150 Credit Hours : Should You Get Your Masters?

As you may know, if you want to become a licensed CPA (if you are here that is probably the case) in most states you are required to complete 150 credit hours of higher education. The undergraduate degree in accounting should be enough but the CPA Gods felt you needed another 30 credit hours. Many students see this as an opportunity to simply take up the Masters, which is not a bad idea. However, in today's video I will be comparing the Masters vs. double majoring to get to the 150 credit hours.
A masters degree is not cheap, but if you can afford it, I think that is the best route. You certainly can never be too educated and Mastering accounting will serve you well in your career. If you do not choose to go the Masters route that is perfectly fine as well. Once you are licensed as a CPA, no one is going to care how you achieved your 150 credit hours- they will respect you as a CPA and keep it moving.
To see your state's requirements for CPA eligibility, check the link below.
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[@lindsaysimplified]

I have my bachelors in accounting, wasn’t sure if I wanted to go back for my masters, but your videos are making that decision easier! ♥️

[@TheAccountingStruggle]

I’m so glad to hear that 💕

[@smr3506]

Thanks for sharing your experience. This was very informative. I’m currently doing the certificate program with a goal to start the CPA in 2022.

[@TheAccountingStruggle]

You’re welcome, I’m glad you found it helpful. I think that’s a great plan-best of luck

[@catmouse2882]

What accounting certification program are doing? I personally am looking at UC San Diego Extension school. They offer an accounting certificate program for less than $7k. I have BA degree so I just need 24 credits to get CPA license for Washington DC.

[@NalaAmari]

I received my MBA with a concentration in Accounting. I obtained my 150 hours from my program to sit for my CPA exam.

[@adamshepherd5421]

Thank you for this video. I am going back to school. I had graduated from college years ago and went back to school for a career change to refresh my skills and taking Accounting Technology with getting certificates in Quick books, Payroll and Bookkeeping. But the one that I want to get is the CPA qualifying Certificate because I wasn't sure I wanted to go for the Masters. I had already got my 125 hours when I graduated from school for Business Administration years ago. With the CPA qualifying Certificate you have to take Federal Tax 1 & 2, Intermediate 1 & 2, Cost and Managerial, Auditing, Governmental Accounting, Forensic Accounting. I have to take some of the classes next year. I feel that if I a good semester then I will be ready for those classes next year. This semester I got Payroll Accounting, Computer Concepts, and Managerial Accounting.

[@christinamitchell6983]

Is it a bad thing not wanting to work at the big four? I feel like society wants everyone to work there when they finish college. I just want to work at a small accounting firm or a small business doing payroll, bookkeeping, etc. If I do that It’ll make me feel like I’m not very successful and I just took the easy way out.

[@TheAccountingStruggle]

Not a bad thing at all. I never wanted to work at a big 4, it’s not for my personality. You have to know yourself and be fine with what your desires are. You can have an amazing career without the big 4

[@blueviolets2106]

The big 4 is not an environment I would want to be in. I’d prefer working in an industry like healthcare, not an actual accounting firm but if I do it would be mid tier

[@christinamitchell6983]

@@blueviolets2106 thank you

[@Loreyna32]

Same, i have big four on my list but i'm more interested in mid tier firms. There's also a possibility I might ONLY apply to mid tier firms.

[@DreamFirms]

Great video, thank you for sharing helpful tips!

[@ImpactTurns]

I got my bachelor’s but didn’t double major, instead, I took a bunch of extra classes at a community college during the summer, saved a ton of money and didn’t have to take hard courses.

[@TheAccountingStruggle]

I actually did something similar. I went to school online before starting my accounting program and those credits qualified towards the 150

[@donwuan6752]

How many extra classes did you do?

[@ImpactTurns]

@@donwuan6752 Depends on your State, in mine, you have to get 150 credit hours, so I took 15 credit hours each summer and had AP test scores that pushed me over 150.

[@404TRUCKERTV]

Why everybody running around saying, you need to get your masters to sit for the cpa when all you need to do is take an extra class and double major or minor to get your 150.

[@TheAccountingStruggle]

I mean some people feel like you “may as well” just get the masters but it’s pretty expensive so I had to pass on that lol

[@catmouse2882]

@@TheAccountingStruggle I have a BA degree in Communications. Looking to change careers to accounting. I would either need to do a second bachelors in accounting OR a masters degree in accounting. Here's the gag...Wouldn't it be cheaper for me to get a masters (only 30 credit hrs)? Because if I go the second bachelors degree route I need a good 50-60 credit hrs.

[@catherineb.]

@@catmouse2882 I'm in the same boat as you, for the second degree option, you should probably go talk to the admissions office of the university that your are planning on attending.

[@eyadmasoud641]

Hi, thanks for sharing this video. How was the period of course you had to increase your credit hours?

[@robbiem4624]

Hi my name is Robbie and I graduated with my bachelors in agriculture business from chico state in May of 2020 but I’m currently taking accounting courses to fill in the education requirements can I still take parts of the exam? I live in California. My other question is can I get my experience done before I take the exam before I finish the remaining units needed for the education portion to take the exam?

[@christiancartagena93]

Would the big 4 accept business admin - accounting with 120 credits and pay for the MBA to get the 30 credits to be eligible for CPA ?

[@first9299]

The first part: yes they would. Assuming your accounting concentration includes Intermediate 1&2, Tax Acct, Audit, and Cost Acct. Second: They probably wouldn't pay for an MBA but they will pay for CPA study materials and exam costs.

[@emenikendubuisi6881]

Great video. I was wondering if you had any opinion on graduate certificate programs such as UCLA and UC San Diego extension where you can get 24 credit hours for around $6500+. Do you think it’s worth it?

[@TheAccountingStruggle]

I’m honestly not sure what the average cost is for similar schools but it sounds pretty good to me. That leaves you about 2 classes shy of 150 which I’m sure you could pick up an elective that would count. I’d entertain this

[@marianag8043]

Can I get the 150 in other type of courses outside business ?

[@TheAccountingStruggle]

There are specific requirements that vary from state to state but typically those extra 30 credits need to be accounting focused and the 120 can be in anything

[@keepingitkasey]

I dont want to pay for the Master's 😂🤣

[@TheAccountingStruggle]

I feel you girl. It’s expensive, I wasn’t doing that either. Nothing wrong with taking up additional courses to get to the 150

[@mallorymcdonald9654]

I'm researching graduate programs right now and I reached out to NASBA to see if a Forensic Accounting masters program would satisfy those extra 30 credit hours. Do you have any advice? I know I want to work with fraud and will want a CFA certification in the future.

[@TheAccountingStruggle]

I don’t know for sure but I’m pretty confident that a Forensic accounting major would suffice. For the CPA you typically have some flexibility with the additional 30 credit hours-I believe the CFA is just as relaxed on this