Need credits for CPA

[dgsky]

I got into accounting somewhat randomly after getting a BALS from TESU a few years ago. My job will give me a raise and a bonus if I get a CPA, but it requires 24 accounting credits and 24 business credits. Edit: I found that if I take the CPA in TN, they only require 18 accounting credits and no business credits.

I got an MBA from ENEB last year and I'm in the process of getting it evaluated to see if that'll cover my business credits. I'm thinking that I could do WGU's master in accounting to get the accounting credits, but it'd also be fine to get undergrad credits.

Your Age: 30

What kind of degree do you want?: I don't really need another degree, but accounting or finance if that's the best way to get credits

Current Regional Accredited Credits: 60ish

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: 90ish (I did 30 credits of Sophia, 9ish of SDC, and a bunch of Coursera classes, but no business or accounting credits.


Budget: Less than $5k would be awesome, but that's asking a lot for 48 credits. Less than $10k is more reasonable.

Commitments: I work full time and my job is busier the first week of every month and January and February

Dedicated time to study: I can study 3 hours a day during normal months and 2 hours a day during the busy months

Timeline: Less than a year would be ideal, but up to 3 years is fine

Tuition assistance/reimbursement: My job has tuition reimbursement up to $5000 a year, but they require you stay with them for every year they pay for schooling. I think I might be able to get a much better salary if I get a job with a different company after I have my CPA.

Thanks so much for your help!

[dfrecore]

WGU's MA in Accounting will get you 21cr in Accounting and 9cr in Business; but with your MBA already done, I'm guessing you had at least 1 accounting course (Hopefully it's not the same as the other accounting courses you will take) and the business covered.

I would list all of the courses you took from ENEB, as well as anything that is remotely business-related. And then we can help you make sure that you have all of the credits you need.

[davewill]

If they'll accept ACE credits on a TESU transcript, you should be able to get any credits you find you need from Sophia or Study.com. You'd just reapply ($50) and register for the 1cr APS-1000 TECEP ($52). Don't take it, just register for it. Send in your alt-credit and then send your transcript into the state licensing board.

You want to be clear about the state board accepting the credits, though.

[dgsky]

If they'll accept ACE credits on a TESU transcript, you should be able to get any credits you find you need from Sophia or Study.com. You'd just reapply ($50) and register for the 1cr APS-1000 TECEP ($52). Don't take it, just register for it. Send in your alt-credit and then send your transcript into the state licensing board.

You want to be clear about the state board accepting the credits, though.

They'll take CLEP, so I imagine they'd take other ACE credits. I emailed them about it and am waiting to hear back.

---

WGU's MA in Accounting will get you 21cr in Accounting and 9cr in Business; but with your MBA already done, I'm guessing you had at least 1 accounting course (Hopefully it's not the same as the other accounting courses you will take) and the business covered.

I would list all of the courses you took from ENEB, as well as anything that is remotely business-related.  And then we can help you make sure that you have all of the credits you need.

I took a small business management class a few years ago, but TESU counts it as a management class. I don't remember what the prefix was at the community college I took it at. I could check.

I think my MBA only had one accounting class, an International Accounting class. I'm not sure how many credits it's going to get evaluated as. I think the rest of the degree was management and marketing.

[bjcheung77]

@dgsky, WGU MAcc seems like a good option, it fits your budget, and also gets you the Masters and Accounting credits you're looking for. Just make sure to review their link about the CPA requirements for your state as they have links for each state, TN and other states have various yet slightly different requirements. Another viable option would be to do the TESU BSBA Accounting, did you pay the residency waiver fee or did you do 16 credits with them for your BALS?

[berlinerd]

Excuse me if I'm wrong but I think 18 acct. courses is for exam which is not equal to license. You can take exam and then there are additional requirements for getting license, and these requirements are higher.

"To apply for an Initial CPA license in Tennessee, candidates must earn a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and obtain a total of 150 semester hours of education. Education must include 30 semester hours in accounting (24 of which must be in upper division courses) and 24 semester hours in business courses."

source: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/ac...exams.html

I think all states of the U.S. are now requiring 150 overall credits + 30 acct + 24 business credits.

I am actually also looking to get CPA license (by completing requirements first) but I am a non-US citizen living in Canada so no access to SSN and residency, so my state options are more limited.

[dgsky]

Excuse me if I'm wrong but I think 18 acct. courses is for exam which is not equal to license. You can take exam and then there are additional requirements for getting license, and these requirements are higher.

"To apply for an Initial CPA license in Tennessee, candidates must earn a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and obtain a total of 150 semester hours of education. Education must include 30 semester hours in accounting (24 of which must be in upper division courses) and 24 semester hours in business courses."

source: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/ac...exams.html

I think all states of the U.S. are now requiring 150 overall credits + 30 acct + 24 business credits.

