - 80
REG - 86
FAR - 83

[Anonymous]

Thanks everybody. You pretty much confirmed my suspicions. I had heard from several professors prior to graduating with my undergrad that you can never go wrong with too much school. Quite honestly, I beg to differ. I have learned so much more by being on the job than I ever learned in my educational journey. Concepts that seemed so difficult to grasp during my classes made so much more sense when I saw them applied in the real world. It was literally like those lightbulb moments from cartoons. Looks like I'll be talking with the BOA and finding out exactly what they're looking for and then finding the easiest classes to make it happen. Thanks again!

[maxheadroom88]

A Masters may matter when its time for a promotion, you might be competing for that promotion with people that have masters degrees. That being said if your going to go for a masters I would take it in something else (taxation, finance, etc) just to have some diversity in your credentials.

Far: 82 Aug 2014
Bec: 79 Aug 2014
Aud:78 Oct 2014
Reg: 81 Nov 2014 done!!!!

[jbisdamon]

When I was going through the recruiting process, I asked a similar question about how I should go about getting my hours. The bottom line, in public accounting the only letters that matter are CPA. When I recruit people you could have a doctorate degree for all I care but if you have a terrible interview You probably aren't getting hired. The bottom line is in public you make yourself stand out. A MACC won't help you at all. If you're eligible for the CPA exam you're just as qualified as they need and that's the #1 thing that matters. When it comes to promotions, if you deserve it you'll get it. and I would bet a ton that you'll never have a promotion taken away from you in public accounting because a peer had a masters and you didn't lol. Macc is a freaking Joke honestly.

BEC - 76 7/22/14
AUD - 84 8/30/14
REG - 75 10/16/14
FAR - 87 11/24/14

[Anonymous]

^ Poster above doesn't have a master's. People with master's may care if you do.

But it depends. The reason I am getting a master's is because if you want to work in tax, people actually want you to have a master's in taxation accounting. Also, my master's program offers classes which help you pass the cpa exam. Plus it isnt costing me much so i tihnk its worth. If none of this kind of stuff applies to you then ya, get your credits in basket weaving

[Martin]

Here in Miami recruiters laugh when you say that a Masters should have a similar value as the CPA exam. I used to tell them that when I was not studying for this exam.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Anonymous]

If your applying for a job against someone an mba + cpa looks better than someone with just a cpa.

[Jaane]

Hey brett2k07,

Honestly, if I were in your position, I would do whatever it takes to get licensed as soon as possible. If that means taking CC courses, then so be it. Save the master's degree for a few years down the road. If you decide you want to change your career progression, then you can use a solid (define that how you want to) MBA to make the transition. If you want the PhD in accounting, get funding for the whole thing instead of getting having to pay for the master's on your own.

I think accounting master's programs are best for those with non-accounting majors or other career backgrounds (career switchers who are dedicated to accounting for the long haul) and increasingly for those in undergrad at schools with integrated programs that shorten the additional time needed for the grad degree. Finally, those accounting students who graduated with low GPAs or stuck out during on campus recruiting can use the master's program as a second chance or reset button.

Of course, if tax is your thing then the master's in taxation is another obvious choice. Other than that 1) license 2) experience 3) top MBA only if your future plans warrant it.

Hope this helps.

[Author]

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