<p>While browsing through the course-list for the undergraduate business program at Haas, I noticed that there was a recommended list of courses to take if you wanted to receive a CPA Certification. My question is, is it worth taking all these extra courses and studying long hours for a CPA? What kinds of jobs would one with a CPA certification get? Does it put you at a distinct advantage in the job market if you have a CPA? Will it help you out in the long run?</p>
<p>buuuuuuuuuuump</p>
<p>......and grind :D</p>
<p>cpa makes u a certified accountant.. i think its bs</p>
<p>You can sign an audit opinion only if you're a CPA. You don't need it if you want to simply fill out someone's tax returns. Other than that, it's just like an advanced degree. You have it to make a name for yourself and to market yourself better. Some firms only move you up if you have a CPA.</p>
<p>will having a CPA in any way benefit me in the future? Whether for entrepreneurship, Ibanking, or some other business venture? Or should I not waste my time....</p>
<p>No. Its mostly useful for accounting. You are better of working instead.</p>
<p>I'm going to add my two cents here....my mother is a very successful Certified Public Accountant. She specialized in employee benefit plan auditing, and now she could get a job anywhere except that she has us kids still in school. I'm sure that it is a lot of hard work, and she did pay her dues making a name for herself. I will say that she is a single parent supporting five kids as a sole proprietor. But it is up to you to decide whether its pursuit is worth your efforts :)</p>
<p>Well you could get into financial planning. Almost all personal financial planners are either CPAs and/or CFPs (certified financial planner).</p>
<p>If IB is your first choice, I would say you shouldn't do all that CPA work. Simply put, don't get the CPA to become an i-banker. Do it for accounting. However, if you're simply asking whether CPAs can become ibankers, the answer is yes. But they didn't get it to become i-bankers. They were just good in their field as accountants and wanted to move on later. I'm sure there are also management consultants who have some sort of accounting background before they got MBAs. You are the one who will ultimately create the opportunities.</p>