Accounting Career Pathway
Is your student good with numbers and a stickler for details? Then they might be made for a career as a bookkeeper or Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
The accounting pathway introduces students to career pathways in financial management, including accurately recording payments and other transactions, preparing and certifying companies’ financial statements for clients’ income, expenses, and overall financial health. Accountants also identify any fraud, waste, or abuse of funds.
Get certified.
Stride Career Prep* provides preparation for credential exams, allowing students who want to pursue accounting careers right after graduation to make nearly $40,000 per year1—without the hassle or expense of additional training or degrees. Our tuition-free program includes exam prep for highly regarded industry credentials, such as the NOCTI basic and advanced accounting certification exams.†
We encourage students to jumpstart the job search by helping them create a professional résumé, cover letter, and profile on Tallo, the leading professional networking platform for Gen Z. Plus, they connect virtually to working business professionals and accountants through Nepris.**
Our Accounting Curriculum in Detail
All of our students take the core courses required for high school graduation in their state. The chart below shows the additional classes that Accounting pathway students take, and the industry-recognized certification exams they can prepare to take. You can see the rest of the curriculum by viewing the full course list.
Find a school near you that offers accounting.
Stride Career Prep programs with the Accounting pathway are available at tuition-free K12-powered, public online schools in the following states:
Don’t see your state? There are also tuition-free options in related fields like the Business Finance pathway.
Occupational Spotlight
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Accountant
Accountants prepare and certify the accuracy of financial statements, including balance sheets, income statements, and tax filings. A common accountant position is as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Publicly traded companies are required to have CPA sign documents they submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including annual and quarterly reports. Another possibility is a career as a forensic accountant, or one who specializes in uncovering financial crimes and fraud. Others specialize in auditing, or examining an organization’s records to identify fraud, waste, and abuse. Many accountants are self-employed; others work for accounting firms or government entities, or as an employer’s in-house accountant.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$62,688
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
61,700
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
4% (average)
Typical Entry-Level Education
Bachelor’s degree; CPAs must also pass an exam
Bill and Account Collector
Bill and account collectors try to collect payment on overdue bills, by contacting debtors over the phone. They often must put their investigative skills to the test, using databases and social media sites to track down unreachable or unresponsive debtors, a process known as “skip tracing.” They also might negotiate payment plans with debtors or provide credit or other financial counseling. Many bill and account collectors work for third-party collection agencies.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$45,825
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
-15,400
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
-6% (decline)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED, plus knowledge of Microsoft Office and good computer skills
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
Bookkeepers use bookkeeping software, spreadsheets, and databases to record financial transactions, including all payments made and revenue received. They produce reports, such as balance sheets and income statements, which are reviewed and certified by an accountant. Accounting clerks do similar work, but typically work for a larger accounting firm and specialize in a particular area. Auditing clerks assist auditors to ensure that financial transaction records are accurate and correctly classified.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$38,371
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
-95,400
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
-6% (decline)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma/GED plus knowledge of bookkeeping software and Microsoft Excel
Insurance Claims Adjuster/Appraiser/Examiner/ Investigator
Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators evaluate insurance claims. They decide whether an insurance company must pay a claim and if so, how much. They identify and prevent fraudulent claims, negotiate settlements, and process payments. They are frequently required to perform site visits to verify and inspect damage from events covered by insurance.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$53,938
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
-22,000
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
-6% (decline)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED plus significant on-the-job training; some employers prefer bachelor’s degrees
FAQs
Do you need a college degree to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)?
Requirements to become a CPA vary by state, but nearly every state requires either 120 or 150 college credits and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited accounting program to sit for the CPA exam—and then a passing score of this test. For state-by-state requirements, check out this handy guide.
Are there jobs in accounting that don’t require a college degree?
Yes. There are jobs in the accounting field that don’t require a degree—or even a passing score on the CPA exam. Bookkeepers and accounting clerks use bookkeeping software (e.g. Quickbooks), spreadsheets, and databases to record financial transactions, including all payments made and revenue received. They produce reports, such as balance sheets and income statements, which are reviewed and certified by an accountant. Accounting clerks do similar work, but typically work for a larger accounting firm and specialize in a particular area. While these jobs don’t require a degree or a license, they do require demonstrated accounting skills.
That’s why we provide the Accounting pathway students with a solid foundation in accounting principles and prepare them to take industry certification exams to demonstrate knowledge of these principles. Our students graduate ready to take on jobs as bookkeepers and accounting clerks.
If my student wants to go into accounting, what classes should they take in high school?
Students can start by taking all of the classes your high school offers in accounting, as well as general business classes and anything that covers the Microsoft Office suite. They can also participate in any student organizations for budding accountants, participate in any available accounting competitions, and shadow or secure internships working with accountants or accounting clerks.
If your student enrolls in our Accounting pathway, we’ll prepare you with two full semesters of accounting plus two semesters of coursework in Microsoft Office and certification exam prep for the NOCTI Basic and Advanced Accounting Certifications. Membership to Business Professionals of America (BPA), the leading CTSO (career and technical student organization) for students pursuing careers in business is included in our tuition-free program.** BPA’s Workplace Skills Assessment Program (WSAP) allows students to develop and demonstrate their skills at regional, state and national conferences, including specific competitions dedicated to accounting. BPA also offers students the ability to assume leadership positions and compete for scholarships.
Learn more about course offerings in the other Stride Career Prep career fields.
Hear how Stride Career Prep can work for your teen.
Think this might be a good fit for your student? Want to learn more about the program from current participants? Email your questions and hear what Stride Career Prep students have to say.
1Burning Glass Labor Insights, accessed October 16, 2020. Data is median salary for job postings with that job title, with typical minimum education requirements for that job title (as shown in chart on this page) and 0-2 years of experience, from October 1, 2019, to September 20, 2020.
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Website last modified date: Wednesday, September 1, 2020.
*Stride Career Prep is a program for grades 9–12. At some schools, career exploration is offered in middle school.
**Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
†Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
