Does your job require a degree?

[im easy]

So I was first just wondering how many people on the forum have a college degree? Also does your line of work require it, many people I know are getting degrees and not even using them in their line of work.

[PolskiHetzen]

Yup. accountant here. Need to pass accounting classes to sit for the CPA test as well, so it's very needed in my industry. Plus my state at least requires 150 credit hours to sit for the CPA test.

[SpiffyGTI]

Most jobs prefer degrees. I couldn't tell you how many strictly require a bachelor's or master's degree but I do know that there are plenty of people who are doing jobs that have nothing to do with the area of focus of their degree.

[Papa Dras]

Yes, I have a BS and technical. But, no, none of my jobs have required one. That's one of the odd things about the IT field.

[Knock Sensor]

My current degree wasn't really needed, but would help in the selection process. (criminal justice)

My degree I'm going to school for in two weeks, engineering, will def need a degree to get a job.

[scandalous_cynce]

Yup. accountant here. Need to pass accounting classes to sit for the CPA test as well, so it's very needed in my industry. Plus my state at least requires 150 credit hours to sit for the CPA test.

x2 here.

[Brett92]

Yes, I have a BS and technical. But, no, none of my jobs have required one. That's one of the odd things about the IT field.

BS here too and not required for my job (support analyst). Our company doesn't really care as long as you can do the job. However, a degree is preferred for a few different reasons. Plus, it never hurts going to the same university as your boss.

With that said, even though it's not required, I'm glad I got a degree. I sincerely appreciated the academic side of college. It was always cool to sit in a class with a professor who has the terminal degree in his field, who not only knows the book, but probably wrote the book. I went to a community college for a couple of years before going to a University and it was such a big difference in that regard. On one hand you have an instructor who is smart and proficient in a particular field, but then you have a professor who can answer your question, but also really expand and explain "why" it is that way. My mind was blown on a few occasions by really intelligent professors.

[Diamond Dave]

Also does your line of work require it, many people I know are getting degrees and not even using them in their line of work.

A degree is compromised of many skills. A person's major only reflects 5-12 specific classes at the culmination of more than 60 classes in the previous 3-4yrs. More importantly, the college experience exposes a person to many skills that aren't specific classes; communicating with professors, working in collaboration with other students, seeking our professors to further understand material or debate test scores, etc.

A person that has a 4yr degree from a bricks and mortar school is easily more marketable than a person with no experience, but good work experience.



So yes, I use my degree and it's required for my job.

[Papa Dras]

BS here too and not required for my job (support analyst). Our company doesn't really care as long as you can do the job. However, a degree is preferred for a few different reasons. Plus, it never hurts going to the same university as your boss.

Yeah, I'm indifferent to it. I just did it because I though it was what I needed to do, but I never used a single skill nor did I need it to get any jobs. I was already working as a consultant and going to school on the side. My technical degree helped me more than the traditional degree, honestly.

It's weird to me at 38 when I hear anybody still talk about college because I am so far removed and into my career. Maybe it's different for those of you in some accounting or "real" engineering fields.

[BetterByDesign]

I think a better question is could someone do your job without a degree.

Unless you are building bridges and doing root canals I'd say for many jobs no.

A degree in most cases is there just to provide some comfort that you aren't totally retarded and can learn stuff, grasp concepts and persevered long enough to at least graduate.

That said, I've meant plenty of smart people without degrees and idiots with enough letters behind their names to make your head spin.

[heshootznscores]

I work in Higher Ed/Student Affairs..specifically, I am the Career Expos Coordinator for a University.. I plan all of the major career fairs/events!

Technically for my specific position, could someone without a master's do it? Yes...but within the large scope of Higher Ed/SA, you do need a Master's. Mine is just a unique position where I am essentially a large event planner..but I do still work with students somewhat..just not as much as others.

Also, most of you have no clue what higher ed/student affairs is or that you need a Master's to do it (there is no undergrad degree).. see here: http://www.naspa.org/career/csam/10/whatis/default.cfm

and for some laughs: http://whatshouldwecallstudentaffairs.tumblr.com/

[Vision33r]

A degree is preferred but experience and expertise matters more. For IT jobs.

[joe97]

Yup. accountant here. Need to pass accounting classes to sit for the CPA test as well, so it's very needed in my industry. Plus my state at least requires 150 credit hours to sit for the CPA test.

In speaking wifh our accounting/finance dept. and our external accounting firms, my understanding is that a CPA license, while preferred, is not required to obtain an accounting job. Most functions can be performed without the certification.

As Vision33r mentioned, expertise and experience matter more, and who you know

[FISCAL]

In speaking wifh our accounting/finance dept. and our external accounting firms, my understanding is that a CPA license, while preferred, is not required to obtain an accounting job. Most functions can be performed without the certification.

As Vision33r mentioned, expertise and experience matter more, and who you know

I cannot agree enough on who you know matters a lot.

[6cylVWguy]

I suppose if you have a bachelors and experience you could be considered for the job I have, but most people have an advanced degree.

[PolskiHetzen]

In speaking wifh our accounting/finance dept. and our external accounting firms, my understanding is that a CPA license, while preferred, is not required to obtain an accounting job. Most functions can be performed without the certification.

As Vision33r mentioned, expertise and experience matter more, and who you know

It's not required, but preferred. Often.

In public accounting, if you want to sign a tax return or talk to the IRS, you need a CPA. It also makes people feel all warm and fuzzy when they see CPA. Beyond that, in the bigger public accounting firms, you won't advance to senior staff or manager without a CPA.

In industry, bigger and more selective companies won't look at you without a CPA for anything above entry level. How do I know? Because I'm looking for a job right now.

[joe97]

It's not required, but preferred. Often.

In public accounting, if you want to sign a tax return or talk to the IRS, you need a CPA. It also makes people feel all warm and fuzzy when they see CPA. Beyond that, in the bigger public accounting firms, you won't advance to senior staff or manager without a CPA.

In industry, bigger and more selective companies won't look at you without a CPA for anything above entry level. How do I know? Because I'm looking for a job right now.

Are you sure? A quick google search shows you can be a tax preparer without being licensed as a CPA.

[Hostile]

In my field (Litigation Support/eDiscovery) an undergraduate degree is typically required, even though there is no degree for what I do.

JDs are becoming more and more popular as eDiscovery gets more and more complicated.

[scandalous_cynce]

Are you sure? A quick google search shows you can be a tax preparer without being licensed as a CPA.

I believe this varies by state. Here in Oregon, you can become a Certified Tax Preparer, where you can do simple to moderately complicated tax returns, but if you really want to get into the meat and potatoes of tax planning, preparation, returns, etc. - or if you want to be able to represent your client during an IRS audit, etc, you need to have your CPA.

Can you do basic accounting work without your CPA? Yes. Will having your CPA help you advance to anything other than basic accounting work? Yes. Are there alternative certifications to CPA? Yes. If you don't plan to do public accounting, you can obtain your CMA (Certified Management Accountant) designation, which is useful for corporate accounting.

[PolskiHetzen]

Are you sure? A quick google search shows you can be a tax preparer without being licensed as a CPA.

You can be an enrolled agent, which is a joke more or less. I actually think now you hate to be an enrolled agent, which is to stop people who don't speak English from preparing returns.

I'm not a CPA and I prepare returns, but a CPA in my firm still signs those returns.

[RSPower]

Engineer for the VW Group. I've got my masters