If your goal is to be a account clerk or bookkeeper, community college
associate degree in Accounting fits your goal.
But if you want to be a CPA, you must have 4 to 5 years of undergraduate
education or a master degree in accounting (depends on your state
requirement) if i remember correctly. You can always start up with the Ass.
degree in community college then transfer the credits to the regular 4-years
univesity, so it can save you some money.
I don't know what state you're in, i attached the PA requirement for taking
the CPA exam as a example.
"Up to Dec. 31, 2011, candidates must have graduated with a bachelor’s or
master’s degree from an accredited college or university approved by the
Pennsylvania State Board of Accountancy (SBOA), and completed at least 24
semester credit hours in accounting subjects. These subjects include
accounting and auditing, business law, finance, or tax subjects sanctioned
by the SBOA."
Candidates who have completed an optional 150 semester-credits must have 24
semester credits in the accounting subjects noted above, plus an additional
12 semester-credits in accounting, auditing, and tax subjects. Those who
choose this option will have a shorter experience requirement to be come
certified (see below).
Remember, to land your first job in accounting is not an easy job if you
need the H1b visa sponsorship, i don't want whehter Ass. degree holder is
qualified for applying H1B1 visa. You can consult a lawyer or something.