Professional Accounting Certificate
Strengthen your accounting credentials
Become a certified public accountant (CPA) and get promoted. If you have a bachelor’s degree (in any area), you can earn a certificate in Professional Accounting in under 2 years and qualify to take the CPA exam. Most students who complete this certificate at CLC pass the CPA exam on their first sitting—at nearly an 80% higher pass rate than the national average!
What can you do with a Professional Accounting Certificate?
Complete this certificate to switch to a career in accounting. Or level up your existing accounting career. Many students take the CPA examination after graduation to become licensed CPAs.
After becoming a licensed CPA, you can begin a career in any of the following roles:
- auditor
- controller
- financial analyst
- staff accountant
- tax accountant
Highlights
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Financial Aid/Scholarships Available
Based on need and/or achievement. Explore ways to pay for college. -
Program Length: 1.5 Years
Full-time students can complete in 1.5 years. -
WIOA Program
Eligible for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)-awarded vouchers.
Career Outlook
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Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $55,577
- Median
- $83,785
- Senior-Level
- $149,354
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $26.71
- Median
- $40.28
- Senior-Level
- $71.80
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Some college
- 39.48%
- Associate Degree
- 14.08%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 43.6%
- Master's Degree
- 2.84%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $36,983
- Median
- $51,897
- Senior-Level
- $77,822
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $17.77
- Median
- $24.95
- Senior-Level
- $37.41
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- High school diploma or less
- 47.24%
- Certificate
- 20.79%
- Some college
- 4.72%
- Associate Degree
- 8.54%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 12.19%
- Master's Degree
- 6.52%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Perform duties related to the purchase, sale, or holding of securities. Duties include writing orders for stock purchases or sales, computing transfer taxes, verifying stock transactions, accepting and delivering securities, tracking stock price fluctuations, computing equity, distributing dividends, and keeping records of daily transactions and holdings.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $38,882
- Median
- $63,807
- Senior-Level
- $94,546
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $18.69
- Median
- $30.67
- Senior-Level
- $45.45
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- High school diploma or less
- 29.13%
- Some college
- 19.95%
- Associate Degree
- 12.69%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 38.23%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $64,356
- Median
- $97,022
- Senior-Level
- $144,525
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $30.94
- Median
- $46.65
- Senior-Level
- $69.48
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- High school diploma or less
- 12.57%
- Some college
- 2.37%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 77.48%
- Master's Degree
- 7.59%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Analyze credit data and financial statements of individuals or firms to determine the degree of risk involved in extending credit or lending money. Prepare reports with credit information for use in decisionmaking.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $62,986
- Median
- $91,000
- Senior-Level
- $183,296
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $30.28
- Median
- $43.75
- Senior-Level
- $88.12
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Bachelor's Degree
- 95%
- Master's Degree
- 5%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $65,347
- Median
- $106,271
- Senior-Level
- $205,584
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $31.41
- Median
- $51.08
- Senior-Level
- $98.83
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Associate Degree
- 2.42%
- Bachelor's Degree
- 62.17%
- Master's Degree
- 35.41%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Enforce or ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial and securities institutions and financial and real estate transactions. May examine, verify, or authenticate records.
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Salary Levels
Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
- Entry-Level
- $66,180
- Median
- $107,521
- Senior-Level
- $180,902
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Entry-Level
- $31.81
- Median
- $51.68
- Senior-Level
- $86.97
Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
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Top entry-level education
Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
- Bachelor's Degree
- 95.66%
- Master's Degree
- 4.35%
Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
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Need help?
Your College & Career Navigator (CCN) helps you
- complete the admission process
- choose an academic program
- enroll in first-semester classes
- get access to helpful resources
Recommended Pathway
Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their College and Career Navigator (CCN) to identify coursework that will meet degree requirements based on individual academic goals. View degree requirements in the college catalog.
*Cost is estimated based on recommended pathway credit hours from academic year 2024-2025. This includes in-district tuition and other fees, such as books and materials before financial aid is applied, as well as grants, loans or scholarships. There are many opportunities for financial assistance at CLC. Learn more about Cost of Attendance.
Accounting at CLC: Get the bigger picture
A certificate is just one possible way to study accounting. Get the bigger picture—degrees, credentials and extra options.
Frequently asked questions
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You can complete many classes online. This lets you continue working while going to school.
Courses are offered in a variety of formats to provide flexibility and a rich learning experience. Attend class in the way that best fits your goals:
- Virtual Live: Learn remotely in real time. Take classes taught live via Zoom.
- Online: Have the flexibility to complete course work without scheduled meetings while staying actively engaged in a fully online environment.
- In-person: Keep your degree on track with classes that meet face-to-face, providing you with opportunities to interact in person with faculty and peers.
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The professional accounting certificate is a total of 24 credit hours. Students take 1.5 to 2 years to complete this program, on average.
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Expect to develop in-demand skills for a career in accounting. You will learn to
- follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) while recording and analyzing business transactions
- prepare federal income tax returns for individuals and entities
- design external audits of accounting processes
- analyze accounting information to make effective business decisions
- communicate accounting and tax recommendations to clients
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Classes blend active and instructor-led learning—whether they are face-to-face or online. You learn through lectures, discussions and exercises. Solve real-world problems and discuss real-life career successes and challenges with other students.
CLC accounting faculty have relevant industry experience in tax accounting and reporting, auditing and compliance, financial analysis, planning and budgeting, financial modeling and capital investment. You receive a high quality education because of the extensive experience and educational accomplishments of CLC instructors.
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Yes. If you already have a bachelor's degree and want to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), this certificate is right for you!
Meet with an accounting instructor to discuss your plan of study for the CPA exam. Before you qualify to take the CPA exam in Illinois, you must satisfy all of the following requirements:
- earned a bachelor’s degree (in any field)
- completed 150 semester hours of college credit
- completed 30 semester hours of accounting credit (included in the 150 credits listed above) courses in the subjects of financial, managerial, taxation and auditing
- completed 24 semester hours in business
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