How to get an accounting job without a CPA
Older graduates juggling full-time jobs and families often lack the time required to study for the CPA. Without a clear direction, this makes it difficult to figure out a career path without wasting time and money on unnecessary credentials.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1applying to as many jobs as possible daily
- 2seeking accounting roles related to previous career field experience
- 3pursuing an EA certification instead of the CPA
- 4researching different qualification pathways like AAT, ACA, and CIMA
- 5studying courses while continuing current high-paying employment to build up savings
- 6Getting an internship
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I am 47 and a recent accounting grad from Arizona global campus. I do have a family and full time job and I do not think I have time to study for the CPA.”source ↗
“So I'm having a hard time figuring out how I go about it.”source ↗
“obviously some big decisions to make and no clue what to do 🤣 just like to gather as much information as possible before I commit to a path, dont want to be wasting time or money doing something I shouldn't or dont need to.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 4What other career paths are there with an accounting degree?
- 7How to break into accounting as an international student with a low GPA
- 5How to learn accounting software without any training
- 17Feeling lost and overwhelmed starting a new accounting job
- 6Does starting in private accounting ruin your career?
- 8Is moving from accounting to corporate finance too stressful?