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To get a CPA or to not?

Posted on 8/16/17 at 9:02 am
Posted by Wes225
Member since Jan 2017
727 posts
Posted on 8/16/17 at 9:02 am
I currently have 42 credit hours left to finish my Accounting degree at LSU and I have a good internship at a pretty big company based out of Baton Rouge. I'm trying to decide whether to go to grad school and get my CPA or not. If I decide to go to grad school I would try and graduate next summer and if I don't I will most likely graduate next December. Is it worth to get my CPA and go to school more or not? Thanks in advance for any advice
Posted by tissle
Member since Jul 2009
1955 posts
Posted on 8/16/17 at 9:07 am to
Are you an accountant? Then - get a CPA.
Weather you are working for a mom pop or the big4 - CPA is fantastic cert to have.
Posted by yellowfin
Coastal Bar
Member since May 2006
97701 posts
Posted on 8/16/17 at 9:29 am to
All depends on what you want to do after graduation.
Posted by southernelite
Dallas
Member since Sep 2009
53177 posts
Posted on 8/16/17 at 9:33 am to
It depends on what your long term goals are.

If you're trying to be a controller or make it to the c-suite as a CFO, even in private sector, the CPA still carries a lot of weight. Your advancement will be somewhat limited with an accounting degree with no CPA.

I'd advise getting your degree, going into the workforce, then taking online classes to fulfill your requirements. LSU ODL is pretty flexible. You get 6 months to complete the courses at your own pace and it's not too expensive. I think $700-800 class.
Posted by OceanMan
Member since Mar 2010
20032 posts
Posted on 8/16/17 at 9:36 am to
It is a long, difficult and expensive certification to obtain. Having said that, it will pay itself back if you are in accounting or even finance. I wouldn't worry about it if you are going into a different profession.

I haven't practiced in years but I don't see ever going inactive
Posted by Phate
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2006
11725 posts
Posted on 8/16/17 at 9:55 am to
I was always told that an Accountant without their CPA was an overpaid bookkeeper. I would definitely get your CPA. Most Accounting or Finance related job listings I see say CPA preferred or required. Not having it will likely cost you opportunities. I would also start studying and taking the exams as soon as you can. When I was in school I assumed I would go into Tax or Audit after I graduated so I finished the extra hours required to sit for the CPA exam. After a year of doing taxes I didn't like it so I left for an industry job and that's what I've been doing ever since. Because I wasn't in public accounting and a CPA wasn't specifically required I put it off for 8 years. Trying to pass the exams after that much time had gone by was miserable.
Posted by John Casey
New Orleans
Member since Nov 2016
1635 posts
Posted on 8/16/17 at 9:16 pm to
Speaking of CPA, anyone else dreading the score release at midnight after the 2.5 - 3 month wait?
Posted by geauxpurple
New Orleans
Member since Jul 2014
12461 posts
Posted on 8/16/17 at 10:45 pm to
The best thing you can do in this field is become a CPA.
Posted by Jcorye1
Tom Brady = GoAT
Member since Dec 2007
71483 posts
Posted on 8/17/17 at 9:30 am to
It's a bitch, but I got the official passing grade on my second one today. I'll find out Sept 22nd if October 7th will be my last exam.
Posted by LPTReb
Member since Jul 2016
469 posts
Posted on 8/17/17 at 2:02 pm to
Get it, even if you don't plan on doing the typical CPA work. I work for a small community bank, and our CEO and CFO are both CPAs.
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