Accounting
AICPA Helping CPAs Earn PhD in Accounting
The program, first launched in 2009, will recruit up to 40 practicing CPAs who have shown interest and potential in being college professors to attend an all-expenses-paid conference to learn what it takes to earn a PhD in accounting and to teach and ...
Apr. 28, 2020
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is seeking applicants for its expanded Accounting Doctoral Scholars program, which identifies currently practicing CPAs interested in becoming accounting professors.
Applications are being accepted through September 11, 2020.
The program, first launched in 2009, will recruit up to 40 practicing CPAs who have shown interest and potential in being college professors to attend an all-expenses-paid conference to learn what it takes to earn a PhD in accounting and to teach and research at a university. Of those, up to 20 individuals will be selected to receive a $5,000 stipend to support their education, should they ultimately be accepted into one of more than 40 affiliated PhD programs.
“The Accounting Doctoral Scholars program is about identifying practicing CPAs who have the potential to become great educators of the next generation of CPAs,” said Steve Matzke, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants’ director of faculty and university initiatives. “Earning a PhD is a rigorous and life-changing process. The ADS program helps CPAs understand upfront what it takes to complete their PhD, as well as the research, teaching, and service requirements of accounting faculty.”
Previously, the Accounting Doctoral Scholars program focused on audit and tax accounting. This year, the program is expanding to include management accounting, information systems and financial analytics.
The program is intended to help grow the number of CPAs in the classroom and ensure a steady supply of accounting professors. Educators with recent, relevant workplace experience provide their students with a greater understanding of what a career in the accounting profession entails and the value a CPA license adds.
“As the profession continues to evolve, we’re hearing from firms and businesses alike that professional skepticism, critical thinking, and the ability to understand how to use data to make decisions are increasingly essential for CPAs” said Yvonne Hinson, CPA, CGMA, Ph.D., academic in residence, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants AICPA. “What’s more, CPAs with recent professional experience are perfect messengers for the central role technology plays in all areas of today’s profession.”
The program, funded by the AICPA Foundation, is one of many Institute initiatives to help academia and practice align more closely, including putting practitioners on Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation reviews, offering discounts to academics to attend AICPA conferences, and free resources to help academics engage with practitioners on accounting program advisory boards.
To date, more than 108 CPAs who went through the Accounting Doctoral Scholars program have who completed their PhD, and another 45 are currently enrolled in PhD programs. ADS candidates selected for funding, as well as all candidates attending the ADS Orientation Conference and enrolled in an ADS Participating University, are also eligible to apply for the William (Bill) Ezzel Scholarship.
CPAs interested in transitioning into an academic career can learn more about the program at www.adsphd.org. This year, the program will be hosting a free virtual GMAT bootcamp for the first 60 candidates who RSVP. More information on the bootcamp is on the program’s website.