KyCPA member spotlights continued
college accounting educators
Issue 2
April 22, 2022
4. If someone wanted to become an accounting college educator, what qualifications do they need?
Beauchamp -At Elizabethtown Community and Technical College an accounting instructor is required to have a master's degree, that contains 18 graduate hours of accounting courses.
Burge - This differs by university and college due to accreditation and needs.
Hale - Of course, an educator needs the academic and experiential credentials.
In many cases, a Masters' degree plus a CPA license can be a starting place.
Very few professors hold a full doctorate in Accounting; the opportunity cost for a practitioner to leave the profession to earn one is substantial.
When I switched to an academic path, I soon realized that I would need more credentials, though, to advance in my career. I actually went back at age 50 to pursue my doctorate. I was fortunate to find a program that was accessible and affordable which fit my work schedule so I could complete that degree. I was able to earn my Doctorate of Business Administration degree from Anderson University in Indiana.
Roberts - Educators must not only have the knowledge. They need to be able to communicate that knowledge to their students. They must keep abreast of constant change, and always keep improving.
Stout - As someone said to me a long time ago, get a PhD in business/accounting. That person said it's your "union" card. But before that, get some practical experience in accounting. Audit is a great way to get that experience, tax is, too. Polish your writing skills. And make sure you have at least some understanding of how research in accounting can affect practice. Many times it isn't obvious. Find something you would like to study, to learn why something works or doesn't work. If you have that curiosity, you'll be on the right track for a career in education.