It used to be that one hundred and twenty semester hours were required to obtain an accounting job. Now a days CPA candidates are required to have one hundred and fifty semester hours. Schools that offered accounting and such majors have to change their curriculum to fit these standards. .
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants prepare the CPA examination. The test is also I requirement to obtain your accounting license. The exam is a very challenging two-day, four-part test. Only a slim quarter of the students taking the exam pass it. Students do not have to pass all four parts of the test to be successful on the exam. Most states require at least two sections be passed to gain partial credit.
For an entry level they can usually expect to do most of the little jobs around the office. Most firms will have them start with the basics and then as time goes along they will have them help out on more complicated jobs. They do this so they can break them into the styles and methods used by the firm. After they see that they are comfortable working in the environment and with the other colleagues, they will have them assist and in some cases do more complicated jobs by themselves.
There are a vast number of services that you can go into after you receive your license. These include public services, management, government, private, and auditing jobs.
The future outlook for employment of accountants is growing every year. Many positions will be opening due to retirements or replacements for people switching occupations. Thousands of existing jobs open up every year not counting the new jobs created for expansion. So future accountants have something to look forward to in that there are plenty of jobs out there to be taken. Private firms enjoy hiring people that have just completed college because they like to bring the youth into the profession and teach them they way that they want to do the work.