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Is CPA same as a degree, If Yes,Can I Pursue A PhD With CPA And Business Administration Degree ?
I'm a little confused
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12 answers
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Alexa’s Answer
The CPA is not a degree but rather an accreditation. In order to get your CPA you have to have an certain number of accounting credits (depending on the state) and 150 overall credit hours which can be completed entirely in your undergraduate degree or alongside a graduate degree. I pursued my MSA in accounting to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam. As long as you have the required number of specific accounting credits and overall 150 credits you are able to obtain your accreditation. I hope this helps a bit!
Thank you so much, Alexa!
EBENEZAR
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Bill’s Answer
I am going to answer your question very directly, as so many have already explained the differences between a degree in accounting vs. CPA vs. PhD. The short answer to your question is yes, you can pursue a PhD in accounting with a CPA. While typically not required to have your CPA to get a PhD in accounting, I think the CPA license is extremely valuable and a significant resume builder.
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Reginald’s Answer
Hi Ebenezar,
Thats a great question, a CPA or Certified Public Accountant is not a degree it's a license that you can purse after having a certain amount of accounting credits in college. You can pursue a PhD and a CPA, just make sure you look up the requirements where you live and make sure you get the credit hours.
Good luck!
Thats a great question, a CPA or Certified Public Accountant is not a degree it's a license that you can purse after having a certain amount of accounting credits in college. You can pursue a PhD and a CPA, just make sure you look up the requirements where you live and make sure you get the credit hours.
Good luck!
Thank you!
EBENEZAR
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Beth’s Answer
Hi! Great question!! This confuses a lot of people. A CPA is a certification or license. Most CPAs have a 4 (or 5) -year college degree in Accounting. In order to become a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) you need to both pass an exam as well meet other criteria as established by each state. Most states have specific requirements for credits in accounting and in total. Some people who don't have an accounting degree can still become a CPA by having specific experience as a public accountant, again these requirements are specified by each state.
If you are interested in a PHD in accounting, a CPA license is likely not required. You may need to take masters level courses in Accounting in order to be admitted into a PHD program. These would be program-specific.
From what I can tell, a PHD in accounting would really only be useful if you wanted to be a professor. To practice accounting (either as a public accounting or otherwise) you do not need a PHD and a CPA would be much more valuable.
If you are interested in a PHD in accounting, a CPA license is likely not required. You may need to take masters level courses in Accounting in order to be admitted into a PHD program. These would be program-specific.
From what I can tell, a PHD in accounting would really only be useful if you wanted to be a professor. To practice accounting (either as a public accounting or otherwise) you do not need a PHD and a CPA would be much more valuable.
Thank you, Beth for the advice.
EBENEZAR
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Kevin’s Answer
The CPA is a rewarding certification that you can proudly earn after securing a degree and successfully passing a rigorous examination. Based on your geographical location, there are specific requirements such as credit hours and supervision from a CPA, which you need to fulfill to get your license. Numerous universities and institutions offer specialized programs tailored to guide you on your journey to becoming a CPA. These programs also include courses that are directly linked to the study material. For instance, I took up a Master of Accountancy program, ingeniously designed to align the end of each semester with a section of the CPA exam. This allowed us students to sit for the exam right after spending months thoroughly reviewing the related material. It's a strategic and effective approach to prepare for the CPA exam, making the path to certification smoother and more manageable.
Obtain Accounting or Business-related Degree
Amass required credit hours (based on your work location) to be eligible to sit for exam
Designate significant study time and sit for the exam
Kevin recommends the following next steps:
Thanks, can't wait to put this advice into action!
EBENEZAR
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Matt’s Answer
For those residing outside the US, becoming a Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) could be a fantastic choice. This certification is recognized and valued globally, unlike the US-centric CPA. The CFA credential is all about investment management and financial analysis, giving you a comprehensive understanding of financial markets, investment tools, valuation, portfolio management, and wealth planning. It's a great opportunity to broaden your knowledge and skills, opening doors to exciting career prospects worldwide.
I appreciate your support, Matt
EBENEZAR
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Jennifer’s Answer
Hello Ebendzar,
I trust you're doing great and having a pleasant day. The term CPA, which stands for Certified Public Accountant, is a professional title you can earn after completing your college education with a total of 150 credit hours from a university and gaining 1-2 years of practical experience. In some other parts of the world, a CPA is also known as a Chartered Accountant.
