[kky617]

Hi,

I have BA in Psychology and finally fulfilled the 150 credit requirement (including the required Accounting and Business credits( to take the CPA exam. I have no experience in accounting field.

I thought my worries would be over once I am done with the credit requirement, but now, I am more worried about the career options. I am a permanent resident (can work legally in private and public sectors just not the government job) and will apply for citizenship in July of 2015 (next summer).

I live in Colorado Springs, CO.

Would it be worth getting the MBA and Ms in Accounting Dual Degree for me to qualify for the education in lieu of experience to get licensed as a CPA once I pass all 4 sections and the ethics exam? Or should I just get MBA or MS in Accounting? I believe that no matter which graduate degree I go for, there will be more internship opportunity open to current student and also believe that with the internship experience, I would have better chance of getting a job upon graduation. The college near me only offers MBA in Accounting. Would it qualify for the education in lieu of experience requirement for CPA license? If not, and if MBA in Accounting in general just does not offer much benefit in finding a job, I would need to drive for an hour to go to Denver for MBA & Master in Accounting or just one of the two graduate program.

Please let me know.

Thank you so much :)!

[kky617]

@tough_kitty

Yes, I need to take a lot of classes :p I have 27 credits in Accounting and 21 credits in Business, so I would need 18 more credits (6 classes) in Accounting and 15 more credits (5 classes) in Business.

You sound amazing to speak English as a second language and get 3.97 GPA while working full time! Whoa! Are you looking to stay at your state job, or are you planning to relocate?

[acamp]

You'll basically be paying for a masters to have access to recruiting programs, as, if you emerge with a masters and can get a CPA license, without experience you still won't be all that marketable.

I would lean more towards attending accounting events, join your local CPA society (non-CPAs can join, usually pretty cheap), start networking. Hit up recruiters for firms on LinkedIn (if you want to go public). Spruce up that resume to emphasize all the business/accounting classes you have taken. Might even make it its own section in education, ie:

1. XXXX University

XX Accounting Units

XX Business Units

Meet all education requirements to sit for CPA, X.XX GPA

2. Bachelors in Psychology…

Something that emphasis the extra work to make you CPA eligible.

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

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

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

You'll basically be paying for a masters to have access to recruiting programs, as, if you emerge with a masters and can get a CPA license, without experience you still won't be all that marketable.

I would lean more towards attending accounting events, join your local CPA society (non-CPAs can join, usually pretty cheap), start networking. Hit up recruiters for firms on LinkedIn (if you want to go public). Spruce up that resume to emphasize all the business/accounting classes you have taken. Might even make it its own section in education, ie:

1. XXXX University

XX Accounting Units

XX Business Units

Meet all education requirements to sit for CPA, X.XX GPA

2. Bachelors in Psychology…

Something that emphasis the extra work to make you CPA eligible.

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

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

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[tough_kitty]

kky617: Well, in that case it sounds like MBA with concentration in Accounting would be the best choice for you.

And thank you….Leaving the state job or not has been my dilemma for a long time now…still not sure….I might try to see if I can get a job in corporate accounting…..but relocating would be hard since I just bought a house 11 months ago and I have a cat and I simply do NOT want to move unless it is to the beach front house somewhere in SoCal 😛

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

kky617: Well, in that case it sounds like MBA with concentration in Accounting would be the best choice for you.

And thank you….Leaving the state job or not has been my dilemma for a long time now…still not sure….I might try to see if I can get a job in corporate accounting…..but relocating would be hard since I just bought a house 11 months ago and I have a cat and I simply do NOT want to move unless it is to the beach front house somewhere in SoCal 😛

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[kky617]

@acamp

Thank you so much for the suggestion to join local CPA societies and to contact recruiters on LinkedIn. I will definitely look into them.

So it is not the education, but the networking and experience that matter…

No matter what, in order to get a job as an accountant, I would need to pass the exam first at this point.

Should I join as a student or non-CPA member?

