If you're a student leader reading this, I know how busy life can get. I'm a former college professor and CPA Advisor on campus and now have my own firm. But...as busy as life gets, it's important to carve out time to learn, develop, and connect with colleagues in your professional community.
The accounting profession requires ongoing learning and development through "CPE" or "Continuing Professional Education" (for example, see more from the NJ State Board of Accountancy here). In New Jersey, we have a fantastic resource in the New Jersey Society of CPAs ("NJ CPA") -- CPAs (like me) pay annual dues to belong. The NJ CPA is staffed by a great team in Roseland who helps volunteers across the state (like me) to strategically engage and give back.
If you are a student, here are three practical steps you can take to make the most of NJ CPA membership:
Step One
Join the NJ CPA. It's free for students.
This is one of the lowest-risk, highest-value-add decisions you can make. Join the NJ CPA, get behind the paywall to see premium content, and start learning more about a dynamic career space that is in growing demand.
And, again...it's free for students.
Step Two
Find your local chapter on the NJ CPA website.
The next step is to connect with a local CPA chapter leader. Do not be intimidated — these are your neighbors and community members who are invested in the next generation. They are Chapter leaders because they care about giving back.
For example, I am a local chapter leader in Hudson County.
Step Three
Connect with an NJ CPA Chapter Leader at a CPE Event.
Consider attending a CPE event. See what it's like when CPAs take time out of their own busy schedules to learn and develop in real life. There is often interesting technical content shared by experts in banking, government, finance, and other industries. As these are learning events for CPAs, you should connect ahead of time to coordinate a visit.
For example, click on the link above to see the Season Pass events in Hudson County. We meet monthly in Secaucus.
Context on the Landscape: What Lies Ahead Beyond College
When I worked at Deloitte (a "big 4" firm), all CPE was provided by the firm. The big firms not only pay for the CPEs, they also have special offsite campuses (e.g. Deloitte University in Dallas) where you can learn and connect in real life (Deloitte University has its own hotel rooms, classrooms, and onsite restaurants.
When I started teaching, and later opened my own firm, I grew in understanding about how beneficial the NJ CPA was.
The NJ CPA is a place to safely connect, learn, and invest in yourself professionally and personally. I first got involved with the NJ CPA after leaving the big-4 (for work/life balance reasons) and I needed help getting my license re-activated; the team at NJ CPA helped me engage with the State Board of Accountancy. Then, when I started teaching full time at SPU, I realized the NJ CPA will help you:
- Connect with CPAs in your local community - these are friendships and a support network
- Attend CPE courses in real life that are both affordable and additive to your learning and development
- Take on leadership opportunities through service on committees that help drive the NJ CPA mission forward
The NJ CPA also is a huge advocate for students, and helped break down the "30 credit barrier" earlier this year, giving students an alternative pathway to the CPA license.
Don't wait - get involved with NJ CPA today.
