Becoming a public accountant (or CPA) might be one of the best career decisions you could possibly make. But how do you become a CPA, and how do you know if it's the right choice for you? As you consider accounting careers as a viable future for yourself, understand that it takes a certain kind of person to excel in this industry. Jobs in accounting are not simply filled by people who are good with numbers. That comes into play, but even more importantly CPAs should be business-savvy and should possess strong interpersonal skills. Accounting careers cannot be stereotyped as “pencil pushing” or “bean counting,” so be prepared for a long and rigorous education on the industry.

Personal Skills & Traits
Before finding an online school where you can earn an online accounting degree, you should find out if you have the right traits to become an accountant. Having a strong understanding of math and a desire to work with numbers is a step in the right direction. However, an accountant should also embody these characteristics:

• Detail oriented
• Ability to learn
• Motivated researcher

You will be responsible for developing and interpreting financial information, giving financial counsel to businesses and individuals, and keeping abreast of industry trends. In order to efficiently accomplish these, you must have excellent mathematical, analytical, problem solving, computer, communication and interpersonal skills. Noticing discrepancies on income sheets, compiling income statements and navigating accounting software leaves little room for mistakes, so you must be meticulous and confident in your abilities as an accountant.

Education
Education is vital in for those pursuing accounting careers. If you earn a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited online school, then more job opportunities will become available to you. Employers trust an online degree because of the experience it provides students in accounting, finance and business economics. An online accounting degree allows you to create the academic background you need to establish skills and knowledge that will transfer to any professional career. You can choose to progress even further and earn a master's (MBA) or even a doctoral degree in accounting.

Licensure
Gaining CPA licensure will certainly provide you with distinct advantages in the job market. In order to operate as a public accountant, you must gain certification through your state's Board of Accountancy. Most states require that CPA candidates be college graduates, though some states still allow experience substitutions. Once you've become a certified public accountant, depending on state requirements you may need to renew your certification every year through completing a certain number of hours of continuing professional education.