Helping Accounting Graduates Kill Two Birds With One Stone: An Education Designed For Success

Accounting educators have long debated the role that accounting programs should play in preparing students for professional examinations. Much of this debate has focused on preparation for the CPA Examination compared to preparation for a successful accounting career. The increased length of accounting education programs and recent revisions of both the CPA andCMA Examination provide accounting educators with the unique opportunity to offer accounting education programs that help graduates achieve successful accounting careers while focusing their efforts on successful completion of these examinations. The article’s theme is that preparation for the CPA and CMA examinations is consistent with the goal of improving accounting students’ chances for successful accounting careers. The article concludes that students who intend to pursue professional accounting careers should be encouraged to pursue course work consistent with both the CPA and CMA professional certification programs -allowing them to kill two birds with one stone