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Accounting Technician: Certification and Career Facts
Accounting Technician: Certification and Career Facts
Explore the role of an accounting technician, including top certifications like the CPB and career outlooks. Learn about job duties, salary, and growth potential.
For those interested in entering the accounting field, becoming an accounting technician can be a practical and accessible starting point. This role focuses on supporting financial operations by handling tasks such as bookkeeping, data entry, and basic financial reporting.
Certification can help demonstrate your skills and improve your job prospects, especially in competitive markets. Learning more about the career path, certification options, and salary expectations can help you decide if this role is a good fit for your goals.
What You Need to Know
<p>A wide range of professional accounting organizations offers specialized accounting certifications. To earn certification, you must meet several qualifications. Accountants and accounting technicians can work in management, governmental, internal and auditing positions, and can offer their services to the general public.
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<table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Certification Requirements</b> </td><td> Professional experience, prerequisite courses in accounting</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Career Outlook</b> </td><td> Expected to decline 5% between 2021-2031 (for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks)*</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Salary (2021)</b> </td><td>$45,560 per year (annual median salary for bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks)*</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2021)
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<h3 id="section---WhatIsACertifiedAccountingTechnician">What Is a Certified Accounting Technician?</h3>
<p>You can earn the Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) qualification from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), an international accounting organization. Obtaining the CAT certification can help qualify you to take the examinations for additional professional certifications from the ACCA.
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<h3 id="section---HowCanIBecomeQualifiedForCertification">How Can I Become Qualified for Certification?</h3>
<p>CAT certification includes meeting the following requirements in order to prove your skill in the managerial and technical aspects of accounting:
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<ul><li>Passing a series of exams
</li><li>Completing a Foundations in Professionalism course
</li><li>Completing one year of supervised experience
</li></ul><p>As an accountant or bookkeeper, you will also need to be detail-oriented, possess communication skills and have an understanding of accounting software.
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<p>To become an accountant, you'll typically need a bachelor's degree in accounting, though associate degree programs are also available. You may consider obtaining a Master of Accountancy or related degree to qualify to become a Certified Public Accountant.
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<h3 id="section---HowCanGettingAnAccountingTechnicianCertificationHelpMe">How Can Getting an Accounting Technician Certification Help Me?</h3>
<p>After you graduate from an accounting program, obtaining professional accounting certifications can be of great help if you wish to stand out to potential employers. Certification proves a certain level of competency in the field and can lend additional credentials to your education.
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<h3 id="section---WhatCanIExpectFromACareerInThisField">What Can I Expect from a Career in this Field?</h3>
<p>As a clerk in the accounting business, the pool of jobs that you will be able to apply for is enormous. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that about 1,707,800 bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks were employed in 2021. Employment for these professionals is expected to decline by 5% between 2021 and 2031 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). In 2021, financial clerks working in these areas earned a median annual wage of $44,760.
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<p>From 2021-2031, the employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow by 6%, according to the BLS. In 2021, professionals in this field earned a median annual salary of $77,250.</p>
