The accounting training industry is one of the most structured educational industries. Accounting course guidelines, materials and level of difficulty are set by the various accounting associations that issue accounting designations. The courses are offered by a wide range of public, private and online post secondary institutions.

Research the different accounting designations and decide which one you want to pursue. Join the association as a student and become familiar with their educational requirements. Shop around to find the courses you need to meet these requirements. There is not much difference in price, but there are different methods or locations available. Follow the three steps below to cover the accounting training basics.

1. Understand the role of accounting associations in accounting education.

2. Investigate accounting classes.

3. Review online accounting degrees.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get an education in accounting

Accounting education is provided by a wide range of colleges, universities and private schools. The course materials, tests and standards are managed by the accounting associations. In order to become a certified accountant, specific accounting training requirements set by these associations must be met.

I recommend: Look at the different accounting designation options by visiting the association websites and reviewing the career options. The first association to review is The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. This association is responsible for the CPA designation. This designation provides the greatest flexibility for career options. The Institute of Internal Auditors is responsible for the Certified Internal Auditor designation. Internal auditor is a very important role and requires a high level of dedication and academic success to achieve.

Review accounting courses

All careers in accounting requires post secondary education. The accounting training industry offers a wide range of entrance and exit points. Explore the options by registering for introductory accounting classes or accounting seminars. The first two years of courses are the same for all designations.

I recommend: Accounting courses cover the fundamentals of bookkeeping, financial accounting, commercial law, economics and statistics. Select the instruction method that works best for you. Courses are offered part time and full time at all colleges and universities. Briarcliffe College is an excellent example of the breadth and depth of options available. Edmunds Community College offers both full time and continuing studies or part time courses.

Explore distance learning accounting courses

The accounting training industry quickly adapted it's programs to encourage distance learning. Online accounting degrees are available from a wide range of private and public post secondary education institutes. CPA education program is based on a series of independent courses and standard exams.

I recommend: Improve your efficiency and make the most of your time by exploring online accounting degrees. Before registering with any institution, confirm the courses are approved by the accounting associations. American InterContinental University is an excellent example of the programs and courses available through distance learning. Just Colleges provides a list a wide range of colleges and universities that offer online accounting degrees.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Accounting training programs are structured to match education and working experience. Most accounting designations are achieved through full time work and part time study. This industry requires dedication, discipline and focus, but provides a wide range of career and compensation opportunities.

Accounting training is becoming more and more lucrative by the day. Indeed, those with an accounting education are in high demand as business owners in all industries recognize the value of accounting training, administration and planning within their companies. Accounting education and credentials, they're discovering, can help their business manage cash flow, increase capital and grow in both the short and long term.

In fact, by 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor expects the number of accountants and auditors in the United States to grow by between 18 and 26 percent, fueled by a growth in the number of businesses in general, as well in the scrutiny of those businesses' finances. So, whether you want to be an accountant for a living, or just need basic accounting training to help you run and grow your company, accounting classes or CPA classes will take you far in the emerging economy. Offered in classrooms and online, accounting education options include:

1. CPA training for aspiring CPAs.
2. Accounting training for enrolled agents.
3. Accounting classes for staff accountants.
4. Accounting training for bookkeepers.
5. Accounting software training for business owners.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Pursue CPA training

If you want your accounting education to carry you into a full-time accounting career, you'll need to become a certified public accountant, or CPA. CPA training is hard work, as it requires an accounting degree, a two-day exam and at least 150 college credit hours. CPA classes pay off, however, as a CPA credential maximizes your career potential and tells consumers that you know how to do your job.

I recommend: Vocational schools such as the University of Phoenix and Regis University offer strong offline CPA training programs and online accounting education programs, while companies like Bisk Education and CPAexcel offer CPA classes to help you prepare for the exam.  Find more CPA exam prep firms at Business.com.

Get accounting training to be an enrolled agent

Enrolled agents or EAs are licensed to represent taxpayers before the IRS. Like CPAs, those studying to be enrolled agents, or EAs, must receive significant accounting training, administration experience and classroom coaching. Becoming an EA requires passing a 100-question exam, but requires no other special study.

I recommend: The National Association of Tax Professionals offers live seminars to help you study for the EA exam. Meanwhile, consult the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to learn more about EA requirements.

Consider basic or refresher accounting classes

Accounting education isn't only for CPAs and EAs. Basic accounting training can qualify you for a variety of jobs, including entry-level jobs in payroll, data entry, accounts receivable or accounts payable, as well as management-level positions, including accounting manager or even CFO. Accounting classes can also improve the skills of your current staff accountants.

