CPA Licensure - BEWARE

[cannoda]

Yes, the 6 Straighterline accounting credits are below the line and yes it is NASBA giving me problems.

A letter from Excelsior stating that it they would find this credit acceptable to meet the accounting credit requirements for their NYS-registered accounting degree might do the trick. Also bear in mind that NASBA does not have the final say. If you don't like NASBA's answer, you can take the issue up with the NH Accountancy Board.

The fact that it is below the line should not even be an issue. CPA candidates regularly sit for the exam without an accounting degree. While a bachelor's degree is required, it could be in sociology, or dance, for that matter, with accounting and business courses taken after the posted degree to meet CPA requirements.

An interesting anomaly that can arise from this is that a school that doesn't offer accounting courses can have a CPA exam pass rate. A candidate's CPA exam performance is credited to the institution at which they last earned a degree. An alum of a tiny liberal arts institution can take all the accounting and business courses needed to qualify for the exam elsewhere without bothering to jump through the hoops for a second degree.

[Prloko]

I'm in the process of applying to take the CPA exam in New Hampshire. My application is being held up due to all the non-traditional credits on my transcript. I have credits from Straighterline, Penn Foster, CLEP, DANTES, TECEPs, ALEKS, and Pearson. It does say they accept credit from CLEP and DANTES so I figured all my other non-traditional credits would be fine. They are trying to say my ACE credits were earned from work experience and not through courses! The horrible part is I had to call to get that information. I did not receive an email or phone call informing me of the problem. As of right now, the New Hampshire Board is trying to figure out if they want to accept my credits or not. The CPA boards need to get with the program and understand there are numerous ways to gain credit and not just from an accredited college. Sigh, I'm praying this turns out well. I will keep everyone posted...

I hope everything works out for you. It had been mentioned before on this forum that if a license is your goal, to ensure you check with your licensing board first.

Thanks for posting this warning for all, maybe we can save some people heartache. It would be nice if we could make some sort of "sticky" pointing these facts out.

[eyrobinson]

So, I logged into my NASBA account and found this message this morning: Your application has been processed. Your file is ready to be sent for generation of your Notice to Schedule (NTS). It will take up to 3 business days to issue your NTS. If your contact preference is EMAIL you will receive your NTS the day it is issued. If your contact preference is US MAIL, allow an additional 4-7 days for receipt of your NTS.

If you do not receive your NTS after 5 business days (for email) or 10 business days (for US mail), contact our office at cpaexam@nasba.org. Please provide the following;
your name, your jurisdiction, your jurisdiction id number, and in the subject line - NTS not received."

Soooo I'm guessing everything is fine with my credits. I will be scheduling my first CPA exam for the end of April! THANKS for all the support people!

[UptonSinclair]

Good luck with your CPA exam.

[Can219]

GreatNews!

[Getiton1]

WOW! Thanks for the update!

Yes, the 6 Straighterline accounting credits are below the line and yes it is NASBA giving me problems. My file was referred to the "Director" so hopefully he has more experience with ACE credits.

Oh yes and I totally understand the reciprocity issue with the "lower" standards compared to other states. And nope no grandfathering in if you don't have your CPA license by July 1st. You have to fulfill all the new requirements after that date. "If your license has not been issued by July 1, 2014, you will be required to meet the new eligibility requirements to be licensed regardless of when you first applied for the examination."

[eyrobinson]

Thanks again everyone! I love this forum!

[sirjake]

Sorry to necro this somewhat older thread, but I just went through almost the exact same situation and thought an update might be helpful to others.

Situation: BA in Liberal Studies and BSBA in Accounting, both from TESC. Well over the 150 credit minimum, and sufficient accounting and business credits for my state, but lots of CLEP and DSST credit plus two accounting courses through Straighterline (what I was primarily worried about). The SL credits were part of the required number of accounting credit hours.

I never had to argue about anything with the NASBA. I was nervous waiting (took a long time [six weeks] because a transcript was lost), but I was deemed eligible by my state board (WA) and got my NTS today. I can sit for the CPA!

Now just the minor detail of passing one of the hardest exams out there. Booya.

[cookderosa]

Sorry to necro this somewhat older thread, but I just went through almost the exact same situation and thought an update might be helpful to others.

Situation: BA in Liberal Studies and BSBA in Accounting, both from TESC. Well over the 150 credit minimum, and sufficient accounting and business credits for my state, but lots of CLEP and DSST credit plus two accounting courses through Straighterline (what I was primarily worried about). The SL credits were part of the required number of accounting credit hours.

I never had to argue about anything with the NASBA. I was nervous waiting (took a long time [six weeks] because a transcript was lost), but I was deemed eligible by my state board (WA) and got my NTS today. I can sit for the CPA!

Now just the minor detail of passing one of the hardest exams out there. Booya.

that's a great update. I worry about members who hope to become a CPA because of all the horror stories out there regarding alternative credit. That's makes success in state #2. Only 48 more to go!

[sirjake]

It appears that the NASBA is trying to make the standard basically the same across the board: https://nasba.org/licensure/substantialequivalency/ But I know certain states specifically prohibit CLEP credit (Georgia, for instance). I haven't heard any other horror stories, though.