CPA Requirements

[SmokeEm]

I'm interested in obtaining an accounting degree from TE. I live in GA and I was wondering if I wanted to become a CPA, if the accounting courses from straighterline would count or not? Does anybody know if the GA CPA requirements would accept accounting credits from Straighterline?

[Yenisei]

You could have Googled for this as easily as I did (see :http://www.sos.ga.gov/plb/faqs/22%20faqs.htm)

"An applicant who has completed 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours in accounting subjects above the elementary level and 35 quarter hours or 24 semester hours in general business subjects at a four year accredited college or university which offers a baccalaureate degree will be deemed to have satisfied the accounting concentration and related business course requirements."

In general, Straighterline won't be accepted because it isn't RA, which is really unfortunate. Note that you will need to take most of your accounting courses at a four year university- take a look at LSU Independent Study.

[SmokeEm]

Ok so Straighterline won't work, what about Thomas Edison, will the accounting classes at TE be accepted?

[mrs.b]

Ok so Straighterline won't work, what about Thomas Edison, will the accounting classes at TE be accepted?

TESC is a four year accredited college or university which offers a baccalaureate degree, so yes. Any regionally-accredited college or university above the junior college level should work. If they're RA and they offer a bachelor's degree program, you're fine.

Note, you need 30+ semester hours in Accounting courses AND 24+ semester hours in General Business courses. You could CLEP/DSST/ACE some of your general education courses like English, Sciences, Humanities, etc...but for your Core and Area of Study, plus probably a few extra courses, you'll have to use coursework at an RA, 4-year school. TESC would work, or like Yenisei suggested, LSU or other independent study and self-paced programs will also satisfy the requirement so long as they offer bachelor's programs and are RA. If you're uncertain whether a school is, most have the information on the "About Us" pages, or search inside their site for accreditation. Or, to reverse your search a bit, there are six regional accrediting agencies. Go to your regional accrediting agency's website and they will only list the schools that are appropriately accredited and typically have the level of school (whether it is considered a baccalaureate school). For those that are RA and 4-yr, follow the link from the RA site and search their online programs. You just might find an in-state school that offers the online courses you need, and save yourself some tuition funds.

[SayinstaNTcert]

I'm wondering if StraighterLine courses WOULD be accepted for CPA requirements (even though StraighterLine itself is not RA) because TESC puts their RA "stamp of approval" on them. I am getting my BSBA in Accounting from TESC but do not plan to get my CPA. However, I would like to have the CPA option in the future. I have "planned" the StraighterLine Managerial Accounting course (which transfers to TESC as Cost Accounting) so that it shows up on my Academic Evaluation as "Planned." The "source" listed is TESC, just as the "source" for CLEPs and DSSTs is TESC. "StraighterLine" does not appear anywhere, just as "CLEP" and "DSST" do not. So I'm hoping that because TESC is shown as the "source" of the Cost Accounting course, and TESC is RA, that the course would be considered RA. Anyone have experience with that? If not, I will be looking into it and post my findings. :-)

[SayinstaNTcert]

I tried to search the forums for "cpa" and got a message that the word was "too short." I'm going to add a few words to this thread for the benefit of future searchers:

Certified Public Accountant

:-)

Anyone starting a thread regarding CPA topics, please use the words spelled out somewhere - thanks! :-)

[Yenisei]

I'm wondering if StraighterLine courses WOULD be accepted for CPA requirements (even though StraighterLine itself is not RA) because TESC puts their RA "stamp of approval" on them. I am getting my BSBA in Accounting from TESC but do not plan to get my CPA. However, I would like to have the CPA option in the future. I have "planned" the StraighterLine Managerial Accounting course (which transfers to TESC as Cost Accounting) so that it shows up on my Academic Evaluation as "Planned." The "source" listed is TESC, just as the "source" for CLEPs and DSSTs is TESC. "StraighterLine" does not appear anywhere, just as "CLEP" and "DSST" do not. So I'm hoping that because TESC is shown as the "source" of the Cost Accounting course, and TESC is RA, that the course would be considered RA. Anyone have experience with that? If not, I will be looking into it and post my findings. :-)

As always, the response is, it depends on the state- check with the relevant state's CPA licensing board to see if Straighterline's accounting and business courses would meet their requirements if they transfer as part of a TESC accounting degree. Whatever you do, do not pretend that the courses were taken at TESC if they weren't- that's a serious ethical lapse that could be very costly.

[jt003806]

Ok so Straighterline won't work, what about Thomas Edison, will the accounting classes at TE be accepted?

