Degree plan help needed!

[Synicaal]

My best advice I can give you, If you are planning on earning your CPA, then do what my overall plan is. Rushing to the 120/120 at TESU for Accounting. Once that is out of the way I am going to apply to a Masters Program at one of my State Schools and earn a Masters in Accounting. My Girlfriend has her masters in accounting with like 168 credits and she just meets the requirements for the state she went to school. Here in New York It is a little easier which is confusing to me. New York is usually very strict on requirements and all that jazz.

I did research and contacted the board that does the CPA in New York. Explained to them what I am doing and if I would meet requirements with this plan, I was told yes. With the Accounting Degree from TESU I'd qualify for the 120 sit rule in NYS. A Masters overrides the 120 sit rule and you basically auto qualify for the CPA exam assuming you hit there very small credit requirements. You really only have to hit a small window of classes.

A course covering each of the following:
Financial accounting,
Cost or management accounting,
Taxation,
Audit and attestation.

Just my 2 cents for the day!

[rebel100]

I would urge you to contact the state licensing board AND GET THE RESULT IN WRITING if at all possible. CPA is just one of those areas that isn't fully on board with advances in online and alternative credit in many states.

There is no point in pushing ahead with gaining credit that will not, in the end, have the desired result.

Have you considered using a hybrid model of testing out where you can (English, Social Science, Humanities, etc) and just taking the 16 RA courses to get the exact 48 credits you need? These 48 credits can likely be had at a RA school for around $4800. I would use your local Community College or a Regionally Accredited school with a significant online presence. Luna CC of New Mexico and New Mexico Junior College are incredibly cheap and offer an array of online options for you. You could probably do most or all of the 48 there and test out of the rest. CSU-Pueblo and The university of Idaho Independent Studies programs could round out any needed upper level work (maybe).

There are a lot of options but you will not find the expertise or support you need from College Plus.

[dfrecore]

I'm in agreement that if you can get your BSBA in Accounting (or even General Management) and then go ahead and get your MS in Accounting through WGU or MBA in Accounting through Capella Flexpath or another competency-based degree program, that would probably be the cheapest and easiest.

BUT, I also agree that you need to check with the state accountancy board to make sure that this will be allowed (exams, online courses through a non-RA school for your BS, etc.).

[MandolinMan]

"I rest my case. You don't know, and your VERY EXPENSIVE advisor is useless. You've come to a free internet forum to get advice from volunteers. I can help you, but from this point on, I'll need a monthly check for $1000."

Agreed. I don't know the answers. But that's why I'm asking the questions! I see now that enrolling with CP/Lumerit was a waste of time and money. But all I can change now is the future, and that's why I'm searching for answers.

Synicaal, rebel100, dfrecore: your thoughts are appreciated. I'll definitely get busy contacting my state accountancy board as suggested.

[mickey20]

My best advice I can give you, If you are planning on earning your CPA, then do what my overall plan is. Rushing to the 120/120 at TESU for Accounting. Once that is out of the way I am going to apply to a Masters Program at one of my State Schools and earn a Masters in Accounting. My Girlfriend has her masters in accounting with like 168 credits and she just meets the requirements for the state she went to school. Here in New York It is a little easier which is confusing to me. New York is usually very strict on requirements and all that jazz.

I did research and contacted the board that does the CPA in New York. Explained to them what I am doing and if I would meet requirements with this plan, I was told yes. With the Accounting Degree from TESU I'd qualify for the 120 sit rule in NYS. A Masters overrides the 120 sit rule and you basically auto qualify for the CPA exam assuming you hit there very small credit requirements. You really only have to hit a small window of classes.

A course covering each of the following:
Financial accounting,
Cost or management accounting,
Taxation,
Audit and attestation.

Just my 2 cents for the day!

Synicaal,

When you contacted the New York state board, did you ask them if taking courses from like study.com, straighterline, aleks, etc. would meet education requirements?
It's important to make sure to check (For example) if cost accounting from straighterline would qualify in "33 semester hours in accounting requirement" since it may or may not qualify because it's not from RA school but CBE on Ace credit.

[Synicaal]

Synicaal,

When you contacted the New York state board, did you ask them if taking courses from like study.com, straighterline, aleks, etc. would meet education requirements?
It's important to make sure to check (For example) if cost accounting from straighterline would qualify in "33 semester hours in accounting requirement" since it may or may not qualify because it's not from RA school but CBE on Ace credit.

Yes when I said "Explained to them what I am doing and if I would meet requirements" I told them everything. Also I am hitting 21 accounting credits from a CC so that helps. Pretty much aside from the TESU degree I'll have to take an Audit class at my CC to finish the last part but that seemed like more info then what was needed. I do feel like someone who only tested out would not qualify. Once again I didn't go into major detail with them on this because it doesn't pertain to my situation.

[cookderosa]

"I rest my case. You don't know, and your VERY EXPENSIVE advisor is useless. You've come to a free internet forum to get advice from volunteers. I can help you, but from this point on, I'll need a monthly check for $1000."

Agreed. I don't know the answers. But that's why I'm asking the questions! I see now that enrolling with CP/Lumerit was a waste of time and money. But all I can change now is the future, and that's why I'm searching for answers.

Synicaal, rebel100, dfrecore: your thoughts are appreciated. I'll definitely get busy contacting my state accountancy board as suggested.

I'm not trying to be mean, I'm trying to be direct....with a little sarcasm. The post I responded to in that comment was because you were still warm and fuzzy about your situation and relationship with that company, after a good number of people were helping you sort out this mess. I emphasize that none of us here are paid, none of us here should be who you turn to- part of your monthly fee is advising from Lumerit. While I don't personally care if you continue with them, I do my part here to be sure that the next person who comes here behind you sees the picture clearly and has a little warning before making the decision to send them thousands of dollars. Every time someone comes here and searches our archives using the word Lumerit or CollegePlus, this thread will pop.

You can search the archives, your story isn't new. CP used to be ok, they used to just be an overpriced product- they have evolved into something all together different.

I'll share that a long time member and regular poster here was diagnosed with cancer, but they wouldn't let her quit paying her monthly fee- they told her she was faking it, and didn't sound that sick to them. This was while they were still masquerading as a Christian company (pre-Lumerit). The details of her story and their boiler room high pressure sales are horrific.