Accountants enjoy opportunities and job security like few other career fields. With the passing of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002, corporations have stepped up efforts to hire more accountants and auditors in order to comply with stricter financial controls and procedures. The demand for knowledgeable, skilled, and qualified accounting professionals is greater than ever.
You can earn an online associates, bachelors, masters, and MBA in accounting. You can become one or all of three types of certified accountants: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Although each state has different requirements, CPAs require a four-year degree. Further, you must be a CPA to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants and auditors earned an annual median salary around $55,000 in 2006. The growth of accounting careers is expected to expand 18-percent through 2016, which is above average for all other career areas.