Certificates in Accounting
Updated May 2, 2025
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Key Takeaways
- Accounting certificates allow students to explore subjects without committing to full degree programs.
- Popular online accounting courses for undergraduate and graduate certificates include financial and managerial accounting.
- A certificate in accounting is not the same as a certification, which usually requires you to complete a formal degree, professional experience, and an exam.
Degrees carry value but may not always be practical, feasible, or required. Accounting certificates offer an efficient and affordable alternative.
Undergraduate accounting certificate programs focus on fundamentals, providing a quick way to train for entry-level careers. Graduate accounting certificate programs can help you build on existing skills, develop targeted proficiencies, and qualify for advanced careers.
This page highlights the features and benefits of undergraduate and graduate certificate programs, including online accounting certificates. Use this guide to help identify whether a non-degree accounting program can help advance your personal and professional goals.
Popular Online Accounting Certificate Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Why Get an Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting?
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Build Foundational Skills
Undergraduate accounting certificate programs target essential skills, helping you develop elementary knowledge with immediate practical applications. You can also use undergraduate certificate programs to test your aptitude for accounting and see if you want to pursue the subject at a higher level. -
Save Time and Money
Programs vary in length but almost always take less time than the two years you'd need to earn an associate degree. Their compact formats also offer savings since you will cover fewer credits and spend less time in school. -
Qualify for Entry-Level Careers
Some employers accept college certificates for entry-level jobs. Careers you could target include bookkeeper, accounting assistant, and accounting clerk roles. You may need additional education to advance, but a certificate can help you establish yourself and start building experience.
Why Get a Graduate Accounting Certificate?
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Bridge Credit Gaps
Bachelor's accounting programs typically cover 120 credits, but many states require 150 credits to qualify for advanced credentials like certified public accountant (CPA) licensure. You can use graduate accounting certificates to acquire the additional 30 credits you may need to become a CPA. -
Enhance Specific Skills
Graduate certificate programs often target advanced topics in auditing, taxation, fraud examination, and managerial accounting. If your professional role requires deep knowledge of a specific area, or if you want to qualify for advancement, a graduate accounting certificate may help. -
Meet Continuing Education Requirements
CPAs and other specially credentialed accounting and auditing professionals must meet continuing professional education (CPE) requirements to maintain their standing. Graduate accounting certificate programs can double as CPE if the academic content meets the credentialing body's requirements.
Graduate Certificates vs. Certifications
Students often misunderstand the important distinctions between certificates and certifications. In short, a certificate is an academic credential awarded upon completing an accounting course sequence. Meanwhile, a certification is a professional credential typically earned through a combination of education, experience, and exams.
To illustrate the difference, compare the requirements you must meet to earn a graduate accounting certificate to those needed for a professional accounting certification.
For a graduate certificate, you usually need to complete 12-18 academic credits. Simply enroll in a program, select your courses from a list of available options, and complete them in sequence by earning passing grades.
A certificate is an academic credential awarded upon completing an accounting course sequence. Meanwhile, a certification is a professional credential typically earned through a combination of education, experience, and exams.
Next, consider the example of a certified management accountant (CMA) certification. To earn this credential, you need:
- A bachelor's degree
- Two or more years of professional experience in management accounting, financial management, or both
- Passing scores on the two-part CMA examination
A certificate's scope is purely academic, while a certification involves academic, experiential, and knowledge verification components. Also, know that a certificate may help you qualify for certification by meeting specific knowledge, skills, and academic training requirements.
Should You Earn Your Accounting Certificate Online?
Online accounting certificate programs have become popular due to their flexibility, cost, and various options. Students can choose from hybrid or fully online programs. Hybrid programs allow students to combine online and in-person courses. Attendees can benefit from the flexibility of online programs while still engaging in in-person networking.
Fully online enrollees can choose programs from anywhere in the United States. Online programs may offer asynchronous or synchronous choices — synchronous courses have fixed times, while asynchronous courses allow learners to complete assignments at any time.
Popular Online Accounting Certificate Courses
Accounting certificate curricula vary widely. They largely depend on the program's focus and whether it operates at the undergraduate or graduate level. Some curricula consist of a rigid set of required courses with little to no personalization options, while others supplement core requirements with elective slots offering choices.
Some courses you may encounter in undergraduate and graduate certificate programs may include:
- Principles of Accounting: In this foundational course, you can learn about the basic principles that govern accounting and its functions. Sample topics may include basic accounting terminology, the accounting cycle, and the various types of financial statements businesses use.
- Introduction to Financial Accounting: This course teaches the fundamental financial accounting techniques professionals use to track transactions and compile data for inclusion in financial statements and reports. Schools may also offer similar courses in cost accounting, managerial accounting, and corporate finance.
- Advanced Managerial Accounting: In this course, graduate-level accounting students learn about budgeting, differential analysis, cost-volume-profit analysis, and other advanced topics that bridge financial accounting and business management. The material may offer value to accounting professionals seeking to transition or advance into managerial or executive roles.
- Financial Statement Analysis: At the graduate level, certificate programs explore techniques for drawing analytical insights from data in financial statements. The course may explore profitability analysis, risk exposure, financial forecasting, corporate valuations, and related concepts.
Next Steps After Getting an Accounting Certificate
It's never too early to begin planning your accounting career. Graduates with accounting certificates can take the following steps to advance their careers.
- Enter the Workforce: An accounting certificate can prepare graduates to pursue entry-level accounting jobs.
- Pursue an Associate, Bachelor's, or Master's Degree: Certificate credits often transfer to degree programs, which can save students time and money.
- Earn CPA or CMA Certification (for Experienced Professionals): Higher-level certificates can help those with prior degrees meet CPA or certified management accountant requirements.
Questions About Certificates in Accounting
Can you get an accounting certificate online?
Yes – many reputable schools offer online accounting certificates you can complete without visiting campus. Online learning delivers flexibility advantages, helping you incorporate schooling into your schedule more easily.
Is it better to get a certificate or a degree in accounting?
It depends on your professional goals and your accounting career status. If you are just starting out, a certificate may lead to an entry-level job, but you will likely have limited advancement opportunities without a degree. If you already hold an accounting degree, a certificate can enhance your academic credentials and help you build broader, deeper skills.
Is a certificate in accounting the same as a CPA?
No. A certificate is an academic credential you earn by completing a course sequence, and a CPA is a professional designation you acquire by getting licensed. CPA licenses require a bachelor's degree, relevant professional experience, and passing the Uniform CPA Examination.
Can I get an accounting job with just a certificate?
It depends on the employer. Some employers may seek candidates with certificate-based credentials, but career growth pathways may be limited without an accounting degree. Entry-level accounting careers are also increasingly affected by technology and automation, which may reduce the availability of entry-level jobs.
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