An online accounting certificate typically takes one year to complete, and provides students with a basic post bachelor's degree background in accounting. It is especially helpful for those students who have completed their undergraduate in another degree and want to pursue accounting later on, and for those who want additional practice in order to take their CPA exam. To enroll in any accredited online accounting certificate program, students usually need to have a bachelor's degree. A bachelor's degree is not restricted to business subjects only and may be in any field. An online accounting certificate is notable in the sense that it is usually reserved for candidates with a bachelor's degree, and that it does not require any graduate level coursework. A successful completion of the certificate program results in an individual being awarded a certificate, not a degree.
Many accredited institutions provide online education for certificates in accounting. The coursework depends on the curriculum requirements for each school, and if a student is seeking a particular specialty. Generally, students will study courses in accounting ethics, intermediate accounting, advanced cost accounting, advanced corporate income tax, advanced accounting theory, and accounting information systems.
Why choose an online accounting certificate?
The major advantage of choosing an online accounting certificate program is that working individuals would not have to leave their jobs to continue with their studies. Moreover, prospective students would be able to study from their own home and according to their own schedule. There are other reasons why students may choose an accounting certification program from an online school. They may want to meet their continuing education requirements, prepare for their certification exam, or they may simply want to develop their expertise in a particular accounting specialty. Students who choose an online accounting certificate to complete their continuing education requirements may do so in order to meet any pre-requisites for advanced accounting certifications later on.
For current accountants, an accounting certificate may be useful as it enables them to get more in depth study in a particular area. Moreover, this certificate could increase further employment opportunities in finance, business law, and in management positions. In terms of advancement, after attaining certification, management accountants, public accountants, and internal auditors could move from one aspect of accounting and auditing to another. An online certificate in accounting tends to broaden the scope of a job. Management accountants may go on to become internal auditors and internal auditors may become management accountants. Public accountants may move into management accounting or internal auditing after achieving an online accounting certificate. After earning a certificate in accounting, an individual may go on to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. This would allow the person to pursue a career in public accounting, or take on a job as a managerial accountant, auditor, or tax preparer.
Job outlook and pay:
According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) , the employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow by 16 percent from the years 2010 to 2020, which is about as fast as the average growth rate for all other occupations. The demand for accounting services is likely to increase in the financial sector with the advent of new laws and regulations. Moreover, the increased globalization of businesses is also expected to lead to increased demand for accounting services related to international trade as well as international business mergers and acquisitions. According to the BLS, the median annual salary of accountants and auditors was $61,690 in May 2010.