[LJ44]

Hey Everyone,

I did a quick search and didn’t find any relevant topics on my question but I apologize if this has already been asked.

I started studying for my Accounting degree back when the 120 credit limit was still in existence. Halfway through they changed it. I honestly didn’t think I would go for my CPA so I wasn’t paying too much attention to what was required. Well here I am graduated with an Accounting degree from a top university only 20 credits shy of my 150 credit education requirement needed for my CPA and in desperate need of those 20 credits to get one of the only jobs I was offered due to this recession as an auditor at a firm.

I have been using the guide of 33 Accounting Credits, 36 Business Electives, and 60 Liberal Arts Electives as outlined on the NYS Public Accounting Initial License website: https://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/cpa/cpalic.htm

I have been taking the courses at an accredited state university near my home but will also have to opt for U of Phoenix course due to the fact they do not offer any more accounting courses at my state school that I haven’t already taken. I thought I was doing fine until my friend at a Big Four made the side comment that I should double check with the state to make sure what I am doing for my extra credits is approved. This has sent me into a frantic mess of attempting to contact the state but not being able to talk to a human and just getting answering machines. The HR at my firm has not responded back to me yet. I will keep attempting to contact the NY Office of Professions directly but until then I thought maybe someone going through a similar situation could offer up some advice.

Thanks!

[Herbieherb]

Email them, from my experience with them last year, they were very fast at replying.

cpabd@mail.nysed.gov

NEW YORK- DONE

[jelly]

A question you might've already explored:

Does your state school have a state-approved 150 program, where the accounting department has already identified the eligible 33-credit accounting classes, and 36-credits in electives? B/c the remaining liberal arts classes are pretty much that, i.e. basket-weaving, etc.

Couldn't pass again!

[LJ44]

@Herbieherb: Thank you. I had tried emailing before but I guess I sent my question to the wrong email. They responded the same day.

@jelly: Unfortunately I am in a state that does not require 150 credits yet so they were of no help.

[NYCpat]

Slight thread hijack – but can anyone explain the experience requirement to me?

1. Does my work experience have to be earned after I pass all 4 exam parts? or can it be done beforehand or concurrently?

2. Does my work experience have to be in NY (or in the state that I am pursuing licensure)? or can it be for a CPA in any state, i.e., if I worked for a CPA in Illinois or Washington, can I use that work experience to be certified in NY?

BEC - 82
AUD - 65; retake Feb 2013
FAR - April 2013
REG - July 2013?

[Herbieherb]

Hi pat, the work experience can be before or after you pass , and signed off by any USA CPA

NEW YORK- DONE

[NYCpat]

@Herbieherb – thank you very much, just what I wanted to hear!

BEC - 82
AUD - 65; retake Feb 2013
FAR - April 2013
REG - July 2013?

[zcraders]

Hi, in regards to the experience requirement for NY, does the CPA supervisor have to be my direst boss? Could it be someone in the firm that has handed me work before and could attest to my work?

[zcraders]

Hi, in regards to the experience requirement for NY, does the CPA supervisor have to be my direst boss? Could it be someone in the firm that has handed me work before and could attest to my work?

[jelly]

It can really be anyone who signs your hours, as long as you guys are pretty much in the same company. For instance, it could be someone from another department, not necessarily your direct boss. The state education board is really just checking the credentials of the person who signs, and in what context you were monitored, but they're not going to dive into a workplace's hierarchy politics b/c it's a total disaster doing so.

So it could be let's say the CFO that signs off, even if there's 3 layers between both of you, or it could be someone from internal audit even though you work in tax; there's always special projects going on, so the state board doesn't want to go into a company's org chart at all.

Couldn't pass again!

[Author]

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