[tsokoberst]

A brief background about me is that I recently passed all parts of the Uniform CPA Exams and now reviewing for CMA Exams. I’m having a hard time on finding a job because I’m inexperienced which hinders me from qualifying in most entry-level jobs(which requires at least a year of experience) and I do not also qualify for internships because I’m not anymore a student(not to mention that I have a bad GPA of 2.88 after being evaluated – my school is from different country).

Does earning an Accounting Certificate especially if it is from UCLA(extension) will help me improve my credentials and increase my chance of setting my foot into the accounting profession as the same as what an MBA degree can do( in which I’m lacking the necessary funds to pursue such a degree)? I can see that employers more easily tend to accommodate resumes that has a “USC” or “UCLA” somewhere in the educational backgrounds. I saw that the Accounting Certificate program tuition is just around $10k and will be a cheaper alternative as compared to 6 digits tuition MBA or MAcc programs.

BTW, here is the link to the program I’m talking( https://www.uclaextension.edu/pages/ProgramDetails.aspx?reg=CF028 )

I’ll gladly appreciate any advise that you can give with regards to my case.

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[hecubus330]

When I interviewed for a summer internship, I chatted with a staff auditor in a top 10 public accounting firm who did the UCLA extension program to qualify to sit for the CPA exam. The Meet the Firms that UCLA extension had was extremely small. He said he had a really hard time getting interviews. He had to network his ass off to get the position he has today.

If you want to go back and get a certificate, go to one of the state schools, not in the extension program. As a student you will have access to the career center and recruiters that wouldn't normally be at an extension program.

If you are in southern California, I know Cal State LA has an Accounting Certificate program:

https://cbe.calstatela.edu/acct/certificateprog_Acct.php

But, you can look into other four year schools that have accounting certificates that will have better results in getting a job.

The whole point of going back to school is to get that job.

BEC -69, 69
REG -77 (expired), 79
FAR - ?
AUD - 65, 67

[hecubus330]

When I interviewed for a summer internship, I chatted with a staff auditor in a top 10 public accounting firm who did the UCLA extension program to qualify to sit for the CPA exam. The Meet the Firms that UCLA extension had was extremely small. He said he had a really hard time getting interviews. He had to network his ass off to get the position he has today.

If you want to go back and get a certificate, go to one of the state schools, not in the extension program. As a student you will have access to the career center and recruiters that wouldn't normally be at an extension program.

If you are in southern California, I know Cal State LA has an Accounting Certificate program:

https://cbe.calstatela.edu/acct/certificateprog_Acct.php

But, you can look into other four year schools that have accounting certificates that will have better results in getting a job.

The whole point of going back to school is to get that job.

BEC -69, 69
REG -77 (expired), 79
FAR - ?
AUD - 65, 67

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you're spending money to network. You passed the CPA exam, you don't need any more education.

Go join calcpa and network there or try to start with a small firm in some kind of part time public accounting position. My firm hires 3 new part time associates every year. We can't be the only one that is doing this. Unfortunately, tax season will be coming to a end soon so you sorta missed the boat, but look small if you can't land at anything bigger.

I would not recommend going back to get a accounting certificate. If you're going to spend money, go get a masters.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you're spending money to network. You passed the CPA exam, you don't need any more education.

Go join calcpa and network there or try to start with a small firm in some kind of part time public accounting position. My firm hires 3 new part time associates every year. We can't be the only one that is doing this. Unfortunately, tax season will be coming to a end soon so you sorta missed the boat, but look small if you can't land at anything bigger.

I would not recommend going back to get a accounting certificate. If you're going to spend money, go get a masters.

[FlipACoin]

I don't entirely agree with the posters above. I will say that an accounting certificate, even from a solid business school such as UCLA, will in no way substitute for a masters. There is a reason that one is 10K and the other is 100K :). I whole heartedly disagree that you should just go for your masters at all. You will come out $100K in debt and really not that much better off short of having a US based degree with a (hopefully) better GPA. Employers are still going to want that experience, so I would definitely hold off on your masters until you have 2-3 years of experience; plus you might get an employer that will pay for some of it.

What could be holding you back, and I alluded to it above, is your non US undergrad degree, especially since you have a low GPA. I know a lot of employers that just don't trust international schools short of the schools that are truly outstanding and well known. So if you didn't go to Oxford or the like, I can see how getting the UCLA stamp of approval could help you out with your resume and some with networking.

Still, I agree with cpham, unless you are in a traditional program, the networking will most likely not be substantial. You can probably get a whole lot more done with your local chapter of the IMA & CPA groups. There might be some internships though that you can attend, even at an extension type thing, so I would definitely do that if you are going to throw down the 10K.

