Ever wanted to possess the skill and knowledge necessary to
accurately complete a tax return that actually saves money? If the answer to
that question was yes, a career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) might
prove to be rewarding. In addition to more efficiently handling one’s own
finances, CPAs can also use their extensive understanding of difficult tax
regulations to provide assistance to their community. Barry Dufrene, for
example, is a CPA with over 30 years of experience who has dedicated his energy
to helping St. Mary Parish. Here’s how to follow in his footsteps:
1. Earn
a high school diploma or equivalent.
2. Attend
a college or university and obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or another
similar area such as Finance. It is important to know the requirements of the
specific area where one intends on working as some states are very strict on
their policies surrounding education while others allow for a substitution of
hands on experience in place of a degree. Furthermore, some accounting
companies and organizations might require a Master’s Degree in addition to a
Bachelor’s Degree.
3. As
stated in step two, finding out the area of intended employment’s policies and
requirements is crucial. In order to become certified a four part exam is
always required. However, certain states in the US prefer for a prospective CPA
to have several years of work experience before they can even qualify to take
the exam.
4. Once
the exam is passed and area specific pre-requisites are satisfied, the title of
CPA is now official. Begin looking for job opportunities or for the opportunity
to open a new firm.
Barry Dufrene is a Morgan City, Louisiana resident and CPA who
followed these steps and advanced quickly in the field.
