Education · 1 of 5

The path

A degree with real accounting in it, then a government hiring process that takes months.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 9 to 12

   Math through at least algebra 2, plus any accounting, business or economics your school offers.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Accounting is the direct route. Finance, economics and business work too if you take enough accounting courses.

3. 3

   Internship

   One or two summers

   State revenue departments, city finance offices and the federal government all run paid student programs. This is how most people get hired later.

4. 4

   Apply and wait

   3 to 9 months

   Federal jobs go through USAJOBS (the official federal hiring site). Expect a long application, a background check and several months before an offer.

5. 5

   Agency training

   6 to 18 months

   New auditors are trained in tax law and audit procedure on the job before they are given their own cases.