What you need to become an accountant
Getting the credentials
Before embarking on a career in accounting, one must possess the qualities needed to be successful. An accountant needs to have an analytical mind, be an excellent communicator, be detailed oriented, mathematically oriented (complex math skills are not required), and have excellent organizational skills.
Good paying jobs are available to accountants with any type of degree from an Associates' degree to a Doctorate. However, depending on the kind of job one is interested in, becoming an accountant may require more than a four-year undergraduate degree in accounting. The amount of education you acquire will determine the types of accounting jobs you will be qualified for. For example, a two-year degree would prepare a person to be a bookkeeper or an accounting assistant. A four-year, 120-credit Bachelor's degree would qualify people for an entry-level accounting position in a corporation. However, moving to higher-level accounting positions require a person to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).