Accounting

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Accounting Technician - AAS-T

Get your associate degree in accounting for transfer to prepare for a rewarding accounting career, or have the option to transfer your class credits to a four-year university or college to earn your bachelor's degree. Employment choices are extensive in the high-demand field of accounting and bookkeeping; you could work in a variety of office and business settings in jobs such as accounts receivable/payable clerk, general ledger clerk, payroll clerk, or bookkeeper.

If you’re good with numbers and have a high attention to detail, the Accounting Program will give you training with a wide range of skills to use with employers from wholesale firms and retail businesses to local, state, and federal government, service providers, and health and education organizations.

Employment Information

Data are provided on a program (not credential) level

84% BTC graduate placement rate1

$38,414 starting annual wage2
$46,462 average annual wage2
$55,737 potential annual wage2

 

  • Employment and Wage Data Sources

    1Employment data come from the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and reflect WA/OR employment for students enrolled at BTC between 2016-17 and 2018-19. Students are included in the employment rate if they left with a credential. Rates are not shown for programs with fewer than 10 students meeting the above criteria.

    2Wage data come from Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) 2020 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates (Washington State wage) and reflect 2015-2018 employment. Wage data represent occupations that BTC faculty have identified as the most relevant career paths for program graduates. Note that these wages reflect employees with varying educational levels/credentials. For cases in which multiple occupations have been identified by faculty, a weighted percentile is calculated using each occupation’s percentile wage and employment size estimate. Wages are not shown for programs for which occupations do not meet the ESD’s minimum thresholds for publishing. If the program has wage data from the Washington SBCTC that involves shift work, these ESD wages reflect the same number of hours used in the annual wage calculation. Starting wage = 25th percentile, median wage = 50th percentile, wage potential = 75th percentile.

Estimated Program Costs

Entry Information

When Can I Start?

The program typically starts in Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer Quarters on a space available basis.

What are the Minimum Entry Requirements?

Admissions application and assessment testing in Reading, Math and Writing is required. Your score on the test and/or your previous transcripts will determine where you begin your course sequence. Contact Admissions at 360.752.8345 or at admissions@btc.edu for assistance with academic planning.

What are My Next Steps?

1. Apply to BTC and Financial Aid
2. Assess Your Starting Point
3. Advising & Registration
4. Prepare to Attend

 

Classes

Total Program Credits: 90

  • Quarter 1

  • ACCT 141Practical Accounting I5 CR
  • CAP 101Microsoft Computer Applications5 CR
  • CAP 105Computerized Touch Keyboarding2 CR
  • CAP 106Formatting with MSWord4 CR

  • Required Courses for Program

  • Required Courses credits to TOTAL 79 Credits.
  • ACCT 141Practical Accounting I5 CR
  • ACCT 242Practical Accounting II5 CR
  • ACCT 243Practical Accounting III5 CR
  • ACCT 245Payroll Procedures5 CR
  • ACCT 246QuickBooks5 CR
  • ACCT 275Field-Based Experience7 CR
  • ACCT& 203Principles of Accounting III5 CR
  • BUS 100Electronic Math Applications3 CR
  • BUS& 101Introduction to Business5 CR
  • BUS& 201Business Law5 CR
  • CAP 101Microsoft Computer Applications5 CR
  • CAP 105Computerized Touch Keyboarding2 CR
  • CAP 106Formatting with MSWord4 CR
  • CAP 142Microsoft Excel5 CR
  • CMST& 210Interpersonal Communications5 CR
  • ENGL& 101English Composition I5 CR
  • MATH& 107Math in Society5 CR
  • Note 1: ACCT& 201 may be substituted for ACCT 141 and ACCT 242; the student will need to take an additional five (5) credits in electives.
  • Note 2: ACCT& 202 may be substituted for ACCT 243.

  • Electives

  • Students may choose elective credits from any 100 level of higher courses with the following prefixes: ACCT, BUS, CAP, CIS, ECON, HRM, LGL, IT, or MGMT. Courses taken to meet the general education or program core requirements may not be used for electives. Students may need to take additional electives to total a minimum of 90 credits towards the degree.

Program Outcomes

  • Use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for sole proprietorships to analyze and record business transactions and prepare financial statements for both a service and a merchandising business.
  • Competently use an integrated accounting software program to record transactions and create financial reports and statements.
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply payroll laws, compute payroll, record payroll entries and prepare federal and state forms that pertain to payroll.
  • Use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for partnerships and corporations to analyze and record business transactions; prepare and evaluate financial statements.
  • Interpret and apply managerial accounting information in various business decision-making roles.
  • Use a spreadsheet program to solve business problems using formulas, functions, lists, and charts.
  • Apply communication and interpersonal skills in a business environment while providing effective accounting support to an employer.

Employment Outlook

Jobs & Employment

The large size of the occupation ensures plentiful job openings, including many opportunities for temporary and part-time work. Virtually all job openings will stem from replacement needs as clerks and assistants transfer to different occupations or leave the labor force.

Accounting graduates are in high demand. The average annual income in this field is $44,751, with an earning potential of about $53,222 per year.*
Potential positions include accounts receivable/accounts payable clerk, general ledger clerk and payroll clerk. Nationally, about 25%of bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks are employed in wholesale or retail trade and 34% are employed in organizations providing business, health, educational, and social services.

Faculty & Support

Photo of Marcia Pedersen
Marcia Pedersen

Marcia Pedersen has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Central Washington University and has taught a variety of courses over 27 years including computers, finance, law, entrepreneurship, office procedures and English. She is certified in Microsoft Office Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Access. Her professional networks are with the National Business Education Association, Washington Association of Career and Technical Education, and Washington State Business Education Association. In addition, she has worked as a receptionist, legal secretary, athletic program manager, clerical testing administrator, lifeguard, and juvenile detention officer. She enjoys traveling, scuba diving, reading, volunteering with search and rescue, and spending time with her family—two and four-legged!

Photo of Carolyn Haupt
Carolyn Haupt