[kky617]

@acamp

Thank you so much for the suggestion to join local CPA societies and to contact recruiters on LinkedIn. I will definitely look into them.

So it is not the education, but the networking and experience that matter…

No matter what, in order to get a job as an accountant, I would need to pass the exam first at this point.

Should I join as a student or non-CPA member?

[acamp]

So just to clarify, you meet all the education requirements for someone wanting to get licensed who will eventually get accounting experience?

If so, yes, my original statement stands–now you just need a way in. Yes, passing the exam or even some sections will help, but you should get on with trying to network and get a job well before that is done (nearly 100% of new hires have zero sections done when they are offered a job through campus recruiting, as they are still a student during interviews!). In my opinion, your degree doesn't matter, what is the difference between a Bachelors in psych + business units + accounting units?! Not much, you just need to make sure this comes across to the person flying through resumes.

The hard part, is for someone in your position, most recruiting is done on-campus, so your goal should be to wiggle your way in to speaking with campus recruiting. ie: attend a networking event, make an acquaintance or two, and ask if they have any contacts or if they can forward your resume onto campus recruiting. Search for “PWC Campus Recruiter Denver” or something along those lines on linkedin and hit them up that way. I would assume you should sign up as a non-CPA member (probably a little more expensive) but since you are not a student I wouldn't start my relationship with a CPA society with a misrepresentation lol.

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

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

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[acamp]

So just to clarify, you meet all the education requirements for someone wanting to get licensed who will eventually get accounting experience?

If so, yes, my original statement stands–now you just need a way in. Yes, passing the exam or even some sections will help, but you should get on with trying to network and get a job well before that is done (nearly 100% of new hires have zero sections done when they are offered a job through campus recruiting, as they are still a student during interviews!). In my opinion, your degree doesn't matter, what is the difference between a Bachelors in psych + business units + accounting units?! Not much, you just need to make sure this comes across to the person flying through resumes.

The hard part, is for someone in your position, most recruiting is done on-campus, so your goal should be to wiggle your way in to speaking with campus recruiting. ie: attend a networking event, make an acquaintance or two, and ask if they have any contacts or if they can forward your resume onto campus recruiting. Search for “PWC Campus Recruiter Denver” or something along those lines on linkedin and hit them up that way. I would assume you should sign up as a non-CPA member (probably a little more expensive) but since you are not a student I wouldn't start my relationship with a CPA society with a misrepresentation lol.

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

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

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[kky617]

@acamp

Thank you so much! I haven't taken any section of the CPA exam yet, but I qualified to TAKE the exam. I would need work experience with direct supervision of an active CPA or 18 more hours in Accounting and 15 more hours in Business from graduate studies.

I will try all I can do to attend networking events and campus recruiting :)! It would be really nice to get hired before passing all 4 sections!

[kky617]

@acamp

Thank you so much! I haven't taken any section of the CPA exam yet, but I qualified to TAKE the exam. I would need work experience with direct supervision of an active CPA or 18 more hours in Accounting and 15 more hours in Business from graduate studies.

I will try all I can do to attend networking events and campus recruiting :)! It would be really nice to get hired before passing all 4 sections!

[tough_kitty]

If it is one OR the other, you'd be better off finding the work experience as opposed to spending another year or 2 taking all those classes! That's 33 more units!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

If it is one OR the other, you'd be better off finding the work experience as opposed to spending another year or 2 taking all those classes! That's 33 more units!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[stoleway]

@kky617

When you’re choosing for an MBA program, make sure your school has strong connection with accounting firms.

As far the experience in lieu of education is concern, Colorado will be scrapping that requirement in mid-2015, so be very mindful about it.

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[stoleway]

@kky617

When you’re choosing for an MBA program, make sure your school has strong connection with accounting firms.

As far the experience in lieu of education is concern, Colorado will be scrapping that requirement in mid-2015, so be very mindful about it.

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[Author]

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