I recommend: Taking a series of short online accounting education courses or live accounting training seminars can add a lot to your resume; consider offline and online accounting classes from the National Business Institute, the American Management Association, the American Cash Flow Institute, the Institute of Management Accountants and the New York Institute of Finance.

Skip accounting training for bookkeeping training

Unless you plan to be doing serious tax and business planning for other businesses, an accounting education probably isn't necessary. If what you're after is a basic knowledge of business finances and recordkeeping, bookkeeping training will give you all you need to know, in less time and at a lower cost.

I recommend: The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers provides certification and bookkeeping training.

Learn the basics with accounting software training

All business owners could benefit from some very basic accounting training. That doesn't mean you need to quit your business in order to apprentice as an accountant. It does, however, mean that you ought to consider accounting software training so that you can quickly and easily get on the computer to take your company's financial pulse when necessary.

I recommend: When it comes to accounting software training, nothing is more important than learning to use QuickBooks. Consider QuickBooks training courses from the manufacturer, Intuit, or from endorsed third-party companies like Real World Training.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're pursuing accounting training, take advantage of the growth opportunities it will provide you; with even a little bit of online accounting education, administration staff can easily climb into higher-paying supervisory and management roles.
• •  Because all companies need accounting staff, those with accounting training tend to enjoy a great deal of flexibility; you can find full- or part-time work, jobs in both the public and private sector, and arrangements that will allow you to work either in an office or from your home.
• •  Computer skills are a must for accountants at all levels; in addition to accounting software training, make sure you are up to speed with simple programs like Microsoft Excel, as well as any consumer software you might encounter, such as TurboTax or Quicken.
• •  If you're pursuing a full-time career in accounting, taking CPA classes isn't enough. It's important to develop a niche, such as government accounting or tax planning, during your accounting training.
• •  An accounting education shouldn't stop with accounting training; fine-tune your skills by supplementing them with training in related fields, such as budget analysis and investment, in order to maximize your potential.

Improve your career and financial options by taking advantage of your accounting training. All accounting designations provide advanced credit for any type of prior accounting courses that have been completed at the post secondary level. Advance from bookkeeper to accountant by taking part time courses and an accounting seminar to complete your designation and increase your earning potential. The salary paid to accountants increases with each year of additional schooling completed.

Complete your designation, and then focus on the next career goal. Change your position to match the education you have completed and take positions that provide an opportunity for growth. The combination of accounting training and education are essential to improving salary and job benefits. Follow the three steps below to make the most of your accounting training.

1. Determine the salaries available for your current level of accounting training.

2. Increase your salary with accounting training programs.

3. Use your accounting training to join organizations to help broaden your career.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Review salary ranges based on accounting training

Evaluate your current accounting position and look at the opportunities to expand your role and increase your salary. All accounting training is offered as a part time program, since all accounting designations require a combination of work experience and education before you can become a certified accountant. Look at your local college or university to find accounting classes that will improve your career options.

I recommend: Write down the salary ranges that you would like to make. Take a look at the annual salary report provided by Payscale and Robert Half Finance & Accounting. Different locations have different salary ranges, change the city to see how much more or less you would make in a different location.

Pick an accounting training specialty

There are a wide range of specialties that provide excellent salaries, opportunity for travel and career advancements. Look into the accounting courses required to obtain a certificate in a specialty of interest to you. Investigate opportunities where accounting seminars are the only requirement to further certification and a higher salary.

I recommend: Review accounting education options to quickly improve your career and salary options. The accounting industry provides clear paths and options to improve your career, building on the time and effort already invested in your accounting training. Look at The Institute for Internal Auditors career section to learn more about training and educational offerings, or visit the AICPA for more information and career counseling.

Maximize your accounting training with international organizations

Accounting training school completed in the USA is the basis for many accounting careers with international impact. Explore options to improve your career by looking internationally. Accounting professionals can move into around the world, using their training to enhance the accounting practices in other countries.

I recommend: Maximize the CPA education by joining the International Accounting Standards Board. The impact of the projects and decisions by this group is felt by every country in the world. Join CPA Associates International to expand your career and training opportunities through international job experience.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Making the most of accounting training is essential to advancing into a well paying career as an accountant. Obtain the credentials necessary to become a certified accountant and then utilize that background to move into senior management or accounting specialties.