CPA prep course + 30 hours of Accounting credit for $2,970

[freeloader]

Franklin University and Miles CPA prep are advertising an introductory deal for their “CPA Pathway” that includes 30 hours of credits from Franklin University (RA and IACBE accredited) and the Miles CPA course for $2,970: https://www.milescpareview.com/

Miles is not very common in the US, but claims to be the biggest CPA prep course provider in India. Their CPA course by itself costs around $1,200. 

The program requires completion of at least 90 credits and intermediate accounting, but recommends completion of basically an accounting bachelor’s prior to entry. Looks like there are recoded classes with optional live courses available. 

The page says the courses cannot be used for a degree at Franklin University. Would be interesting to see how they might be received at TESU, UMPI, or elsewhere.

[ss20ts]

If the courses cannot be used for a degree at Franklin, then how are they worth 30 RA credits anywhere?

Have they updated their course to reflect the changes made to the Uniform CPA Examination this year?

[bjcheung77]

It's a good program for those who want a CPA based credential and also need the 30 credits for the CPA exam requirement... Having said that, for an extra grand and a degree, the WGU MS Accounting might be a better option instead. Franklin University: https://www.franklin.edu/franklinworks-m...credential

Can I apply any credits I earn though the microcredential courses toward a degree at Franklin University?
No. The courses in this microcredential cannot be substituted for or utilized in any degree program at Franklin University.

Update: Oops, actually, for an extra two grand for the WGU MS Accounting program, not one.

[ss20ts]

It's a good program for those who want a CPA based credential and also need the 30 credits for the CPA exam requirement... Having said that, for an extra grand and a degree, the WGU MS Accounting might be a better option instead.  Franklin University: https://www.franklin.edu/franklinworks-m...credential

Can I apply any credits I earn though the microcredential courses toward a degree at Franklin University?
No. The courses in this microcredential cannot be substituted for or utilized in any degree program at Franklin University.

Update: Oops, actually, for an extra two grand for the WGU MS Accounting program, not one.

Will the credits be accepted though? I know in my state, they require RA credits on a specific list of courses and are getting even stricter in 2027. 

Why can't the credits be used at Franklin? That seems like a red flag.

[davewill]

Will the credits be accepted though? I know in my state, they require RA credits on a specific list of courses and are getting even stricter in 2027. 

Why can't the credits be used at Franklin? That seems like a red flag.

The answer is money. If they accepted them towards their degrees, this would undercut their regular undergrad tuition. Whether other schools will choose to distinguish them from "real" credits is anyone's guess.

I'm sure that Miles CPA has negotiated and verified which state boards will accept the credits. Of course, it would be wise to verify acceptance by your own state.

[inor]

Will the credits be accepted though? I know in my state, they require RA credits on a specific list of courses and are getting even stricter in 2027. 

Why can't the credits be used at Franklin? That seems like a red flag.

The answer is money. If they accepted them towards their degrees, this would undercut their regular undergrad tuition. Whether other schools will choose to distinguish them from "real" credits is anyone's guess.

I'm sure that Miles CPA has negotiated and verified which state boards will accept the credits. Of course, it would be wise to verify acceptance by your own state.

Yeah. It's the same thing with the program they have at the University of North Alabama. They basically offer two parallel accounting curricula: one for their accounting majors, and the other for outsiders looking to get enough accounting credits to sit for the CPA exam. The CPA program credits, which they say are legit credits that will be transcripted by UNA, will not satisfy degree requirements for a degree in accounting at UNA. Basically, they don't want their CPA program (which is cheap) poaching their own students.

Unfortunately, at least one big state -- New York -- has explicitly said they won't accept UNA's CPA program credits as accounting credits, though they will accept them as general business electives. Whether we can extrapolate from that and say New York (and maybe others) won't accept these accounting credits from Franklin, either, is hard to say. It seems a big issue for New York is that all of the materials used in the UNA courses are published by CPA review courses (Wiley, maybe). They claim UNA's program is basically just an exam review course, then. Would they see this program Franklin has set up similarly, and only count these as 30 business elective credits? 

Would definitely try and get something in writing from one's state board saying the program will be accepted as accounting credits before going through it, though even then there's no guarantee. They would tell you one thing in an email, and then do another later. Would be rough to be the guinea pig for this only to find out you ended up with a bunch of business electives (or worse, nothing).

[Vle045]

If the courses cannot be used for a degree at Franklin, then how are they worth 30 RA credits anywhere?

Have they updated their course to reflect the changes made to the Uniform CPA Examination this year?

From what I could tell, the 30 credits are to reach the 150 credit requirement needed for the CPA exam.  So, essentially, a bachelors (120) plus these credits.  It would be interesting to see if they transfer elsewhere.  Although they might not be appealing to folks outside of accounting.