Best plan to get credentials in accounting? Have a BSW and MPA

[FreeAgnes]

Hi everyone! Long time listener, first time caller

Your Location: North Carolina, United States. 

Your Age: 45

What kind of degree do you want?: Any, including post-grad certs. I'm open to an entry-level/non-BA master's program. I want to add additional credentials for accounting to move out of the human/social services world. I want to use my MPA in a less direct-interaction-with-the-public way . I have been advised by several people that accounting will open more doors in government. I would like to get credits that could be used for a MAcct. if I choose to get one later. 

Current Regional Accredited Credits: 
Abilene Christian University, BSW, 2001
University of North Texas, MPA, 2003

I have taken classes at other universities before but I honestly don't remember what they were (10 yrs ago-ish). None of them were in an accounting or finance discipline though.

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: None

Any certifications or military experience? Nope

Budget: I'd like to go the cheapest route possible, but will consider spending more for easy and fast.  

Commitments: Honestly, just my pets. I currently work full time and can work on my studies part time or in the evenings/weekends.

Dedicated time to study: I can study as much as needed during the night or weekends. I have no social life to speak of. I estimate at least 3 hours every week night and on the weekends, maybe 6 hours, total would be roughly 15+12=27 hours or slightly more.

Timeline: Finishing the courses required for the degree as fast as possible would be ideal.  I would like to finish in 6 mos-1 yr if possible because I am so burnt out from social services, but I'm not really on a fixed time table.

Tuition assistance/reimbursement: None

Thank you for your help! 

[bjcheung77]

@FreeAgnes, Welcome to the board, I suggest you review the WIKI for the UMPI BA Accounting, it'll then allow you to ladder into the WGU MS Accounting if you ever wanted to. Another option if you wanted is the one-and-done option of completing the B & MS at WGU, then there is the option of doing a TESU BSBA Accounting and ladder to the MS Accounting at WGU...

[FreeAgnes]

Thank you! Since I already have a bachelors and a master's, could I attempt another bachelor's? Or would it be better to go ahead and do a non-accounting major master's program?

Also, for my undergrad level classes/prereqs, would it be best to do Sophia/SL, etc then transfer the credits to TESU? I saw you recommended something similar to another poster, but I'm not sure if that would work for graduate programs. Since I already have a bachelors, having just those 5 or so classes on TESU would be ok, right?

Thank you! I've searched threads and the wiki, but I just wasn't sure if the advice applied to someone who already had a bachelors and a masters in fields that weren't connected.

[allvia]

TESU requires 24 new credits (since your last degree conferred, 3 of which would be your capstone course) - https://blog.tesu.edu/the-secret-to-earn...ond-degree. UMPI requires 30 residency credits, so as far as new credits they are about equal. Cost wise they could end up about equal depending on how much exisiting knowledge you already have in the area. The more terms at you take to complete at UMPI because the material is new to you adds cost, and accounting takes time to learn; more than 3 terms at UMPI will cost you more than TESU (even with the Study.com/Sophia credits cost).  Both TESU offers a Business Admin with a concentration/minor in Accounting (TESU = BSBA, UMPI = BSBA), UMPI also offers a BA-Accounting - which as you'd imaginge has more accouting courses than a Business Admin. Generally speaking, either the BSBA-Accounting, BABA-Accounting, or the BA-Accounting will read as accounting degrees on your resume/CV. If you had interest in becoming a CPA then the BA-Accounting would be a better route, as it contains more accounting courses (which would be a CPA requirement in all states).  

Since your exisiting bachelor is not in business (at all) I would recommend the 2nd bachelor, plus I'm not sure you'd qualify for a master in accounting; even WGU requires a bachelor in accounting for their master program (alas, you need to learn to walk before you can run). Figure about $5k and you'd have that accounting degree (if you really know this material already, maybe less with UMPI). Time to complete TESU or UMPI is about the same all things considered.

[FreeAgnes]

Thank you!!

[inor]

I think it might be useful to know a little more about exactly what your goals are before making recommendations. For example, are you taking these classes because you'd ultimately like to become a CPA? Are you completely uninterested in becoming a CPA? No strong feelings about that one way or the other? Do the jobs you're interested in typically require a degree/credential in accounting, or do they list "equivalent education/experience" in lieu of a degree in accounting?

I consider this relevant information because if your goal is to become a CPA, first I would find out what your state requires in order to get a license. Some states have more elaborate requirements than others. Based on your degrees, I assume you have earned very few if any business credits. Some states require quite a few business credits (economics, finance, etc.) in addition to accounting credits. In that case, you'd have to take quite a few accounting as well as business credits. At that point, there would probably be no good reason not to simply get another degree--more specifically, an undergraduate degree since they are the degrees that will involve the greatest number of credits distributed among general business and accounting credits.

I just looked at North Carolina's educational requirements for getting a CPA license. They're a little complicated in terms of trying to plan out a cost-effective and efficient way of satisfying them for a post-bacc student. If you could get a master's in accounting, that would be best since that would seem to kill two birds with one stone, i.e. both the accounting and business credits. However there is a caveat; those have to be graduate accounting credits covering topics appropriate only for graduate students in accounting, not just reclassified undergrad accounting courses for career changers. But considering that's exactly what you're going to be studying in a master's program for career changers, this is probably not going to be an efficient method for you. Going to UMPI and just taking 30 accounting credits and 24 assorted business/communications/law/etc. courses is probably the cheapest way of getting all of this done.

