CPATrack News

Start Here, Go Places, the interactive website created by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants to inform students and educators about the range and breadth of an accounting career, today unveiled new simulated career paths, job-shadowing opportunities and scholarship searches, among other offerings

"The Start Here, Go Places. website is a place for students to realize the incredibly rich possibilities of a career in accounting," said Jeannie Patton, AICPA vice president - students, academics and membership. "As more college students graduate with degrees in accounting, younger people are increasingly intrigued by the field. Start Here, Go Places. is designed to be their guide to this rewarding profession. The site offers a more personalized experience for students to explore an accounting career, breaks stereotypes and features real CPAs."

The redesigned Start Here, Go Places. encourages students to envision themselves employed as a CPA. A signature feature is "FutureMe," a potential career path that students can customize based on responses to a series of questions pertaining to their personality and preferences. The model career path gives insight into what life is like in a particular position, salary and weekly hours, as well as a timeline of how one might achieve this position and an outline of the necessary steps to arrive at a "FutureMe."

Additional new features include:

• CPA Profile, outlining the numerous career paths available to an accounting graduate
• Meet Real Life CPAs to gain an understanding that accounting is about people
• Job shadowing opportunities for students to spend a day at work with a CPA
• Scholarship searches by state
• A special educator forum.

Start Here, Go Places. serves educators through education plans, print profile testimonials from practicing CPAs and links to accounting resources and article.

Start Here, Go Places. has received 11 awards from the International Association of Business Communicators, American Society of Association Executives and other sponsoring organizations.

The site originally launched in 2001. Since 2006, the site has achieved more than 600,000 visitors from 211 countries.