[A1lessio]

Hi Everyone,

I work in public accounting and recently just finished the CPA exam and was thinking about getting my MST. I see many schools offer online programs and no GRE is required if you have the CPA. Currently I have a dual bachelors degree which gave me the 150 credits. My firm will cover 80% of the cost, but then I’m required to stay 2 more years once I finish. I believe I get a salary bump, but besides that do you guys think it’s worth it?

AUD (08/02/2016)

[Anonymous]

I would imagine if you plan on working in tax either in private or public, it's definitely worth it…

[shawn in VA]

if the cover 80% its a no brainer- yes. Especially if your in tax. Even if the 2 year program costs $50,000 you only pay $10,000!! American University in DC offers the program it is 10 classes but I heard its intense. No one at my firm has an MST, its a firm of 50 professional staff. I have no plans on getting it b/c my company pays $0 towards it and my brain will have been fried permanently once I am done with these exams.

[ultrarunner]

I am in MST. I have a few classmates who work in public accounting, and they said they are learning a lot from the program. I don't work in tax so I am definitely learning. If your firm pays for you, I think you should go for it. In my area (very competitive), many tax accountants have CPA and MST or JD. If you can find a local school, it would be better. I really like to interact with my professors and classmates in person. The program is very challenging though. But you could do it. Good luck.

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[Anonymous]

I personally find graduate degrees to be a waste of money. Sure, you need the additional courses to fulfill the education requirements, but that can be done without having to pay up for grad school.

As long as you have your CPA, I think that automatically trumps a Master's Degree. Then you can still get other certifications that are more marketable than a Master's Degree, for much less time, effort, and money.

[Master's Degree] < [CPA] < [Master's Degree + CPA] < [CPA + Other Professional Certifications]

[beaudityoucanbe]

[A1lessio]

Yeah… I definitely don't have the energy for a rigorous 2 year program right now. How the hell are you even suppose to attend class or study during busy season?

AUD (08/02/2016)

[SeattleCPA]

Bricknell's equation, “Master's Degree] < [CPA] < [Master's Degree + CPA] < [CPA + Other Professional Certifications]”, doesn't make sense to me.

I'm not saying OP should invest in another masters degree. But the professional certifications are in many cases very poorly branded.

You get a masters or a law degree or a PhD, people know what that is. Every person you sell to (clients or HR managers) will know what an MBA is.

You will find few people who know what the second tier and third tier acronyms stand for.

P.S. MBA in finance, MS in tax and a CPA here.

[M123]

My MST has had a payoff of 5x in 3 years. I'd say it greatly outperformed the stock market and most investments except maybe bitcoin 🙂

I would think the MST is a great way to get enough units to get the CPA but most of my colleagues were already CPAs.

If it's paid for and you have the time – do it. I would try to get it at the most recognizable institution possible. Also – you get out of it what you put into it.

Edit – you still have to go in with a strategy of what do I expect to get out of this, how am I going to use it and what deficiency will it fulfill. If you can't answer those – that is where it can be pointless.

[Twenty17]

Anyone know which schools don't require GRE for a masters once you have your CPA, or how to find a list of those schools both that offer online programs and in person classes?

[Author]

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