How Long Does it Take to Get an Accounting Degree Online?
If you are planning to study for an online accounting degree, it is important that you start doing your research well in advance. You should look for the best program that is known for prepping future accountants. Once you have narrowed down the best programs, you should figure out how long you will spend on your studies before you will actually earn your degree. The duration of an online program depends upon several factors.
Read on, and learn how much time you will need to set aside so that you can learn accounting curriculum and start your career.
Various Types of Accounting Programs
The first step to choosing the appropriate program will be to decide what type of degree you will need. Not everyone needs to start their career with a Bachelor’s. Instead, you may want to earn an entry-level Associate’s degree with a short focus on accounting before you commit to longer studies. If you want to land an entry-level role and work your way up, an A.S. in Accounting could qualify you to work in bookkeeping or as a junior accountant.
Featured Programs
You can either pursue your Bachelor’s after earning your Associate’s or you can enter a 4-year program from the start. Regardless of what you choose, a B.A. will expand your horizons by opening up more opportunity. With your B.A., you will be able to work in investment banking, finance analysis, auditing, government finance, forensic accounting and more. Going a step beyond this, you can earn a Master’s degree to master subjects and to land management positions or to sit for the uniform Certified Public Accounting Exam.
How Long Does Each Program Take?
There is not just a single correct answer that can be given that will help you map out how long you will be studying online. Unfortunately, every school have their own curriculum and credit hour requirements. While you cannot pinpoint exact time frames, once you know how you will be enrolled, you can easily get a good range.
If you are enrolled in an online accounting program full-time to earn an Associate’s, you will spend between 18 months and 24 months on your studies. Part-time A.A. students can study for between 36 and 60 months, depending on how many classes they take each semester. For Bachelor’s degree students, you will spend an average of 48 months studying online full-time, but could spend between 5 and 8 years earning the 4-year degree with a part-time schedule. Add an addition 2 years of full-time study to your plan if you want to earn your Master’s, and you will be eligible to become a CPA.
How to Reduce the Time it Takes to Graduate
Studying online for an accounting degree is very similar to studying in the classroom as far as what you will learn and how long you will study for. You can cut programs short in both traditional and online settings. The best way to do this is to take an extra class or two each semester if you can manage your workload. Make sure to study hard so that you never have retake a class. You may even be able to skip summer or winter breaks to complete a few extra credits if this option is available.
There is a growing demand for accounting professionals as more and more professionals in the field retire. If you would like to earn your degree, the first step is studying for a degree. The online accounting degree enables you to study for a degree while you manage your other professional and family obligations.