Online Accounting Course ACC-201 - Financial Accounting

Yes! In fact, accounting is a particularly well-suited field for online learning due to the abundance of resources, learning materials and online applications available. The practical nature of accounting lends itself well to remote learning, and online platforms provide the flexibility to learn at your own pace. Whether you're looking for a quick introduction to the basics, a single course to enhance your skills or a full degree program, there are online options to fit your needs.

In an accounting setting, there are many skills you’ll need to perform your job well. Depending on the particular details of the job, it’s not always easy to know what online course is best for your specific needs. A good place to start would be a course that teaches a broad range of foundational skills and accounting principles, such as SNHU’s online ACC-201 - Financial Accounting course. Not only will it give you the fundamentals you need from a versatile, entry-level course, but the format is flexible so you can learn around your schedule.

Foundational accounting may also include skillsets in accounting information systems, management accounting, forensic accounting, taxation, financial analysis, cost accounting and auditing. Depending on the job you're seeking, you may want to specialize in one specific area or build skills into a rounded portfolio. Within accounting, there are jobs for all skill levels. Entry-level accounting jobs like bookkeeper and accounting clerk may only require a few courses in areas such as financial accounting. Other careers, such as being an accountant, will require more advanced skills in such areas as auditing and managerial accounting.

No matter the path you're looking to take, there's online accounting coursework available at every level. There's also a wide variety of degree pathways for those seeking a credential to add to their resume. Everything from an undergraduate certificate in accounting to an online MS in Accounting or online MBA in Accounting is available to you when taking online courses at SNHU.

To be considered an “accountant,” it's generally accepted that you’ll have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting. Depending on what area of accounting you'd like to focus on, you may want to seek an advanced credential or degree in areas such as forensic accounting, management accounting or auditing. In most cases, employers will be seeking formal education, and your prospects will improve with former work experience or an advanced industry credential, such as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification.

But it’s important to remember that earning a degree – even your master’s in accounting – isn’t all you’ll need if your goal is to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). To achieve this additional designation, you’ll need to complete specific additional educational and work requirements, as well as pass a CPA exam. In most states, this includes 150 semester hours of education with various requirements around the type and number of accounting credits specifically. To see which SNHU accounting programs satisfy educational eligibility to sit for the CPA exam, visit the licensure and certification page.

Licensing requirements to sit for the CPA exam vary from state to state. Students are encouraged to review their state-specific requirements. State-by-state educational requirements can be found on the website of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), while state-by-state CPA licensing requirements can be found through the Accounting Licensing Library, powered by the NASBA.

Learn more about how to become an accountant.

Generally speaking, you don’t have to have an accounting degree if you want to work in the accounting field. Maybe you’ve learned accounting principles on the job or have another business degree. In those cases, you may possess many of the foundational skills necessary to do most of the work of an accountant. But there are a few things to consider. First, it may be slightly more difficult to break into the field or advance without a degree. Second, a degree in accounting is one of the best ways to gain the knowledge and skills you’ll need if you want to become a CPA (Certified Public Account), which has specific educational requirements in addition to passing the exam in your state.

Without professional experience, earning a certificate or degree in accounting or taking individual courses is a great way to get started and stand out among potential employers. At SNHU, for example, accounting courses are career-focused and taught by industry experts with real-world experience, so you’ll be able to learn relevant skills you can use on the job.

If you’re thinking about breaking into the accounting field, there are many careers you may be able to explore without a lot of experience, like bookkeeper, accounting clerk, administrative assistant or tax preparation assistant. These jobs can help you become familiar with the accounting field and prepare you with foundational knowledge.

The time it takes to get an accounting certificate will vary from university to university. At SNHU, the undergraduate accounting certificate is 18 credits, which means you need to take 6 courses. How long does that take? Courses are about two months long, and you could take 1 or 2 courses at a time. So, if you take 1 course at a time, you could earn your certificate in about a year (6 courses x 2 months each). If you took 2 courses at a time, you could cut your time in half and get your certificate in around 6 months.

The graduate certificate in accounting is also 18 credits, or 6 courses. Graduate courses are about 10 weeks long. So, depending on how many classes you take, you could get your graduate certificate in anywhere between 8 and 15 months.

Once you’ve finished, you also have the option of stacking the credits from your certificate into an SNHU degree program. You’ll have a great head start!

Like many jobs, there are a lot of factors that go into how hard it is to obtain. The market conditions, the quantity and quality of other applicants, your experience and skill, your resume and more will all factor into your ability to land a job in accounting. The good news is that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that job opportunities are expected to grow 6% for accountants through the year 2033.¹ Plus, there are a lot of opportunities to make yourself more marketable and prepared to enter the field – like completing accounting courses or a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2033, the median pay for accountants and auditors was $79,880 annually.¹ While most accountant and auditor roles require a bachelor's degree, earning your education toward becoming one can be completed online at institutions like SNHU.

Learn more about jobs in finance and accounting.

If you’re thinking about breaking into the accounting field, there are numerous careers you may be able to get into without a lot of experience — like bookkeeper, accounting clerk, administrative assistant or tax preparation assistant. When starting out, leveraging your existing network and taking an accounting course online is a great first step. Of course, if you’re noticing that you don’t have the required skills or experience that’s needed for the job you want, upskilling with an accounting course or an accounting degree can help open doors for you.

For those looking to further their education in accounting, SNHU also offers an 18-credit undergraduate online accounting certificate, an online associate in accounting, an online bachelor's in accounting and numerous other undergraduate business degrees online and on campus. Many of these programs include ACC-201 - Financial Accounting as a major or core course through our Business Core, a set of business-focused classes that are built into every undergraduate bachelor’s degree at SNHU. This means that you can take this course and be one step closer to a wide variety of degree programs, depending on your educational and professional goals.