Accounting Schools in Hawaii

Accounting can be challenging field of study, yet the knowledge gained can prove versatile when future career opportunities arise. Earning an accounting degree or certificate could lead down several employment paths, not simply a traditional accounting role. With the proper academic background, certifications and relevant experience, graduates of accounting schools in Hawaii could potentially find work in fields such as financial and credit analysis, financial advisement, managerial accounting, government accounting and more.

Depending on the specific school or university, prospective students should be able to choose from a range of programs, from associate to bachelor's degrees, certificate to master's degrees. Additionally, students may find accounting degree programs are offered in different learning environments, such as campus-based, online-only or in hybrid formats.

Hawaii Schools: Accounting Programs

Spread across the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu are 11 colleges and universities (as of 2013) that offer accounting-related programs according to the National Center for Education Statistics (nces.gov.edu, 2013). These programs fall into one or more of the following categories: accounting, accounting and business/management, accounting and finance, accounting technology and bookkeeping, accounting and other related services, auditing. For more details, browse the school list below.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, College Navigator, 2013, http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

Certification and Licensing Requirements for Hawaii Accountants

Accountants who file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission must be licensed as Certified Public Accountant (CPAs), the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes. Accountants who have earned professional credentials such as CPA certification are also likely to have better job prospects (bls.gov/ooh, 2012). According to the Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants, CPA licenses in Hawaii are granted to applicants who meet several criteria:

1. Graduate with a bachelor's degree or higher and at least 150 semester hours of credits from an approved school. Twenty-four of these hours must be upper-division or graduate-level accounting courses including auditing, taxation, financial accounting and managerial accounting. Another 24 semester hours are mandated in upper-division or graduate-level , non-accounting business courses, including subjects such as economics, marketing, business law, finance, quantitative applications in business, business ethics, computer science and human relations.
2. Pass the Uniform CPA Examination given by the American Institute of CPAs.
3. Complete 1,500 chargeable hours of performing audits or two years of full-time (at least 35 hours per week) professional experience at a public accounting practice in the U.S.

For the latest requirements and complete details, contact the Hawaii Board of Public Accountancy.

Career Opportunities for Graduates of Accounting Schools in Hawaii

Upon successful completion of a post-secondary program, graduates with accounting degrees in Hawaii may be able to find jobs in a variety of settings, depending on their qualifications, background and professional experience. Some companies specialize in risk management, assurance services or health care, according to the BLS. Accounting programs may also open the doors to executive-level positions down the road, or, as previously mentioned, teaching opportunities.

Graduates of accounting schools in Hawaii who wish to remain local can find a number of accounting firms in the state. Three of "The Big Four," -- Deloitte, KPMG and Ernst & Young -- have offices in Honolulu. Other accounting firms in Hawaii include the following:

Employment Outlook for Accounting Careers in Hawaii

Accountants and auditors were listed among "Hawaii's Hot 25 Demand Occupations," in September 2012 by the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Between 2010 and 2020, the department predicts there should be 170 annual openings for accountants and auditors (hiwi.org, 2012). Additional employment projections for accounting-related careers in Hawaii, as well as salary information, can be found below.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections, 2012; Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, 2013; Hawaii State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, 2012

* Salaries and employment opportunities may vary based on experience, education, location and other factors.

Sources:

Accountants and Auditors, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, 2013

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm

Accountants and Auditors, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Business-and-Financial/Accountants-and-auditors.htm

Career Center, Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants, 2013

http://www.hscpa.org/careers/licensing.php

National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: United States, Occupational Employment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm

State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates (May 2012): Hawaii, Occupational Employment Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_hi.htm

Employment Projections, Hawaii Workforce Infonet, Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, 2012

https://www.hiwi.org/gsipub/index.asp?docid=423

College Navigator, National Center for Education Statistics, 2013

http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

Hawaii Board of Public Accountancy

http://hawaii.gov/dcca/pvl/boards/accountancy/

National Employment by Occupation, Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012

http://bls.gov/emp/ep_table_102.htm