Read time 5 minutes
Published on Sep 4, 2024
Read time 5 minutes
Published on Sep 4, 2024
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Approved by the academic program manager of the Colangelo College of Business on Aug. 20, 2024.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
Not everyone sticks with their first career choice for the entirety of their working lives. In fact, making a switch to a new role — or to another field entirely — is not uncommon. If you’re interested in making a change and you have a knack for numbers, why not consider accounting as a second career?
In this career guide, you can learn how to get into accounting if you already have a degree in another field.
If you’ve decided that accounting as a second career is the right choice for you, it’s time to consider how you’ll meet the career qualifications. Here’s a look at how to get into accounting even if you have a different degree in an unrelated field.
Individuals who already know they want to become an accountant when they first go to college will typically major in accounting. A Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree program teaches topics such as financial, management and cost accounting, as well as the analysis of financial statements and compliance with legal regulations in the field. While it’s ideal to earn a BS in Accounting, there is an alternative pathway for students who already have a degree in another field. It may be possible to become an accountant by earning a master’s degree in accounting.
First, you’ll need to research the eligibility requirements to sit for the Uniform CPA Examination® in your state. Visit the website of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and find the link to your state’s board of accountancy.4 Navigate there and look for the eligibility requirements to become a CPA. You’ll need to ensure that your chosen degree program(s) will allow you to meet those requirements. For example, if you visit the Arizona State Board of Accountancy, you can see that the board requires a specific amount of coursework in not only accounting but also related subjects like business administration, statistics and economics.5
Next, you’ll want to enroll in a bridge program. A bridge program isn’t a master’s degree; rather, it’s like a gateway toward a master’s degree. A bridge program is designed to prepare students without a background in a specific field to tackle master’s-level coursework in that field. After completing the bridge program, you may be ready to enroll in an MS in Accounting degree program.
There are many benefits to pursuing the CPA credential. As a certified public accountant, you may be able to look forward to:6
To become a CPA, you’ll need to pass the Uniform CPA Examination. The exam takes place in four parts over 16 hours. You do not need to take the full exam all at once. It’s broken up into four separate sections that each take four hours.7
As you work toward becoming an accountant as your second career, you’ll likely have opportunities to develop some important skills.
An accountant can benefit from the following:8
Switching to a second career may come with certain challenges, especially if your first degree was in a field completely unrelated to accounting, economics or math. It takes hard work and dedication to launch a second career, but remembering why you made the decision to work toward it can help sustain your motivation. You may find that becoming a CPA can pay off in the end, given the job growth in the field.2
Grand Canyon University invites prospective career changers to explore our academic programs, many of which are available online for greater flexibility. Learn more about the Bridge (Master of Science in Accounting) program, which is designed to prepare you to apply to the Master of Science in Accounting degree program. For more information, please explore all our online accounting degrees to find the right path for your goals.
You may already know that accountants are responsible for examining financial statements, maintaining records and preparing tax returns. However, you might not know that accountants can also play a key role in an organization’s (or person’s) financial health by making financial recommendations that are fueled by data. In fact, the role of accountants is gradually evolving thanks to technology. Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) make it possible to automate many accounting tasks, allowing accountants to spend more time focusing on higher-value tasks.1 Some examples of these tasks might include data analysis and consulting.
Did you know that there are many different types of accountants and accounting specialties? It’s likely that no matter where your particular interests and strengths lie, you can find an accounting career path that aligns with them.
Some of the many types of accounting career paths and specialties include the following:
Before considering how to become an accountant, it’s worth taking some time for self-reflection. Going back to school takes a major commitment, and you’ll want to be sure that making a career change to accounting is really the right path for you.
One compelling reason to consider pursuing accounting roles is the job growth in the field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates job growth for accountants and auditors to be 4% from 2022 to 2032, as fast as average. This indicates that employers expect to hire about 67,400 of these professionals during this time period.2 Another reason to consider accounting as a career choice is the salary potential. According to the BLS, accountants and auditors made a median annual salary of $79,880 as of May 2023.3
