Periodic degree audit reports will be provided to you by the Registrar's Office, and you should meet and discuss these reports on a regular basis with your Department Advisor. You should check with your Departmental Advisor early in your academic career for help in determining the specific requirements for your state. Career Opportunities in Public Accounting Career opportunities are available for qualified accounting graduates ranging from work with the largest public accounting firms to work with local practitioners. Careers in government service such as the General Accounting Office and Internal Revenue Service are also open to students majoring in this program. Advancement has been, and continues to be, rapid in public accounting for those who are qualified.
New employees start as junior accountants or staff assistants.
The next step up the ladder is to a partnership, which typically takes place within 10-12 years after employment by a firm. The partners constitute the top management level of the firm, and it is partners who bear ultimate responsibility for audits. Students pursuing the program heading toward a public accounting career should plan to take the CPA examination as soon after graduation as possible. It is a uniform examination, administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and given in all 50 states and U.S. territories in May and November of each year. A student who plans to seek designation as a CPA in another state should obtain information concerning education requirements from the appropriate state board of accountancy prior to final selection of courses because some states, such as New York and New Jersey, require the completion of courses in specific subject areas.