Of course, this is assuming you even care about getting a CPA license. If you don't care about that, and you just want to have some sort of accounting degree and would prefer an advanced one (i.e. MS, MAcc) as opposed to another undergrad degree, mostly for optics, then you could get into a master's aimed at career changers that have few if any accounting prereqs. I haven't looked into these too deeply, but off the top of my head I know that Dominican University in Illinois offers an MS in Accounting online that only requires accounting 101 as a prereq for admission. It's about $15,000 for the whole degree. A big plus is that the university has AACSB accreditation. Again, I haven't looked much into these master's programs for people with few or no accounting prereqs, so I'm sure there are a few out there that are cheaper than $15,000, though I'm not sure how many will be AACSB accredited--though admittedly this is probably not necessary for the majority of people.

Sorry for the rambling. Like I said, with more information about your goals, we might be able to narrow down the best path for you. Working in government I see, but in what capacity? Would having a CPA license help? Do government positions require a degree in accounting, or just "equivalent education" (e.g. something like 24 credits)? Etc.

[bjcheung77]

Thank you! Since I already have a bachelors and a master's, could I attempt another bachelor's? Or would it be better to go ahead and do a non-accounting major master's program?

Also, for my undergrad level classes/prereqs, would it be best to do Sophia/SL, etc then transfer the credits to TESU? I saw you recommended something similar to another poster, but I'm not sure if that would work for graduate programs. Since I already have a bachelors, having just those 5 or so classes on TESU would be ok, right?

Thank you! I've searched threads and the wiki, but I just wasn't sure if the advice applied to someone who already had a bachelors and a masters in fields that weren't connected.

Basically... Advice is just that, you really don't need to follow any specific advice (get additional accounting classes or credential to open doors). Do you currently work in some area of government and want to transition to another field in government? You don't have tuition assistance or reimbursement, did you check?

Sophia.org/Study.com or StraighterLine are great alternative options for undergrad, at the graduate level, there really isn't any alternative credit options other than in business, education, or electives, not many in any other major. I would go in the order I mentioned, UMPI > WGU > TESU due to cost, ease, speed...

With a Bachelors and Masters, should 'check the box' for your application for whatever government positions that are available, unless they require specific trifecta such as certs, degree, experience. I would work on deciding what field/government agency you're looking to get into, then decide to build/mold your trifecta.

[CharisandJon]

Of course, this is assuming you even care about getting a CPA license. If you don't care about that, and you just want to have some sort of accounting degree and would prefer an advanced one (i.e. MS, MAcc) as opposed to another undergrad degree, mostly for optics, then you could get into a master's aimed at career changers that have few if any accounting prereqs. I haven't looked into these too deeply, but off the top of my head I know that Dominican University in Illinois offers an MS in Accounting online that only requires accounting 101 as a prereq for admission. It's about $15,000 for the whole degree. A big plus is that the university has AACSB accreditation. Again, I haven't looked much into these master's programs for people with few or no accounting prereqs, so I'm sure there are a few out there that are cheaper than $15,000, though I'm not sure how many will be AACSB accredited--though admittedly this is probably not necessary for the majority of people.

I second this. I have looked into a lot of online MS in Accounting programs, and Dominican University is the only one I've found that doesn't require a lot of accounting prereqs. Almost all other online (and possibly on-campus, I just haven't looked into those) MS in Accounting programs either require a bachelor's in accounting or a large number of upper-level undergrad accounting credits.

Like inor said, it depends a bit on whether you are going for the CPA, as most MS (or MA) in Accounting programs are specifically targeted and designed for students going for the CPA that have prior accounting education. Its main value is giving students those extra 30 credits they need for the CPA. If you are not going for the CPA but want to work in a government or industry (not PA firm) business or accounting role, an MBA with an Accounting concentration might be more practical, more useful overall, and more attractive to employers.

If you are not going for your CPA but still wanted to get a MS in Accounting specifically, some universities have undergraduate certificates in accounting that meet the admission requirements for their MS in Accounting if you have a bachelor's in another subject. One of the ones I know of has 21 credit hours in upper-level undergrad accounting courses. It most likely won't give you all the accounting/business credits you need to sit for the CPA, but it will enable you to meet the requirements for an MS in Accounting without having to do an entire second bachelor's degree.

[allvia]

If you're concerned with secondary business accreditation then I'd go with TESU over UMPI; as the BSBA at TESU is an ACBSP degree program - https://www.tesu.edu/business/undergradu...accounting. TESU does have a CPA specific track if that is something you're interested in (it is specific for NJ, but much applies to many others - check your local state of interest for their requirements) - https://www.tesu.edu/business/undergradu...ountingcpa.  Also you do not need a master degree to become a CPA, so don't misread that when people are suggesting you spend 3 times the cost now (for a master) to move into an accounting role. There are many accounting professional paths that do not require you to become a CPA, and in many cases it requires you to work at least a few years in an accounting role under an existing CPA before you can even sit for the exam.  With that said, you didn't mention any CPA interest in your original post, just a career switch into accounting, but I figured 'the more you know' the better you'll be going forward.

[Jonathan Whatley]

The University of Illinois Gies College of Business iMSA requires only two prerequisite courses, business management and financial accounting (or a one or two course sequence in principles of accounting may be substituted for financial accounting). Gies is regularly one of the top-ranked schools in the nation in accounting.