[vlps]

Hey guys, I am a Finance Major about to graduate with my degree in May. Around my Junior year, I become very interested in accounting so I began taking accounting courses for fun. Last semester I decided that I wanted to become a CPA, but realized that if I wanted to graduate with an accounting degree I would have to push my graduation off until next Fall due to pre-requisite limits on certain classes. I was disappointed because I really want to become a CPA. But than I found out that in New Jersey all you need is 150 credits, and 24 credit hours in accounting. I will have the 150 credits because I have taken so many extra accounting classes and I will also have 33 credit hours in accounting. Pretty much I have completed every accounting class except for auditing, advanced and strategic accounting something or other. But I will be taking an optional secondary federal income tax course next semester to gain more knowledge in tax that most accounting undergrads don’t take (I believe it is a graduate level accounting class). Anyway, if i manage to pass the cpa exam, will I be marketable to accounting firms as a finance major with CPA eligibility? Any help or insight is appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I can't speak for public firms but I work in healthcare accounting and our CFO has a finance degree and is a CPA.

[Anonymous]

I don't see how having a Finance degree will hinder your prospects. Have you had your transcripts evaluated? Some states, Louisiana being one of them, require you to have Auditing before you can sit for the exam. We have to have not only specific courses, but the syllabus has to be very specific. You might want to get your transcripts evaluated before you jump in feet first.

I understand not wanting to put off graduation. I only needed one more Finance class to double major in Accounting and Business Administration. But I wanted OUT! Not having Audit may make that part of the exam more difficult, in my honest opinion. I know the review courses teach you what you need to know to pass the exam, but a solid foundation will make it easier for you.

[Workinonit]

The top partner at my firm has an engineering degree. He went back and took the accounting classes he needed to sit for the CPA exam. I think you'll be fine with a finance degree.

BEC - passed - Oct 2012
AUD - passed - May 2012
REG - passed - Dec 2012
FAR - passed - Nov 2012

[Chantel]

Since you have to have so many accounting courses to even sit for the exam, I don't think your degree is going to hurt you because they still know you have accounting courses. You have to have 30 semester hours here in Texas (10 accounting courses) I don't know if that's everywhere or specific to each state.

F - F ('12), 90 (Dec '15)
A - F ('12), 73 (Feb '16), ? (July '16)
R - 87 (May '16)
B -

[sasricks]

One of my co-workers, non-CPA, had a degree in Marine Biology. If he could handle accounting, I don't think it should be an issue with a Finance degree. At least its a related discipline. HTH!

[MRSJLeon917]

I actually think in a way, it makes you more marketable because you are able to probably work in a slightly larger variety of roles, having a more in depth finance background.

AUD (5/25/2012): 91
FAR (10/22/2012): 89
REG (11/28/2012): 89
BEC (01/05/2013): 82
Ethics Exam: 90

IL Licensed CPA - 7/15/2013

A long journey, officially DONE!

[acamp]

I have a B/S in finance and did an MBA and some extra accounting courses to hit the requirements. In all reality your degree can be in just about anything so long as you meet the CPA requirements (make sure to include that on your resume)

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[vlps]

thank you guys

acamp, how do i include that in my resume? as of now I list completed accounting coursework under my finance b.s. in the educations section. and in my qalification section i list the 150 credit hour completion, i plan on listin that i passed the cpa exam and have the 150 credit hours once i pass the exam (hopefully this upcoming summer)

[jeff]

No one gives a rip what your undergrad was if you have a CPA designation.

It's not like they teach you anything practical anyway.

Undergrad in accounting, but they don't teach you to actually be an accountant…do taxes…etc.

MBA taught by professors who have likely never actually ran a business. Oh, the irony.

/rant.

[Starlight]

@Jeff – I was actually taught how to do taxes in undergrad. We did returns by hand in both the Individual Taxation and Corporate Taxation courses (including K-1s).

REG: 86
AUD: 92
FAR: 84
BEC: 87
Ethics: Passed!
Licensed 11/20/12

Supporting my husband on his CPA journey: 75% of the way there!

[acamp]

Put something like “Meet the educational requirements to sit for the [state name] CPA Exam” or “Completed 150 semester units of college including 24 units of accounting and am eligible to sit for the [state name] CPA Exam”

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Da Bears]

On my resume i put Candidate for CPA exam, Month/Year

FAR- 8/14/12 91
AUD- 10/16/12 88
BEC- 11/07/12 92
REG- 01/05/13 86
NIU CPA Review

[Author]

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