<p>ijamjl…no problem…it was a logical suggestion. </p>
<p>KnitKnots…THANK you. I will check out those MSA programs!</p>
<p>Personally, I wouldn’t recommend you to go into accounting because of the age discrimination that exists in any business field. Many people on these forums say that it is illegal, but employers do not care: they won’t tell you that they are rejecting you because of your age, but instead, they might simply tell you that you are just not qualified or they are looking for someone else, and you will not be able to prove anything. Remember that you will be competing against fresh college students who do not have a family, and willing to sell their souls for any sort of experience, even though they might be offered the minimum wage. </p>
<p>Recently, I have read a story about one 56 year old woman who lost her job, and even though she had more than 20 years of experience in accounting, she is unable to find another job. Are you asking why? Because of the age discrimination! In your case, employers might tell you that you are not qualified because of the lack of experience, but in her case, they were telling her that she is overqualified or finding another excuses.</p>
<p>On the other hand, as I think, the age proof professions are teaching and medicine. I have seen teachers and doctors who are 70-80 years old, and are still working and making money.</p>
<p>Toshtemirov, thank you for your candor. I assume that age discrimination is going to be a very real issue, especially for a woman. What is not clear to me is how much can that be overcome by the sheer demand in the field? </p>
<p>In other words, is there enough of a shortage of accountants/CPAs that companies will take what they can get? </p>
<p>Is there anything about my background–science/project management and education (with lots of writing experience)–that, when combined with a CPA, would be attractive to potential employers?</p>
<p>As a science major I’m assuming you recognize that correlation does not equal causation. The woman is 56 years old and can’t find a job. How exactly does this prove age discrimination? There could be a number of factors coming into play here. Perhaps she is in a bad location, perhaps she does not know how or where to market herself with her unique skill set and experience? What she needs to do is recognize that somebody with 20 years of accounting experience should not be competing for entry-level jobs with college kids. That doesn’t make any sense. She needs to take her experience and apply it in some sort of leadership or consulting capacity, whether with an employer or in her own practice. If she has 20 years of experience in accounting than she clearly qualifies for many professional certifications that lead to those kind of roles.</p>
<p>By the way, forget about a certification over a bachelors. Things are not the same as they were 20 years ago. If you want a decent accounting job you MUST start with a bachelors degree.</p>
<p>or inmotion…what do you think about the Master’s in Accountancy with a CPA? Would I be missing anything going that route?</p>
<p>And, I do recognize that one anecdote, does not an industry make. But, I am also experienced enough to know that my age is not going to be one of the factors in my favor.</p>
<p>I like the CPA and I think you should go for it. My concern is your reluctance to relocate. I could see that possibly causing some major problems once you get your degree. Also, you’re gonna have to find a way to get practical experience in your junior and senior year of bachelors study or you’re going to have a hard time finding a good job after you graduate. </p>
<p>What you should do since you are limited geographically is go to local CPAs and companies who hire accountants and do what is called an “informational interview”, or just ask as many questions as they will answer. Ask them about education and experience requirements. Ask them about the age issue, the location issues, and your options. Also, I would end the informational interviews by telling them you’re also interested in job shadowing and see if they will let you shadow them. That is one of the best ways to network and also to see if accounting will be a good fit for you.</p>
<p>:) One of the reasons that I want to change careers is so that I CAN relocate. My daughter will be done with school in 2 1/2 years. At that point, we could move anywhere. The difficulty here is that I need the degree and then the job to do that. </p>
<p>I am an hour and a half away from Seattle–worst case for school is that I do a traditional program there–and that isn’t really a bad case. </p>
<p>And, I know I need to do the informational interview thing…I just need to go to Seattle to do it. I am fairly well connected in my area and I don’t want it getting back to my employer that I am considering other careers.</p>
<p>What I did was take my first two years at a community college mostly online because I used to have geographical issues as well (It’s actually taken me exactly 2 1/2 years). I took some courses on campus, but that was by choice and I could have easily taken those courses online. Now with my awesome GPA and Phi Theta Kappa membership I can transfer to many good universities and I have some good scholarship opportunities awaiting me. </p>
<p>It would make a lot of sense for you to do 2 years at a Washington comm. college. For one, they likely offer a lot of online classes. Number two, the cost is going to be much cheaper, which is important since you won’t qualify for a lot of financial aid because of your first bachelor degree. Finally, you will have a chance to take a few different classes to see what fits/interests you before diving into a long-term career.</p>
<p>@Inmotion: would the place you get your degree from matter, like a state school for example?</p>
<p>Inmotion: I have a college degree already. I don’t think that I need another 4 year degree do I? I can take 2-3 classes/quarter and I think I just need the business/accounting classes.</p>
<p>Well I think it would be a good idea to do an online AA degree in accounting/business since you have a 2 1/2 year window and then apply to a masters program since you already have a bachelors. Can’t some of your credits from your bachelors be applied to a new degree?</p>
<p>? most of the classes in the AA degree are going to be general education classes that I have already taken. I don’t need to repeat those classes.</p>
<p>That’s why I asked if you could apply your credits from your bachelors degree to the AA degree. I think an AA degree might be a strong asset to you when applying to masters programs/looking for employment.</p>
<p>Getting another undergraduate degree is completely worthless and a waste of your time. What you need to be focused on doing is taking the classes that will allow for you to join a Masters in Accounting program. Some programs exist that are specifically designed for non-business majors so that the prereqs are practically nonexistent. That would be the perfect situation for you.</p>
<p>Next, once you have figured out which Masters in Accounting program you would like to participate in, you will need to figure out how you are going to cover the other business class requirements.</p>
<p>Your goal here is to sit for the CPA–nothing else matters. The CPA will trump a Masters in accounting instantly. The only reason MACC degrees exist is because most people are forced to take them to reach their 150 hours to sit for the exam. Otherwise, everyone would just sit for it post-undergraduate.</p>
<p>You could get a masters in accounting or an MBA with an accounting major. I think that many MBA programs offer an accounting major. That might have the advantage of giving you the extra business classes that you need to sit for the CPA exam. You would not need any prior business classes for admission into an MBA program.</p>
<p>If you really want to work in accounting, then your best options would be:</p>
<p>1) Obtain a masters degree in accounting, and a CPA license.<br>
2) Just take required accounting and business classes and sit for the CPA.</p>
<p>An associates, and a second bachelors won’t help you at all, and don’t even consider a certificate. </p>
<p>IMO, the first option would be better, since you could network and get an internship, which could help you to lend a job. By having a masters degree you could also teach accounting or math at a university level, without having a PhD.
Still, I doubt that many companies will be willing to hire you because of your age, but in that case, you are still will be able to work as a self employed CPA, and do tax returns or work at a local CPA firm.</p>
<p>BTW, a MBA in accounting will not satisfy the CPA requirement, unless you have a bachelors in accounting/finance or have taken many accounting and business electives.</p>
<p>Thanks Goose and Toshtemirov…that is what I thought. I am off to research some of the different programs that are available. From what little I’ve looked at already, there are definitely master’s programs that are open to professionals without any background in accounting, AND which have the correct combination of business and accounting classes to satisfy the requirements for the CPA exam. </p>
<p>OK–the age thing is starting to be a total downer. If I do this, I am definitely going to need an edge. (I am a straight A type student, will that matter?) </p>
<p>Other “edgy” ideas?</p>
<p>The age thing is truly a miniscule issue and should not be on your mind whatsoever. All it’s going to be is an unnecessary mental road block for you. I don’t know what kind of trip Tosh is on, but this thread should be about your situation, not Tosh’s personal opinion on the greatly exaggerated “age discrimination” issue.</p>