When you’re ready to start a career in accounting, it’s hard to know if you need an Associate’s in Accounting or a Bachelor’s in Accounting. Should you spend more time in school to get the four-year degree or can you find a rewarding career with just two years of study under your belt? The answer will depend on your long-term goals, previous work experience and overall passion for the field.
Related Resource: Top 50 Best Associates in Accounting Online 2018
What Can You Do with an Associate’s in Accounting?
If you’re eager to start working and just want to complete the minimum educational requirements to enter the field, a two-year associate’s program can get your foot in the door with almost any employer. This program will teach you the basic skills for beginning financial work, like balancing accounts, understanding business priorities and using Microsoft Office software. Government offices, non-profit organizations and businesses of all sizes need entry-level financial workers. You’ll be qualified to enter financial data, run reports and double-check documents to ensure accuracy. You can work your way up the career ladder from here or study part-time for your four-year degree.
How Can a Bachelor Degree in This Field Help Your Career?
Once you’ve completed a four-year degree in financial services, you’ll have many professional options. You can open your own firm, work as a financial manager, advise organizations as a consultant or continue your education. Your degree will include courses in business management, law and ethics, so you’ll be able to supervise entry-level workers and complete more advanced job duties than someone with only an associate’s degree in the field. You might even complete an internship to gain hands-on experience.
Can You Earn an Bookkeeping Degree Online?
Many colleges and universities offer online programs for accountants at both the associate’s and bachelor’s level. You can complete the entire degree without ever leaving your house or seek a program with hands-on internships and on-campus classes. If you want to start working as soon as possible, you could earn your Associate’s in Accounting through an accelerated program then enroll in online courses to earn your bachelor’s degree.
Is Finance a Growing Field?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted steady growth for accountants and related jobs, with job opportunities expected to rise 10 percent in the next decade. Businesses will continue to need financial workers with two-year degrees to run day-to-day operations and accountants with four-year degrees to oversee entire departments. As long as businesses exist, there will be a need for experts to manage payroll, taxes and revenue.
What Long-Term Career Options Are There for Accountants?
To maximize your income, you’ll need graduate-level coursework. For example, Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) need at least 30 hours of master’s classes to sit for the licensure examination. Top-level positions like chief financial officer, finance department executive or lead auditor usually require advanced education, although workplace experience can sometimes be substituted. Many financial workers are content with mid-level jobs that offer a steady paycheck and consistent hours.
There’s no right answer to the question of whether you should earn a two-year or four-year degree in this field. No matter what choice you make, a Bachelor’s or Associate’s in Accounting will each lead to a rewarding career with a high potential for growth.
