What type of degree is needed to be an accountant?

Although you need a degree to become an accountant CPA EA etc.. you are not required to have a degree of any kind to professionally prepare tax returns for clients. However no self-respecting tax firm will not hire you without first testing your knowledge of the tax code and your proficiency with their tax program. To be able to pass these tests or even to know what to study for you should enroll in a tax course taught by a national tax preparation firm. Start looking in the newspaper in august and September for courses to be advertised. Some courses are free and some have a nominal cost. A good program will start at the very basics .. "name here" "ss number here" and work up from there. From personal experience I can tell you preparing taxes is a lifetime of learning, codes change from year to year and a large part of the job is researching IRS publications.