I am actually also looking to get CPA license (by completing requirements first) but I am a non-US citizen living in Canada so no access to SSN and residency, so my state options are more limited.

I believe you're correct, though I don't work in public accounting, so the exam may just be enough.

State residency requirements vary a lot. I think the Virgin Islands only require you reside there for 30 days, which I assume you could do with a visa.

---

@dgsky, WGU MAcc seems like a good option, it fits your budget, and also gets you the Masters and Accounting credits you're looking for.  Just make sure to review their link about the CPA requirements for your state as they have links for each state, TN and other states have various yet slightly different requirements.  Another viable option would be to do the TESU BSBA Accounting, did you pay the residency waiver fee or did you do 16 credits with them for your BALS?

I did the residency waiver. I think WGU's MAcc is the better option between the two. I imagine cost would be about the same and a masters in accounting might have better utility.

[bjcheung77]

Yup, that's what I recommend, the WGU option first to hit the Masters and also get the Accounting credits...

[dfrecore]

I think all states of the U.S. are now requiring 150 overall credits + 30 acct + 24 business credits.

I don't think that ALL states have the same requirements.  You'd never be that lucky!  They're each going to have some quirk that is different.  And the requirements for sitting for the exam are different from getting your CPA.  So there's that added bonus.

- Just went and looked at my state (SC) which requires 24cr of UL Accounting (and has 4 specific requirements) and 24cr of Business; ethics exam w/in 2 years

- NC just 5 miles from me requires a concentration in accounting including 30cr of accounting (undergrad) or 20cr (graduate), no specific requirements; no business courses at all; 150cr overall; OR a Master’s or more advanced degree in accounting, tax law, economics, finance, business administration, or a law degree from an accredited college or university is in compliance; ethics exam w/in 1 year; 120cr overall to sit for the exam, and 150cr overall for licensure

- My former state (CA) requires 24cr of Accounting (no UL or specific courses required) and 24cr in business including math, stats, CIS; ethics exam; 120cr overall to sit for the exam, and 150cr overall for licensure

- KY requires a concentration in accounting including 27cr of accounting (no UL req'd but 4 specific requirements), and 39cr of business including computers and stats; no mention of ethics at all; 150cr overall to sit for the exam

Some states require 1 year of experience, while others require 2 between passing the exam and getting your CPA.

So really, you have to look very closely at the requirements for your state (or the state you decide to go with) because there is no single standard.

[berlinerd]

I think all states of the U.S. are now requiring 150 overall credits + 30 acct + 24 business credits.

I don't think that ALL states have the same requirements.  You'd never be that lucky!  They're each going to have some quirk that is different.  And the requirements for sitting for the exam are different from getting your CPA.  So there's that added bonus.

- Just went and looked at my state (SC) which requires 24cr of UL Accounting (and has 4 specific requirements) and 24cr of Business; ethics exam w/in 2 years

- NC just 5 miles from me requires a concentration in accounting including 30cr of accounting (undergrad) or 20cr (graduate), no specific requirements; no business courses at all; 150cr overall; OR a Master’s or more advanced degree in accounting, tax law, economics, finance, business administration, or a law degree from an accredited college or university is in compliance; ethics exam w/in 1 year; 120cr overall to sit for the exam, and 150cr overall for licensure

- My former state (CA) requires 24cr of Accounting (no UL or specific courses required) and 24cr in business including math, stats, CIS; ethics exam; 120cr overall to sit for the exam, and 150cr overall for licensure

- KY requires a concentration in accounting including 27cr of accounting (no UL req'd but 4 specific requirements), and 39cr of business including computers and stats; no mention of ethics at all; 150cr overall to sit for the exam

Some states require 1 year of experience, while others require 2 between passing the exam and getting your CPA.

So really, you have to look very closely at the requirements for your state (or the state you decide to go with) because there is no single standard.

Thank you, you are right, they are quite different in details after you look more than into one or two states. 

Regarding NC, I have a question, I just looked at their website, and it says (https://nccpaboard.gov/applicants/licensure-applicants/):

"NCGS 93-12(5)a sets forth the education required of candidates applying for CPA certification/licensure. The 150 semester hours required include a concentration in accounting, as defined by 21 NCAC 08A .0309, and 24 semester hours of coursework which include one (1) three (3) semester hour course from at least eight (8) of the following 10 fields of study:

• communications;
  
• computer technology;
  
• economics;
  
• ethics;
  
• finance;
  
• humanities/social science;
  
• international environment;
  
• law;
  
• management; or
  
• statistics"
  

So it looks they require (besides 30 cr in acct) 24 courses of "business/social sciences + applied math"? Please correct me if I'm wrong and thanks for your insights. Maybe some of those states will actually work for me...

BTW maybe we should create a separate thread to combine all existing knowledge for tacking CPA requirements with transfer credit/CBE opportunities?