I’m a sophomore in college, and I’d like to work in Corporate Accounting eventually, but do you think it would be beneficial to obtain the 150 credit hours and sit for the CPA exam, even if I don’t plan on working in Public Accounting for a very long time? I’d eventually like to obtain either a CMA or CGMA so I can work in the private industry, but is it better (less riskier) to obtain those certifications after obtaining a CPA and working in Public Accounting for a few years? My university has a 5 year Integrated MAcc program that allows you to obtain 150 credits and then sit for the CPA exam, and it also has a 4 year Accounting program which allows you to sit for the CMA exam. Thank you for any input!!
The CPA is highly valued even in private accounting. In addition you can become a CPA even if you only work in corporate accounting as long as you work for a CPA and do financial statement work. I’d suggest that if you want a career in accounting that it is worth the extra year of school and sitting for the exam to become a CPA. Even if you go directly into corporate accounting you will be competing against CPAs for promotions etc. your whole career. (PS I am a CPA as is my husband and son).
Didn’t you already ask this same question in another thread?
Bottom line, I can’t imagine a scenario where you are sorry that you took the time to earn a CPA license.
Well, I guess if you died of a fatal aneurysm the day after you find out you passed the fourth section. In that case, yeah, I probably would say that it was all a waste of time.
But outside of that, if you’re working in accounting a CPA is the foundation. I said in the other thread that I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who had a CMA but not a CPA. I think there might be some experienced professionals with many years of experiencing working for a corporation in a cost accounting function who have been told by their boss, “Mike, you gotta get a certificate or you’re outta here,” so they decide to take the CMA because it’s more immediately relevant to their jobs.
Those guys might be the CMA-only demographic. But the CPA credential is more recognizable by recruiters I think it’s worth considering.
Thank you all for your input! I did ask a similar question in another thread, but I will need to make a decision soon so I just wanted to gain as much insight as possible, as this decision will have a long-term impact for me.