[Trees202]

This might be a controversial topic, so let’s try to keep it friendly! People may have different opinions and that’s ok! 🙂

I switched my major around so much during undergrad that I racked up enough credits to sit for the CPA without having to take any grad level courses.

I’m *hopefully* finishing CPA this year–I only have BEC left.

Do you think getting a Masters will help me professionally? Or do you think that being a CPA will give a pretty good competitive edge / pay boost on its own.

(Obviously having a masters is better than not having a masters, but I’m not looking to be a CFO of a fortune 500 and I’m really wondering about the ROI for spending 30k on a masters degree when I’ll already be a CPA. Now…if an employer offers to pay for it, I’d absolutely love to put in the time and effort! I’m just concerned about how good of a financial investment it is for me.)

*I would not be going to a ‘prestigious’ school with a well-known respected program.

[aaronmo]

It's probably too individual/goal specific to really answer…for government careers, I think it's VERY helpful.

I really regret not going the masters route, but my situation is also a bit specific/outside box. Basically a masters would have been about $25k more for me…and another 12 credits…but I'd have accounting certification of some kind pre-CPA license and I'd have had access to employers/career fairs. It also probably would have saved me from the exam prep…since the masters program is geared towards the CPA exam. Essentially I would have gotten credits, and a title, for the same work it took to prep the exam.

[aaronmo]

To Mia's point…I had only two classes in undergrad that were applicable towards the CPA exam, neither in accounting. All of my accounting was done afterwards…and I really regret not packaging it towards a Masters. It would have taken a few more classes…a modest amount of debt…and it would have been well worth it come job time.

[sean s]

It's a few years since the last post, and this is precisely the crossroad that I'm at right now. I have a full time job right now and can either pursue just a CPA license with my bachelors in a non accounting field (from a nationally recognized college – not regionally recognized) or pursue a masters in accounting with the hope of eventually going for the CPA exam. I think it will be too much to work on the masters and CPA exam at once. My main concerns are as follows: If the CPA exam is not passed than all of my studying and 48 additional credits that I needed were all for nothing as I have nothing to show for it but if I have a masters in accounting at least I have that to show.
Additionally, I'm concerned if the CPA license without an accounting degree of any sort, will be enough to really move up?

[monikernc]

How are you qualifying to sit for CPA exams? Most states require a certain number of accounting credits to sit for either exams and/or license.
I had a finance undergrad and MBA and went back for second undergraduate major to qualify for exam and then license.
I think not having the accounting education would make the exams very hard to pass.
For me experience was the hard part. If you are in your 20s it will be easier to get but have the experience lined up before you spend a dollar on education or exams. If you are older think hard before starting.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[bmj2s]

@monikernc TN allows you to sit for the exam once you reach 120 hours, however you have to get the 150 hours within a couple years or else I think they void your progress. Or they withhold the license until you met that requirement.

I do not have a masters but I have well over the credits to be licensed. I ended up going back to school and almost got a second bachelors in a different topic.

[monikernc]

@Bmj2s TN does not require any accounting credits to qualify for the exam?

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[bmj2s]

No they do. My Bachelors was in Accounting. so I met the education requirements. But my college MaCC program is a reiteration of the bachelor's program just to get CPA Exam credits. You just have some extra classwork to turn in

[monikernc]

I got it. Thanks. I saw your other post – try to relax till the 25th. I always kept reviewing till scores came out after taking a break.
I wish everyone would post their state and scores. It would make it easier to respond appropriately in most cases.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[Skynet]

The CPA can get more chicks than a Master's

There I said it. 😀

[Author]

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