It's important to note that you don't need to have a PHD in accounting to become a CPA. The primary requirement is to complete 150 credit hours of college education, with a certain portion of these hours dedicated to accounting or business-related subjects. Many students achieve this by pursuing a Masters in Accounting through a 5-year college program. However, I chose a slightly different path and earned a Bachelors in Accounting followed by a Masters in Business Administration.
Best of luck with your future endeavors!
I trust you're doing great and having a pleasant day. The term CPA, which stands for Certified Public Accountant, is a professional title you can earn after completing your college education with a total of 150 credit hours from a university and gaining 1-2 years of practical experience. In some other parts of the world, a CPA is also known as a Chartered Accountant.
It's important to note that you don't need to have a PHD in accounting to become a CPA. The primary requirement is to complete 150 credit hours of college education, with a certain portion of these hours dedicated to accounting or business-related subjects. Many students achieve this by pursuing a Masters in Accounting through a 5-year college program. However, I chose a slightly different path and earned a Bachelors in Accounting followed by a Masters in Business Administration.
Best of luck with your future endeavors!
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Ting’s Answer
Hi EBENEZAR,
No it's not. And yes, you can pursue a PhD With Business Administration Degree and CPA license at the same time. Make sure to search for the qualifications to sit for CPA exams. CPA exams can be hard, so I would recommend saving enough time to study for them! Good luck!
No it's not. And yes, you can pursue a PhD With Business Administration Degree and CPA license at the same time. Make sure to search for the qualifications to sit for CPA exams. CPA exams can be hard, so I would recommend saving enough time to study for them! Good luck!
Thank you so much!
EBENEZAR
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Hector’s Answer
CPA is not the same as a college degree, but rather an accreditation (a license to practice public accounting). As people mentioned already in this thread, you need 150 credits to be able to take the CPA examination. Each of the 50 states in the United States have different requirements for this 150 credit requirement, some are more flexible than others. If you are planning on taking the CPA exam I would recommend first searching the board of accountancy website for the U.S. state that you are interested in to learn about their requirements to be eligible to take the exam. Once you know the requirements, then you need to think about how you want to obtain the 150 credits. As you can see from the responses in this thread, people obtained their 150 in different ways. In my case I got all of my 150 during my undergraduate studies in 4 years, by double majoring in accounting and finance and making sure that the elective classes I took would serve me to meet the 150 credit requirement. Good luck!
Your advice was so helpful!
EBENEZAR
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Brittany’s Answer
Great question! A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license is different than a degree, but, in most states, you need the equivalent of a master's degree to obtain this licensure. A CPA is considered the highest professional licensure obtained by an accountant. You do not need this to obtain a PhD in Accounting. A CPA license is great if you want to work in public accounting. A PhD in Accounting would be better suited if you want to teach Accounting at the college level, conduct research, etc.
Thank you, Brittany for the advice.
EBENEZAR
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Megan’s Answer
Hi there! I hope you are doing well.
The CPA license is different than obtaining a college degree.
In order to get your CPA license, you will need to take 150 'credit hours' and pass 4 separate tests. In order to obtain the 150 credit hours, I pursued a Bachelor's of Science in Business Management with a concentration in Accounting. A college degree in Business Administration would be great first step towards your goal of a PhD and a CPA license!
The CPA license is different than obtaining a college degree.
In order to get your CPA license, you will need to take 150 'credit hours' and pass 4 separate tests. In order to obtain the 150 credit hours, I pursued a Bachelor's of Science in Business Management with a concentration in Accounting. A college degree in Business Administration would be great first step towards your goal of a PhD and a CPA license!
Thank you, Megan!
EBENEZAR
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Liz’s Answer
As others have mentioned, the CPA is a license which is not the same as a degree. However, because of the difficulty of the CPA exam, many people obtain a finance or accounting degree - or even a masters in accounting. The good news is that this is not a requirement and as long as you obtain the credits for the license there is nothing stopping you from taking the test! Many people take these requirements at community colleges after they graduate if they do not have the undergrad curriculum. One because it is cheaper and two because it is easier to do while working full-time. One last note - since the CPA is very time consuming as well as a PhD, I would recommend sitting down and thinking about exactly what you want to do.
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
EBENEZAR