<p>I'm graduating soon with a degree in bio, but I realized that I want to go the business route. I am thinking of getting certified as a CPA. I haven't taken many business classes, but I plan to do so during the summer. I'm looking at Santa Clara's CAAP among other Bay Area programs. Does anyone have any idea on how these well these programs prepare you for the CPA exams? Would getting a masters in accounting prepare you more? Thanks!</p>
<p>I think you would need to get a masters most likely to get enough accounting classes to become a CPA. The certificate would help you get some experience and basic acc classes out of the way though.</p>
<p>Accounting certificates are intended to be the same as having the 5th year required to sit for the CPA. If your goal is to be a CPA then the only added benefit to earning a MAcc instead of just an Accounting Certificate is that you will (possibly) have less extra study time to be able to pass it. But, if you are just looking to get a CPA, then (to my understanding) accounting firms view a 5 year bachelors (or 4 years + the certificate) the same way as a MAcc. The reason being is that the MAcc is a 1 year masters and the courses are supposedly comparable.</p>
<p>I have several accountant friends and so I asked them. But also I’ve asked this question of my advisors before since I’m considering graduate school.</p>