[Dan]

I am fortunate that my employer will be reimbursing me for graduate school. I will be going for a Masters in Accounting. I was wondering what the teaching prospects are for accounting. I got my undergrad in history and a license by the state of IL to teach high school social studies. I then went towards accounting since I could not find a job in the schools. I plan to complete my CPA in the next year and half and then finish up my graduate program. I was hoping to teach night classes as a side job. Has anyone here gone on to teach accounting in community colleges or even universities?

AUD - 83
BEC - 91
FAR - 85
REG - 79

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[Track55]

One of my professors got his bachelor's in psychology then switched to accounting in grad school. So in CA you can.

AUD - 99
BEC - 83
FAR - 86
REG - 92

California - Internal Audit

CPA since December 2016.

(took seven tries, 1 year 10 months).

AUD - 74, 99 !!
REG - 74, 92
BEC - 83
FAR - 73, 86

Studying for Ethics exam

California candidate
Business and Industry

[Anonymous]

Yes, you can teach with a Master's. Some colleges will require or strongly prefer a doctorate, but many will be happy with a Master's for an adjunct.

[Mayo]

Yes, a Master's is enough to be a lecturer. More so if you have a specific type of experience (i.e. specialty in tax, mergers/business combinations, audit, etc.)

Just be aware that the pay can vary from crappy to ok most of the time.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[EuroAddict]

You having your teaching license will help you but I am sure a college will want to see experience. Just b/c you have a CPA doesn't mean you know enough to teach. Ask any CPA on this forum. lol

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[Anonymous]

I would beg to differ…a college may want to see teaching experience, but most colleges don't seem as concerned with experience in the actual field of study. Many professors get their Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate without ever working in the field they're studying, and then work as professors for the rest of their life. I would far prefer a professor who had done the actual work and knew what they were talking about, but many schools don't require (and some don't even seem to prefer) that real, hands-on experience.

[rugger246]

I am a current adjunct that teaches a course each semester within the accounting department at a state university.

I would suffice to say that most colleges/universities will want someone with a masters degree to teach at this level. I think in some ways that is for accreditation purposes.

Now here is the interesting thing, even though I teach courses within the accounting department, my masters is in a field completely different. So I guess if you have some good real world experience working in an area that is needed within an education setting then you may be sought after for that practical experience you bring. Obtaining various certifications (i.e. CPA, CIA, CMA, etc.) will also help bolster your credentials, obviously!!!

As mentioned above…teaching at an adjunct level does not pay all that well so it is not something you probably could make a career out of. Your best bet is to try and get hired as a lecturer for better pay and benefits, but most tenured positions are going to go to those who are PhD whose primary function is to perform research and get published within academic journals in addition to their teaching assignments.

AUD - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed (Perfect Score of 75 to finish it off)
REG - Passed

[solescpajourney]

It may depend on your state, but at the community college where I'm employed in NC we are required to have a Master's Degree with 18 hours in the field if it transfers to a University. If it isn't a transfer course, the 18 hour rule doesn't apply. I have an MBA with a concentration in Finance (more than 18 hours) so I can teach Finance. I have an undergraduate degree in Accounting and 14 years experience in Accounting, but I can't teach Accounting courses! My supervisor is a CPA, but doesn't have a Master's Degree, so she can't teach at all! I have been patiently waiting for a Finance adjunct faculty position to pop up because I'd like to do the same with hopes of eventually becoming full-time.

[NoobAccountant]

From my experience talking with professors about this, most doctoral programs want to see experience before being admitted. IE, they don't want someone coming straight out of bachelors, or even masters and jumping in. Now, to be a full time teacher at a university may be stretching it with just a masters, you may could be a full time lecturer at a community college. I had some adjunct teachers that likely didn't have a master's, they just had a specific background that gave them the KSAs to teach that class.

REG- July 10
BEC - End July
AUD - End Aug
FAR - End October

[Author]

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