Accounting Certificate: In India, there are many educational and financial institutions that award accounting certifications at the undergraduate level. Moreover, the present job markets have tremendously changed over the years, with automation taking over a plethora of archaic/repetitive responsibilities. To stand out in today’s intense competition, one may have to possess more than just their college degree.
An accounting certificate will tell your employers you are ready to keep yourself in the loop, ie, to update yourself with the latest trends in the industry. This is also how you will stand out from your peers. In this article, we shall take a look at some professional courses that have the potential to make your resume stand out to your employers. Please note, each of the following courses will have its own prerequisites and eligibility criteria. Moreover, the duration of these courses varies significantly and some even have their own exam structure.
Students can find more about certificates, explore the types used for academic purposes, professional purposes and more.
Courses That Award an Accounting Certificate
Following are a few of the top courses where accountants and professionals in the field of finance must consider if they wish to upskill. We shall explore the duration, fees and eligibility criteria for the following courses.
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) – UK
- Business Accounting and Taxation (BAT)
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)- USA
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
- Eligibility – Class 12 or equivalent
- Course Tenure – 24 months
- Average Salary – Between INR 6 lakhs to INR 15 lakhs
ACCA is a professional accounting institution based in the United Kingdom. The course offered by this institution covers many domains, ranging from Business Accounting to Audit and Assurance. The course aims to provide
relevant knowledge for its students on an advanced level.
Business Accounting and Taxation (BAT)
- Eligibility – B.com
- Course Tenure – Variable – programme dependent
- Average Salary – Between INR 3 lakhs to INR 10 lakhs
The course Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) may not provide a holistic overview of the subject. Therefore, candidates who wish to learn in depth may consider the BAT (Business Accounting and Taxation) courses. The course provides conceptual knowledge as well as tools and systems currently used in the industry – some of these include SAP, ERP software and much more.
Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Eligibility – Bachelor’s degree or two years of relevant work experience
- Course Tenure – Course dependent – between 6 to 48 months
- Average Salary – Between INR 5 lakhs to INR 9 lakhs
CMA is a certification course which has global recognition. It is primarily offered by the Institute of Management Accountants, USA. Candidates are trained in a variety of accounting processes – related software such as XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language). Furthermore, since the core field is management accounting, it covers important fields such as forecasting, advanced accounting technologies and analysis.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)- USA
- Eligibility – Graduation
- Course Tenure – 24 months
- Average Salary – Between INR 7 lakhs to INR 20 lakhs
This course is offered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and is seen as an alternative to CA in India. However, the main difference between the two is that the CPA is designed from a global perspective, and is also more accessible. CA requires at least 4-5 years to complete while the CPA can typically be completed within 2-4 years. Moreover, CPA is one of the more complex and lengthier courses on the list.
FAQ’s on Accounting Certificate
Question 1.
What is a certificate of accounting?
Answer:
Commerce is a vast field and an accounting certificate will help students to specialize in a particular branch of accounting – and this might be beneficial from a professional perspective.
Question 2.
Can I get an accounting certificate without a degree?
Answer:
Most accounting certificates will require you to have a degree. However, courses like the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) require you to only clear your class 12.
Question 3.
What is the difference between an accounting certificate and a degree?
Answer:
A degree is a more generalized course, and it imparts entry-level knowledge to work in almost any field. On the other hand, an accounting certificate is more specialized and will enable you to pursue professional jobs that might pay you more.
Question 4.
How much can you make with an accounting certificate?
Answer:
An accounting certificate is always an added advantage for a working professional or a college fresher. This can help them leverage or negotiate a better salary from their employers when compared to peers who do not possess these certificates.