[klink24]

This is for anyone in North Carolina or even anywhere else that had their exam application denied. I was denied because they didn’t accept 2 of my MBA accounting courses. Is it even worth contesting? I’m going to contest either way, but wondering if anyone ever contested a denial, in NC or elsewhere, and won?

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[Anonymous]

What 2 classes and why? I believe it is somewhat common to not accept close repeats of undergrad…like Financial Accounting in undergrad and in the MBA. Kinda stinks, since the class isn't that much the same from undergrad to grad, but seems somewhat common.

Also, are these classes that you need to fit specific requirements (business/accounting/etc), or could you replace them with any other easy class? If they're just needed to meet the credit count, I know some ways that you could get the credits for around 600 dollars with just a couple hours' work, which might be a lot quicker and easier than contesting it!

I know I didn't really answer the question…but thought my first question might help someone who knows more about it, and figured I'd offer what assistance I could. 🙂

[Tracymom]

In SC when we apply to take the exam, we have to send in our transcripts. They are evaluted and we receive a letter saying where we stand on the 150 credits. Does NC not do anything like that? So, I've known since I applied to sit for the exam that I was going to need 7 more credits. Depending on whether you still need Accounting or just hours, there are a lot of options without going the traditional semester route.

@Lilla, I'd like to know what you can do in a few hours, though. I've only been able to find online/distance ed stuff that still takes a fair amount of time to complete. The Govt/Non-Profit accounting through LSU Distance Learning that I'm in right now is pretty challenging. I've finished everything else, so as soon as I finish this one class, I'll be ready to apply.

Aiming to be finished with the CPA exam by August 11, 2013 (my birthday) - DONE!!!!
REG - 85 (11/12/12)
AUD - 83 (02/23/13)
BEC - 82 (05/14/13)
FAR - 88 (8/8/13) - part of the "server upgrade" fiasco of 2013

Experience - Got it; 150 credit hours - taking my last class now

[klink24]

Thanks Lilla and Tracymom for your replies. The 2 classes not approved were Presentation and Interpretation of Financial Statements, which is more about analyzing the statements and gaining insights into the company, and Cost Management Systems, essentially Cost Accounting. I need these credits to meet the 30 hours in accounting courses requirement. They also didn't approve 2 credit hours because they state no more than 6 credits in accounting principles classes. I have 4 credit hours in Principles of Accounting and 4 credit hours in Principles of Managerial Accounting. The website and rule states, “…courses which shall include no more than six semester hours of accounting principles…” & “Accounting courses include such courses as principles courses at the elementary, intermediate and advanced levels; managerial accounting; business law; cost accounting;…” Since they mention managerial accounting separate from the principles portion, I thought it would not be included in the 6 hours of accounting principles. If the college would not have said Principles in front it would probably be all good.

@Tracymom, in SC they let you sit for the exam even if you need a few more semester's worth of classes? Or is it okay to sit as long as the classes you have left are outside of the accounting courses?

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[Anonymous]

@Tracymom – The quickest and easiest “random” credits that I have found are CLEP tests and FEMA classes.

CLEP tests: If you take something like College Math, it's 6 credits that you probably don't need to study for at all…and if your first math class was Algebra in college, then College Math isn't duplicating anything. There's also various literature options which are 6 credits and often don't duplicate anything taken previously, and some sciences if someone has a solid grounding in science. Personally, I avoid the Lit classes at all costs. 😛 Even if you study for these exams, the REA guides are usually all you need to pass, and are 100-150 pages at most, but the books are just like 9″x5″. Compared to the CPA exams, it's nothing! You could study in a day and take the test the next day and probably come out fine. CLEP test are $99 each, but the expensive part is getting credit. If your college will accept the test for credit and put it on your transcript, you're all set. If not, you will have to get somewhere else to give you credit for it. Thomas Edison State College has a credit banking service but it costs $532 (unless you're military – if you are, it's $270): https://www.tesc.edu/documents/NondegreeServiceApp.pdf

FEMA classes are the real weird one. FEMA has various classes that they offer related to emergency preparation. I took about 12 of these, and didn't spend more than an hour on any of them…and the one I spent an hour on was before I knew how easy they really were. The “final exam” is available at the same time as the material (many times you download the material and the final exam, then after answering the questions, you enter the answers online), so all you really have to do is look for the answers. And if you fail, you can retake it immediately. Taking these classes is free (so failing doesn't cost you anything), but to get college credit for them, you have to transfer them to a college. Here's the FEMA site: https://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.aspx If you click the “College Credits” link on the right (near the bottom), it will take you to a site to register with the college that they work with to give credit for these exams. It cost $79/credit. But, TESC (the one I recommended for the CLEP tests) also gives credit for many FEMA courses, so if you're doing more than 6 credits, you can use TESC's service for $532 instead of this other one that's $79/credit. Like I said, I did about 12 of these to finish up my 150 credits. I was actually a student at TESC, so didn't have to pay for the credit banking, but even if I had, it would've worked out to $44.33/credit, which is not bad at all!

