Overview

Professional recognition through certification or other designation provides a distinct advantage in the job market for aspiring accountants. Certification attests to professional competence in a specialized accounting concentration. Accountants can seek credentials from a wide variety of professional societies, and a certificate in accounting will give students a leg up against the competition.

Requirements

People planning a career in accounting should have an aptitude for mathematics and should be able to analyze, compare and interpret facts and figures quickly. They should also be able to interact with clients and managers both verbally and in writing in order to clearly deliver the results of their work. Because of the wide variety of skills that accounting requires, accountants must be good at working with people, business systems and computers. Financial decisions are made on the basis of accounting statements and services, so accountants should have high standards of integrity and be honest in communicating their findings.

Coursework

The accounting certificate curriculum usually consists of 7 required courses (3 core courses and 4 specialization elective courses) for a total of 18–19 semester units. Normal required courses include introduction to financial accounting, introduction to management accounting and a higher level financial accounting course. Other courses required for the certificate program vary based on the chosen specialization. A bachelors degree is required for graduate accounting certificate programs but not necessary for undergraduate accounting certificate programs.

Potential Jobs

After receiving your certificate in accounting, you will be a specialized member of the business community. As a Professional Accounting Services Specialist, you will have the benefits of job security, professional advancement and a good, steady income. As a skilled and competent Accounting Services Specialist, you will be able to pursue bookkeeper or clerk jobs in accounting departments, where you will keep track of financial records and transactions. This degree gives you the opportunity to work in a variety of industries – you’ll always have the opportunity to find employment whether it is as a bookkeeper in a major accounting firm or as a financial advisor in a small, local business.

Salary

After graduating with an undergraduate certificate in accounting, you should be able to earn up to $40,000 a year. A graduate certificate will open up more jobs, increasing your earning potential further.

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