There is a big chance that you would like to become a CPA someday because you have seen how easy it is being portrayed on television. Usually, when you watch movies and TV shows, it will only show the character browsing through possibly the best CPA study material available and then the character will pass and eventually fulfill his/her dreams of becoming an accountant.
It seems to easy right? In real life, it does not happen that way. While the process is still the same, it will take longer for people to achieve their dream of becoming a CPA. There are a lot of hardships in the process that the television usually does not show. Some people even wish that in the process of learning how to become a CPA that life can be like what is seen in the movies – somewhat easy. Get to learn more about that here.
Getting the Right Education
First and foremost, people cannot try taking the exam to be a certified and licensed CPA if the person would not graduate from accounting. This course is usually avoided by a lot of people because from the name itself, it is already evident that it comes with a lot of Math but people usually will have no trouble with this if they are naturally interested in Math.
After graduation, people would need to take various certification exams. There are some who fail at these certification exams and they would have to retake again up to a certain period of time before they actually get to know what they have to do. Some would rather take specialization programs first before actually going through CPA because as much as possible; they would like to maximize the things that they have learned.
Is Work Experience Required?
Depending on where you are living, you may be required to have at least a two year experience in working. Of course, the job that you have to have should be related to accounting. The tasks that you have to do may include the verification of documents and other important papers as well as fixing tax returns at the soonest possible time. After the work experience, that is the time when you can again hit the books and study for the main exam that will help you acquire your license eventually.
Taking the Exams
Once all of the requirements have been fulfilled, the next thing that aspiring CPAs would have to do is to take the exams. Like mentioned earlier, those who not pass the exam may retake again in a year or so but as long as the exam is not passed then the person cannot progress to the next step.
Continuous Learning
It does not mean that just because a person has passed the exam and has gotten a license, he/she will not be required to educate himself/herself further. There are still other things that would have to be learned and this would have to be learned in a continuous manner so that the latest trends will be learned at the soonest possible time.
Remember that with passion, hard work and perseverance, everything is possible.