Program Overview

Accounting: Professional Accounting at Cerritos College

Certificate of Achievement

The Accounting: Professional Accounting Certificate of Achievement is for students looking to transfer to a 4-year university to continue their accounting education. Mastery of this curriculum will help students lay the groundwork for becoming a Certified Public Accountant. The Professional Accounting education also helps students understand basic accounting functions, financial statement preparation and interpretation, and the role and contribution of accounting in an organization. The courses are stacked and latticed to streamline student educational paths to their career objective. Each class broadens and deepens knowledge in focused topic areas, and interconnects to help students achieve their educational and career goals.

Salary, Growth and Careers

Salary

Careers associated with this program have a salary range from $39,000 to $165,000 with an average salary of $83,000.

Growth

Career opportunities for this program are expected to change little nationwide from 2022 to 2032.

Careers

• Tax Preparers
  • Education Level: High school diploma or equivalent
  • Job Growth: +1.5%
  • Average Salary: $70,000
  • Salary Range: $39,000 - $94,000
• Accountants and Auditors
  • Education Level: Bachelor's degree
  • Job Growth: +4.4%
  • Average Salary: $100,000
  • Salary Range: $73,000 - $119,000
• Billing and Posting Clerks
  • Education Level: High school diploma or equivalent
  • Job Growth: +2.9%
  • Average Salary: $53,000
  • Salary Range: $43,000 - $61,000
• Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
  • Education Level: Some college, no degree
  • Job Growth: -6.2%
  • Average Salary: $56,000
  • Salary Range: $45,000 - $64,000
• Brokerage Clerks
  • Education Level: High school diploma or equivalent
  • Job Growth: -8.9%
  • Average Salary: $66,000
  • Salary Range: $57,000 - $80,000
• Budget Analysts
  • Education Level: Bachelor's degree
  • Job Growth: +3.3%
  • Average Salary: $102,000
  • Salary Range: $78,000 - $124,000
• Business Teachers, Postsecondary
  • Education Level: Doctoral or professional degree
  • Job Growth: +6.9%
  • Average Salary: $123,000
  • Salary Range: $75,000 - $164,000
• Credit Analysts
  • Education Level: Bachelor's degree
  • Job Growth: -4.3%
  • Average Salary: $99,000
  • Salary Range: $62,000 - $123,000
• Financial Examiners
  • Education Level: Bachelor's degree
  • Job Growth: +19.5%
  • Average Salary: $109,000
  • Salary Range: $76,000 - $130,000
• Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other
  • Education Level: Bachelor's degree
  • Job Growth: +6.4%
  • Average Salary: $89,000
  • Salary Range: $50,000 - $165,000
• Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks
  • Education Level: High school diploma or equivalent
  • Job Growth: -16.4%
  • Average Salary: $61,000
  • Salary Range: $48,000 - $72,000
• Property Appraisers and Assessors
  • Education Level: Bachelor's degree
  • Job Growth: +4.6%
  • Average Salary: $90,000
  • Salary Range: $63,000 - $107,000
• Statistical Assistants
  • Education Level: Bachelor's degree
  • Job Growth: -1.7%
  • Average Salary: $73,000
  • Salary Range: $50,000 - $95,000
• Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
  • Education Level: Bachelor's degree
  • Job Growth: +0.6%
  • Average Salary: $76,000
  • Salary Range: $53,000 - $91,000

Program Map

Accounting: Professional Accounting

Certificate of Achievement

45.0 Units

• Fall 2024 (1st Term)
  • MAJ ACCT 100: Introduction to Accounting (3.0 Units)
  • MAJ FIN 125 or FIN 125M or ACCT 60+ACCT 61: Choose a course (3.0 Units)
  • MAJ FIN 51: Retirement Planning And Investing (1.5 Units)
  • MILE Department Information: Link to this department
• Spring 2025 (2nd Term)
  • MAJ ACCT 101: Fundamentals of Accounting I (3.5 Units)
  • MAJ ACCT 131 or ACCT 160: Choose a course (3.0 Units)
  • MAJ ACCT 133: Spreadsheet Accounting I (3.0 Units)
  • MAJ ACCT 250 or ACCT 130: Choose a course (3.0 Units)
• Fall 2025 (3rd Term)
  • MAJ ACCT 102: Fundamentals of Accounting II (3.5 Units)
  • MAJ ACCT 220: Accounting Ethics (4.0 Units)
• Spring 2026 (4th Term)
  • MAJ ACCT 270 or ACCT 280: Choose a course (3.0 Units)
  • MAJ ACCT 201: Intermediate Accounting I (3.5 Units)
  • MAJ ACCT 240: Cost Accounting (3.5 Units)
• Fall 2026 (5th Term)
  • MAJ ACCT 202: Intermediate Accounting II (3.5 Units)
  • MAJ ACCT 260: Governmental and Not-For-Profit Accounting (4.0 Units)