Basically, I would say the complete opposite of one of the posters above. I would say if you ARE going to go, I would go for the certificate because at 1/10th the cost you are basically getting the same value out of your degree (at this moment in time). Don't get me wrong, down the road the masters will have more value, but with 0 experience the certificate will get you just as far at a fraction of the cost. Good luck…and Ill see you in the CMA thread 🙂

[FlipACoin]

I don't entirely agree with the posters above. I will say that an accounting certificate, even from a solid business school such as UCLA, will in no way substitute for a masters. There is a reason that one is 10K and the other is 100K :). I whole heartedly disagree that you should just go for your masters at all. You will come out $100K in debt and really not that much better off short of having a US based degree with a (hopefully) better GPA. Employers are still going to want that experience, so I would definitely hold off on your masters until you have 2-3 years of experience; plus you might get an employer that will pay for some of it.

What could be holding you back, and I alluded to it above, is your non US undergrad degree, especially since you have a low GPA. I know a lot of employers that just don't trust international schools short of the schools that are truly outstanding and well known. So if you didn't go to Oxford or the like, I can see how getting the UCLA stamp of approval could help you out with your resume and some with networking.

Still, I agree with cpham, unless you are in a traditional program, the networking will most likely not be substantial. You can probably get a whole lot more done with your local chapter of the IMA & CPA groups. There might be some internships though that you can attend, even at an extension type thing, so I would definitely do that if you are going to throw down the 10K.

Basically, I would say the complete opposite of one of the posters above. I would say if you ARE going to go, I would go for the certificate because at 1/10th the cost you are basically getting the same value out of your degree (at this moment in time). Don't get me wrong, down the road the masters will have more value, but with 0 experience the certificate will get you just as far at a fraction of the cost. Good luck…and Ill see you in the CMA thread 🙂

[tsokoberst]

@hecubus330: Did you mean to say that I'm gonna' start back again as an undergraduate student? 4yrs! Sounds that it would be a lot of work and opportunity costs.

@cpham4: I already tried to look small though, even submitting my resume to those only requiring a high school diploma but to no avail, still no calls.

@FlipACoin: Yow! We meet again! Not that I feel inferior about my GPA but it is rather a frustrating experience for me. In my home country employers tend to look more about the CPA Exam scores. One of my professors even told me before that gpa's are buried by CPA exam score. It was a very different thing in here. I feel so sorry now that I only studied my accounting subjects and neglected my general knowledge subjects such as theology and humanities. LOL! By any chance, do you happen to know if this busy season is also a factor that resumes are not being reviewed? I'm hoping that after April 15 some will be calling me.

BTW guys, mind if someone can check my resume and see if there is anything that I should edit on it for it be more appealing? I'll send it to your emails.

Thanks guys!

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[tsokoberst]

@hecubus330: Did you mean to say that I'm gonna' start back again as an undergraduate student? 4yrs! Sounds that it would be a lot of work and opportunity costs.

@cpham4: I already tried to look small though, even submitting my resume to those only requiring a high school diploma but to no avail, still no calls.

@FlipACoin: Yow! We meet again! Not that I feel inferior about my GPA but it is rather a frustrating experience for me. In my home country employers tend to look more about the CPA Exam scores. One of my professors even told me before that gpa's are buried by CPA exam score. It was a very different thing in here. I feel so sorry now that I only studied my accounting subjects and neglected my general knowledge subjects such as theology and humanities. LOL! By any chance, do you happen to know if this busy season is also a factor that resumes are not being reviewed? I'm hoping that after April 15 some will be calling me.

BTW guys, mind if someone can check my resume and see if there is anything that I should edit on it for it be more appealing? I'll send it to your emails.

Thanks guys!

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[hecubus330]

The certificate program is for people who already have a Bachelor's degree. It should take maybe 1-1.5 years to complete the certificate with the quarter system.

BEC -69, 69
REG -77 (expired), 79
FAR - ?
AUD - 65, 67

[hecubus330]

The certificate program is for people who already have a Bachelor's degree. It should take maybe 1-1.5 years to complete the certificate with the quarter system.

BEC -69, 69
REG -77 (expired), 79
FAR - ?
AUD - 65, 67

[tsokoberst]

@hecubus330: If my performance on the certificate program will be good, will that be enough to overwrite any bad gpa that I had during my undergraduate degree?

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[tsokoberst]

@hecubus330: If my performance on the certificate program will be good, will that be enough to overwrite any bad gpa that I had during my undergraduate degree?

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[jeff]

CPA > any accounting master's degree

Period.

End of Story.

Case Closed.

🙂

If you want to “add” to your education/credentials, then a serious ROI analysis needs to take place.

If you're “bored” and want to do something else because you miss that study high (it's weird – but it's a real thing), then go get your CMA.

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[jeff]

CPA > any accounting master's degree

Period.

End of Story.

Case Closed.

🙂

If you want to “add” to your education/credentials, then a serious ROI analysis needs to take place.

If you're “bored” and want to do something else because you miss that study high (it's weird – but it's a real thing), then go get your CMA.

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[hecubus330]

If enough time has passed from your undergraduate degree, you can always angle it into, “I was younger then and I wasn't serious. I have learned from my mistakes and I take my studies seriously,” or something to that effect.

BEC -69, 69
REG -77 (expired), 79
FAR - ?
AUD - 65, 67

[Author]

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