Accounting Graduate Certificate Programs & Schools near Sacramento
Graduate Certificate in Accounting Programs may be beneficial to students who have an undergraduate degree in accounting or a related field and wish to specialize in a specific area of accounting. Keep reading to learn more about accounting certificate programs, what courses you would take, and how these programs can benefit your career.
What are Accounting Graduate Certificate Programs?
Accounting graduate certificate programs are a practical option for students who are interested in mathematics and business. Accounting is the backbone of many businesses and is crucial to many high-level decisions made within a company.
Becoming an accountant is only one of many career paths to choose from when you earn a degree from an accounting graduate program. Professionals in the accounting field may work to detect if there has been a white collar crime committed in an organization. This type of investigative accounting is called forensic accounting, and it is one of the most rapidly growing specialties within the field.
What type of courses may be a part of an accounting graduate certificate program?
Coursework in accounting certificate programs may range widely. Some of them may include fundamentals of accounting, cost accounting, managerial accounting, financial accounting, intermediate accounting, taxation, and corporate finance. This is often dependent on what the student wishes to pursue.
Accounting Certificate Programs: Admission Prerequisites
Generally, accounting certificate programs require that students have completed a bachelor’s degree with coursework in accounting or a related field. Applicants may also be required to submit prerequisite coursework, letters of recommendation, transcripts GPA and GRE scores as part of the admissions process.
What Can You do with a Graduate Certificate in Accounting?
Earning a graduate certificate in accounting may prepare you for positions such as financial accountant, certified public accountant (CPA), cost estimator, bookkeeper, and budget analyst. Also, you may be able to work with financial statements, financial reporting, payroll, tax preparation, and budgeting. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), accountants and auditors earned a median annual salary of $79,880 in 2023. The BLS also projects that employment for accountants and auditors is expected to grow 4% from 2022 to 2032.
Most accounting certificate programs will help you meet the credit hours required to sit for the CPA exam. In addition, credits earned in the certificate program can usually be applied toward a master’s degree in accounting if you decide to pursue one later.
Popular Schools with Graduate Certificate in Accounting Programs in Sacramento
Is it possible to earn an accounting graduate certificate program online?
A graduate certificate in accounting may be available through some colleges and universities that offer online courses in accounting. That may mean some students could pursue a fully online program and their own pace if they want to.
What are the benefits of a Graduate Certificate in Accounting Program?
There are many benefits of accounting certificate programs. Some of the benefits a certificate program may include:
- Help students learn new accounting methods and practices.
- Update students’ skills in accounting principles and procedures.
- Introduce new computer applications for accounting.
- Offer specializations in areas such as tax accounting or auditing.
| Metro Area | Annual Mean Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $97,950 | 5,250 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $94,470 | 470 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $93,930 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $92,910 | 930 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $92,160 | 2,570 |
| State | Employment | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 7,090 | $84,850 |
| Texas | 4,770 | $74,780 |
| Virginia | 3,620 | $86,760 |
| New York | 3,320 | $74,150 |
| Florida | 2,810 | $66,240 |
Graduate Certs in Accounting can help you supplement knowledge in specific area such as business administration, taxation, and forensic accounting. These Accounting Certificates can be stepping stone to Master’s degrees in Accounting of Ph.D.s in Accounting Degrees or to give professionals specific adjunct knowledge in accounting. A career in the accounting field is predicted to continue to be in high demand over the next several years. Earning a certificate degree in accounting can help you build a network of people interested in the field.
