How to Get a Forensic Accounting Degree

If you get a forensic accounting degree, you can work with the government, insurance companies, law offices, banks, and other large companies. It is difficult to obtain a forensic accounting degree, as it takes years of college, and a lot of hard work. If you are a detail oriented, created, organized, and persistent, this is the type of job for you.

1. Make sure you will be able to obtain this type of degree. It is not for everyone, as the field of forensics can be very competitive.


2. Attend college and obtain a bachelor’s degree in any financial subject, such as finance or economics. Getting a master’s degree in Forensic accounting is not enough, even if your college offers it.


3. Become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). You cannot even begin to get a forensic accounting degree if you are not a CPA. Becoming a CPA is a lot of hard work and requires a lot of school, approximately 150 credit hours. When you finish school, you will then have to take a CPA exam.


4. Make sure you have at least two years of general accounts experience. Basically, this means you will need to work as an accounting for a minimum of two years before you can apply for a forensic accounting degree.


5. Start getting certified and acquire the licenses needed for a forensic accounting. You can work on this while you are still working as a CPA. Some of the certifications you will need is the Certified Financial Forensic Accounting (CFFA) or Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). These certifications are not easy so make sure you are well prepared before you take them.