Earning a Graduate Accounting Certificate

Many business professionals who are in the financial services industry have found it advantageous to earn their graduate accounting certificate. Financial analysts, accountants and tax auditors are just some of the financial business professionals who can benefit from earning a graduate accounting certification.
 
If you are a recent graduate, careers in business accounting will open up once you earn a graduate account certificate. In a graduate accounting certificate program, students learn how to apply knowledge to the financial sector in terms of budgeting, organization and other accounting-related tasks.

Earning a Graduate Accounting Certificate

Those who have already earned their bachelor's degree in accounting are good candidates for graduate accounting certification programs. To enroll, the student must be accepted by the chosen university as a graduate student.
 
The length of time it takes to finish a graduate accounting certificate depends on the school the student attends and how many courses he takes each semester. It generally takes a student three to five semesters to earn an accounting certificate.

Coursework

Some of the courses students have to take to complete this certification program include:
  • Auditing
  • Business Law
  • Intermediate and Advanced Accounting.
In courses such as these, students learn skills that relate to planning and organizing a company’s budget.
 
Earning an online, post-graduate certificate program in accounting is a good alternative to attending a traditional college or university. With an online program, you can take classes and learn the material without having it interfere too much with your regular schedule.

Cost of Earning a Graduate Accounting Certificate

The price of earning an accounting certificate depends on the specific program the student chooses. However, in general, the price per credit is comparable to the price per credit of other graduate-level programs.
 
Companies offering to subsidize their employees’ education may pay some or all of the tuition for an accounting certificate. Along with company subsidies, students can also take out loans and apply for grants and scholarships to help them pay for graduate accounting programs.

CPA and CMA Exams

Some students who have earned a graduate certificate in accounting may qualify to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam. The requirements to take these tests vary by state, but most require applicants to have already completed graduate accounting certification programs.
 
A passing grade in either of these exams demonstrates extensive knowledge of the accounting field and will give you the ability to get a higher-paying job.

Resources

Bridgewater State College (2008). Graduate Certificate Programs. Retrieved March 24, 2008, from the Bridgewater State College Web site: http://www.bridgew.edu/SoGS/
certprog.cfm.

Monster (2007). CPA or CMA? Retrieved March 28, 2008, from the Monster Web site:http://career-advice.monster.com/job-industry-profiles/finance/CPA-or-CMA/home.aspx.

University of Phoenix (1998). Accounting Certificate. Retrieved March 24, 2008, from the University of Phoenix Web site: http://www.uopxonlinetraining.com/Accounting_Certificate.asp.