How long does it take to go through tax preparation school? Is it expensive?

I would like to start a career in tax prep. but on some the "big" websites it says 12 weeks for courses1 and 2 but then it says they prefer to hire graduates that took tax prep school program for nine weeks. Im confused?!?

Public Comments

1. go to tax preparers offices and ask them what it took, I personally wouldnt trust anything less than a cpa, and thats college
2. Go do some research on the Internet
3. If you really want to make it big in tax, you want to become a CPA. They are the professionals people trust the most. It requires at least a bachelor's degree in accounting, and depending on what state you're in, it requires 150 credits hours of college credit, plus on year's work experience plus a passing score on the cpa exam. Tax isn't something that you hop into after a 12 week course in my opinion. I love taxation, and that's why I'm an accounting major in college right now. I'm hoping I can go for my cpa as well.
4. You can take a tax prep class through H & R Block that typically runs for around 9 weeks. Then, if you want to actually work for them, they require that you do some additional training for a few weeks as well. Even H & R Block won't hire you directly from their tax course-what does that tell you? If this is something that you truly want to have a career in, I would suggest that you take the H & R Block course this fall, then send your resume around to some small public accounting firms just before tax season (like November or December). It won't pay that great since you're a "newbie", but it will give you invaluable insight as to what the real world of taxation is about.