[MO]

I live in Tennessee, which requires 18 upper-level Accounting hours to sit for the exam. I have contacted my state board, as well as NASBA, and must go through their evaluation in order to receive an answer. However, I’m trying to get an swift opinion on 1 class, which evidently isn’t possible without going through the complete evaluation. In August, I will have 15 hours in Accounting from TTU. The other 3 hours, I was hoping would be satisfied by course BADM 5150 taken in my MBA from ETSU. This is the info of the course….

5150 – Accounting Information for Decision Making
(3 credits)
Prerequisites: At least three years of professional managerial experience; admission to the MBA program, or permission of the instructor.

A comprehensive study of accounting information and its uses by professional managerial decision makers. Topics include areas in financial and managerial accounting and components of consolidated financial statements, cost and variance analysis, and budgeting. The course is an intensive, accelerated, case study-based approach to accounting information, and is taught with both online and on-ground components. Enrollment is by permit only.

Can someone give me feedback on whether this will likely count or not as part of the 18 hour requirement?

[Hank Scorpio]

I don't see how they would deny that. I was told that any class that isn't a 1000 or 2000 level class would count toward the upper level requirement. You can email them back and ask what they consider upper level. I would also ask someone at your school either ETSU or TTU. I was able to lean on my school a little for the requirements.

FAR - 10/3/16
BEC - 69 - 10/31/16
AUD - November 2016
REG - December 2016

[MO]

Thanks Hank. I'm not really concerned with the upper-level division part, just whether they consider it an “Accounting” credit. I don't really see how it wouldn't be, but it don't have the “ACCT” prefix.

[Jay]

I would be really shocked if they didn't accept that. For what it's worth, I also applied through TN with more of an unconventional background. My undergraduate work was finance and I had an MBA. I was enrolled in master's level accounting courses at the time. At the time of application, my resume of accounting courses was as follows:

ACCT 2003: Principles of Accounting I (Undergraduate – Completed in 2001)
ACCT 2013: Principles of Accounting II (Undergraduate – Completed in 2002)

ACCT 527: Auditing (Graduate – Enrolled Only; Not completed)
ACCT 521: Advanced Accounting (Graduate – Enrolled Only; Not completed)
ACCT 540: Advanced Income Tax (Graduate – Enrolled Only; Not completed)
ACCT 551: Advanced Issues in Taxes (Graduate – Enrolled Only; Not completed)

I submitted it all on 7/20/17. My academic institution lost the form they were supposed to fill out and forward. Therefore, I worked with them and NASBA to have my transcript submitted electronically. It didn't go out electronically until 8/28/17. I received an email from NASBA on 9/15/17 needing clarification on an issue (completely unrelated to the academics and accounting hours). Then I got an email notification on 9/28/17 with the following:

“CPA Examination Candidate:

Your state board has found you eligible to take the Uniform CPA Examination.
Since you requested to receive your NTS by e-mail, to view and print your
notice, open the attached file using Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5.0 or
greater.”

All in all, it was a surprisingly good experience. I just got my last passing score. Now I'm waiting on the letter they are supposed to send that allows me to finish applying for licensure.

Hopefully this helps!

[MO]

That's encouraging, thanks Jay! Am I correct that you were only completed / enrolled in 4 upper-division courses (12hrs)? If so, I wonder why the 18 hour requirement didn't seem to apply?

[Jay]

I had 6 hours of completed accounting coursework and was enrolled in 12 hours of accounting. That is what made up my 18 total. They define “upper-level” as junior level courses or higher. The 6 hours that were completed were considered junior level. They are the first year of courses once your get into your major. I think the traditional path is 2 years of basics and then you really move into the courses required for your major when you are a junior. Those 6 hours were in my junior year, as intended. This was the year I really moved into business courses instead of college algebra, biology, etc.

[MO]

Oh, I see. I thought 2000 courses generally indicated Freshman-Sophomore level. I did receive a response from NASBA that said the course should count, but they can't guarantee without submitting the transcript. Which I think is somewhat unfortunate.

[Author]

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