So, to get 6 credits, either of these options will cost approx $500-600 (unless your college will accept CLEP – doubt you'll find one that will directly accept FEMA), which isn't cheap. But…being able to be done with the credits in a day or less isn't a bad deal at all!

@nclynch You're probably right that if the college took the “principles” off you'd be in good shape. 😐 Given that's the issues, I might suggest that you talk to the Dean of Accounting (or similar role) at your college and ask if they can write a letter indicating that the course is a managerial accounting course and not a principles course.

[Anonymous]

I would contest your classes then, but when you do make sure to include the course description from your school.

[Anonymous]

I applied in Illinois and they rejected two of my intermediate financial accounting classes just because they had a different course name than the Board of Examiners was used to (I went to school out of state). So I called them up and emailed them a course description explaining my issue with them rejecting a standard intermediate accounting class. About a week later I was approved and ready to go.

They also didn't count some of my other classes towards the 150 requirement. After I explained to them that those classes should have counted, they reevaluated my transcript and gave me credit for them.

I would definitely say give them a call and explain it to them. I would hope they would try to work with you on trying to get it sorted out.

[klink24]

I contested the determination and sent in the syllabi for the 2 MBA classes. Hoping they accept them. Also contested the Managerial Accounting credits on the grounds that the NC CPA Board website lists principles separate from Managerial Accounting in their statute. This would would lead an applicant to believe they are separate and distinct courses. It's like they would consider Principles in Auditing a “principles” class when it clearly isn't. I just hate that they can't tell you ahead of time which classes would qualify and which wouldn't. They put us at the mercy of interpreting their vague rules then hit us with the hammer when we send in the application. Feeling a bit more optimistic though given chimichanga's response.

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[Anonymous]

I had a similar thing when I was getting ready to apply. I've had my undergrad accounting degree and MBA for several years but never pursued the CPA until now because, frankly, I've never needed it.

Anyway, I was annoyed to find that I was coming up 4 hours short on accounting, even after all the education I had gone through. My downfall was that I got my MBA from the same school where I did my undergrad, so they waived the MBA Accounting courses due to how I did in undergrad. So I had to go to my local community college and pick up two more accounting courses.

In the end it was just an inconvenience as it delayed my ability to start studying for the CPA exam. Waiving those MBA courses saved me several thousand dollars and probably a semester, so I shouldn't complain too much.

But I agree that the NASBA and state boards are needlessly vague and ambiguous in their determinations of what counts and what doesn't. The entire CPA process is slowly making me jaded with nearly every party involved.

[klink24]

Hadn't been on here in a while, particularly since my appeal was denied. So looks like 6 more credit hours next semester I wasn't planning on. Either way, after seeing the struggle of some on this forum I guess I can't complain too much. I have to admit, it felt good to close up the study guides and place focus back on my life. I won't start studying until after my classes are over, then I'll begin the tests when I feel I'm ready for FAR. So probably by end of 2014 I'll have my CPA. Good luck to everyone until I check back in next summer.

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[Anonymous]

I have read this…….its amazing and i am really impressed.Thanks for sharing this nice info.

[evesocal]

In 2011, when I was getting ready to apply to sit for the exam in California there seemed to be no way I could find out which of my classes would be counted and which would not. I graduated in 1976, went back for more business/accounting classes in the 80s and 90s. So some of my classes were quite old to say the least! Particularly the computer classes from the 70s. I even went to DeVry University and spoke to an advisor in the accounting department and got nowhere.

Anyway, I applied and lo and behold, California said sure, go ahead and sit for the exam.

But that's what I had to do: apply. It was impossible to find out ahead of time.

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[Thirteenth]

Just a lil follow up on that fema

Effective March 5, 2014, the acceptance of FEMA Independent Study courses for credit at Thomas Edison State College has been indefinitely suspended pending further review. Students with documented approval to take FEMA Independent Study courses as part of their degree program prior to March 5, 2014 will have those approvals honored. Students with previously evaluated transfer credit from FEMA Independent Study courses accepted and applied to their academic record at Thomas Edison State College are not affected by this change. These changes will be reflected in future print publications of the College. Questions concerning this revised policy should be referred to the Office of the Registrar.

I'm searching for the fastest/cheapest route to gain additional 18credits and tesc sounds affordable!

AUD 7/3/12 82
REG 5/30/13 79
BEC 8/29/13 78
FAR 2/28/14 79

Becker 2013 + Ninja
Done.

[Thirteenth]

Thanks again Lilla

AUD 7/3/12 82
REG 5/30/13 79
BEC 8/29/13 78
FAR 2/28/14 79

Becker 2013 + Ninja
Done.

[GoVPI]

Just take it in SC. I live in VA and because of the strict education laws in NC and VA I am an SC candidate.

BEC 8/14/14 - Passed
Graduated from college 12/13/14
AUD 8/31/15 - 74. Retake - Passed
REG
FAR

[samdiegoCPA]

I'm having this issue with CA as well. I haven't pursued anything about it from what I can remember. I have 151 units (all undergrad) and it seems like a million business/accounting courses. I wonder if CA will tell you if your education requirement is satisfied… anyone have experience with this?

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[Author]

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