what is forensic accounting
What is Forensic Accounting?
Auditing and accounting is an unlikely combination, but that's what forensic accounting is all about. Forensic essentially means 'anything that is suitable to be used in a court of law', and this is exactly what forensic accountants do.
- The way to get started is to earn a Bachelor's degree in a field like accounting. This Bachelor's degree is a regular four-year course that is available at most universities and colleges, and many universities are now offering it as a distance learning program online.
- Your next step would be to get prepared for the Certified Public Accountant exam in order to become a CPA. There are many online preparatory courses, that are available to assist you in passing the exam.
- Once you clear the CPA exam and earn a Bachelor's degree in accounting, you can formally start the practice. However, in order to get started the best way, you should also consider going to graduate school.
- These days, a Master's Degree in this subject is also available in two forms ― as the traditional Master's degree and as an MBA program with a focus on this field.
- Earning graduate degree will serve many purposes ― one being that it can further train you to work and the other that it will also serve to fulfill the educational requirements, that are required for you to maintain your unique CPA status.
- Apart from this, you will also be able to find extra coursework in other areas like criminal justice and law enforcement, which can be of great help, and legal training will also be of use.
- In addition, you could also pursue a CFE accreditation or a Certified Fraud Examiner accreditation from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. This accreditation is nationally recognized and is very similar to the CPA exam.
- Lastly, you could also pursue a CrFA accreditation or a Certified Forensic Accountant accreditation.