Here's your answer..........Thomas Edison State College: Accounting/CPA

[SayinstaNTcert]

As always, the response is, it depends on the state- check with the relevant state's CPA licensing board to see if Straighterline's accounting and business courses would meet their requirements if they transfer as part of a TESC accounting degree. Whatever you do, do not pretend that the courses were taken at TESC if they weren't- that's a serious ethical lapse that could be very costly.

Oh, I agree about not "pretending" the courses were taken from a different institution. I was talking about the licensing board approving the course because of TESC's "stamp of approval" as I mentioned in my post. In fact, I just found out that in Arkansas that is the exact situation. Below is an email exchange between me and the Credentialing Coordinator/Exam Specialist for the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy. (I found the Board Rule she referenced between sending my email and her reply!)

"Hello,

I have a question regarding fulfillment of the education requirements for initial licensure. My BSBA will be from Thomas Edison State College, a regionally accredited university (level 3 accreditation.) I would like to take a course from StraighterLine (Online Courses - Distance Learning Courses for College Credit | StraighterLine - StraighterLine) titled "Managerial Accounting." This course transfers to Thomas Edison State College as "Cost Accounting." On my Academic Evaluation, Thomas Edison State College lists a "source" for each course. For credit-by-examination (such as CLEP), the "source" is Thomas Edison State College, and this course from StraighterLine is listed the same way (TESC is listed as the "source.") Although StraighterLine itself is not regionally accredited because it does not actually award degrees, I was wondering if this kind of stamp of approval from a regionally accredited university would warrant the acceptance of the course to fulfill the CPA education requirements.

I very much appreciate your consideration of my question.

Sincerely,
(My name IRL)"


"(My name IRL),

Board Rule 3.1(e) states:

(e) If an applicant’s degree was received at an accredited educational institution pursuant to subsection © or (d), but the educational program which was used to qualify the applicant as an accounting major included courses taken at non-accredited institutions, either before or after graduation, such courses will be deemed to have been taken at the accredited institution from which applicant’s degree was received, provided the accredited institution either –

(1) has accepted such courses by including them in its official transcript; or

(2) has certified to the Board that it will accept such courses for credit toward graduation.

Therefore, if the course is listed on the college transcript of an accredited institution as an accepted course, it will be accepted.

For further research, I recommend that you go to our website at ASBPA Home Page, click on the link “Board Rules” and read Rule 3, the Educational Requirements. Let me know if I can be of further assistance."


Again, that email exchange was regarding ARKANSAS.

REGARDING GEORGIA:

SmokeEm, I glanced over the law, and it seems to me that the requirement is for the degree to be from an RA school. I do not see the level of detail that Arkansas spells out regarding an RA school accepting credits from a school that is not RA. I would recommend asking the board about it, and preferably get an answer in writing! I hope it works out nicely for you!

[Publius]

In the Information for First-time candidates for the uniform CPA Exam for my state I found the following...

-Have good moral character; and
-Must be at least 18 years old; and
-Have completed 150 semester hours of general college education AND mete ONE of the following requirements:

1. ….
2. ….
3. ….
4. Earned in lieu of completion of 150 semester hours of general college education, a minimum score of 620 on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), conferral of an associate’s or baccalaureate degree, from an institution recognized by CHEA or accredited by AACSB or recognized by the Board, with 30 semester hours of accounting with at least one course in each of the following:
- financial accounting,
- management accounting,
- auditing, (Internal auditing may not be used for auditing, but may be used as an elective),
- taxation, and
- professional ethics and responsibilities; AND
- 24 hours in business subjects.

When I contacted the board in reference to this (the fourth option), they defined it as "for the really smart people". Nor did they care if credit was earned through CLEP, DSST, SL, ALEKS, etc. in their words "college credit is college credit". Granted that's one out of 50 state's accounting boards, but if you have something like this as an option it can save tons.
Make sure you have the necessary accounting classes (30 semester hours with one course in financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, and taxation), 24 business courses, an Associates or Bachelors degree (from a recognized institution), and a minimum score of 620 on the GMAT.
The accounting and business courses are easily worked into a degree from TESC (not sure about Excelsior, but I don't see why it wouldn't) and then all that's necessary is min score of 620 on the GMAT. Instead of going on to a masters program (where I'd most likely still have to take the GMAT) I'll just have to incorporate the necessary classes into my degree and take the GMAT and hope I score above 620. No 150 semester hours necessary.Not even a bachelors when it comes down to it... just an Associates (with necessary accounting and business classes of course).

I wasn't aware this even existed... had I not checked I'd of more then likely just went on to accumulate 150 credits. (BTW... the first three options all included the 150 hrs )The point of this post was to say, it isn't always necessary to hit the 150hrs to sit for CPA exam and do things the "norm". Yes, requirements vary from states but yes, there are "loop holes" occasionally, When it is there though it's usually in the fine print or on the last option, but it's still there nonetheless.