[M.O.D.]

After 45 days of losing my transcript and evaluations:

I have 40+ units of accounting and they rejected them all because they were taken at junior colleges.

Yet they accepted my MBA business classes, even though they were not even half as hard as the accounting classes.

Should I write them back a choice letter or let it go?

Meanwhile I applied with California.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[klink24]

I went through something similar here in NC, but not quite as extreme. I have my MBA so the 150 credit hour provision was waived. However, I need the 30 credit hours in accounting to sit. I went back to a community college to get the 24 credits I needed at around 6 credits per semester, including summer.

I thought I had wrapped up all of the classes I needed last fall. I was counting on a couple of MBA classes to meet the education requirements. I submitted my application and they said my MBA classes overlapped with my intro classes taken at the community college. They really didn't because they covered completely different topics, but the board said because my syllabus stated “gives MBA students a basic understanding of…” they denied them. I appealed, they denied that to.

Needless to say, had to take 2 classes this past spring semester. One of those classes were an auditing class so it was a bit of a blessing in disguise. Not sure if I would have understood those AUD topics as well if it weren't for that class.

I would probably refrain from writing the choice letter. It won't accomplish anything most likely, except for anger you as you write it.

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.

[mla1169]

Have you looked into MA? It's been forever but I'm not sure any of the accounting credits need to be 300 or 400 level. Besides you could skip the experience requirement since you've got your MBA (my state had to be good for SOMETHING!)

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Sir Study Alot]

You will be good in California. You just need to look into meeting the ethical class requirements. 10 units of ethic classes(audit, business law, ethics).

Passed all 4 exams in 2014!

[M.O.D.]

@klink

Thanks for the feedback. You are right that it does no good to complain. From what I read on here boards do not make exceptions, etc. Because in reality taking 1 or 2 classes does not harm you. But they are asking me to take 21 units of accounting. Essentially repeating my coursework at a different university?

It does not matter much, because I am a California resident. I just thought Montana would be attractive because they issue a certificate for just passing.

@ mla

Thanks, but I resolved to work under a CPA to get the experience, because I also need it for the CMA. If Calif says no too, though I don't see why they would, I will consider other states including MA.

@ Sir

Yes, but that is only upon licensing, not required to test, right?

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[stoleway]

MOD….there are lots of options available to you.

MA, NH and DE will approve you, I'm pretty sure!

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[taxgeek83]

M.O.D. – Are you from Montana? You're kind of freaking me out here, as all of my lower level business and accounting credits are from a 2-year college. It's accredited and was a gateway into a 4-year program, but still….

Or are you just applying to take the exam?

[taxgeek83]

Scratch that – just read through all of the posts. I heard that Colorado has pretty lax requirements, though that was a couple of years ago so I'm not sure if anything has changed since then.

[M.O.D.]

No I am not from Montana, but thought they might let me sit under their jurisdiction. Are you from Montana? Maybe they made a mistake…

California has lax requirements too. My CSM professor specifically lobbied the board to have junior college credits continue to count…

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[taxgeek83]

I am – strange they wouldn't accept them. Is the college accredited? I know that there's something about accreditation in the rules, but the NASBA site specifically says that credits from a community college or two-year degree granting college are acceptable. So I'm not sure why yours wouldn't have been okay.

[M.O.D.]

Hmm. Maybe there is something strange going on. Yes, it is accredited, but because they did not transfer maybe they are not considered upper division. I don't know, and I don't have faith in NASBA's customer service because the Montana coordinator is also responsible for Colorado and South Carolina. Too busy to return my call…

Anyway, I already applied to California. We'll see what happens.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[mla1169]

Get clarification for your piece of mind but I thought all jr college classes were 100 and 200 level. Some states but not all require a certain number of 300 and 400 level courses.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[taxgeek83]

Yeah, what @mla said. All of your business courses can be lower level, but your 24 accounting credits have to be upper or graduate level. So that's probably it…. I thought for some reason they rejected them as part of your 150. Hope Cali works out better for you!!

[Skynet]

Maybe the state of Montana feels that you are just too smart and by rejecting your application, it is hinting that you need to seek another state board where it may offer you a better challenge. 🙂

[Vlakmir]

I'm from Montana (now live in California) and even worked with a guy that sits on the board. I still have contact with him but wouldn't want to reach out unless you know for a fact something is wrong.

Did they not accept your credits because they are from a JR college, or because they are not meeting the upper division requirements? Could you get into this further?

REG - 92
AUD - 90
BEC - 82
FAR - 82
BISK Review Materials
DONE! /Happydance

[M.O.D.]

@ Vlakimir

The college of San Mateo, as well as many in Calif. are junior colleges which teach upper division accounting courses, but cannot award BA/BS.

They are for reentry students which already have a BA/BS in a different field, say liberal arts, but want an accounting concentration. Nowadays a MAcc is what many would take. But obviously a junior college is much cheaper, and the credits are accepted by the Board of Calif. I thought the entire county was doing this, but obviously not.

The need for low cost education is driving these programs. And the classes are filled with poor immigrants from Asia, but also from Russia/Eastern Europe.

I don't think Montana has these issues. I can argue my case, with supporting documentation, but I already applied with Calif, and I don't have the time to educate the Board of Montana.

In any case they have an elitist attitude in that beginning economics courses are not considered either. Since when are microeconomics and macroeconomics not considered? They are more than sufficient preparation for BEC, and are considered harder than most classes in my MBA program, all of which are allowed because they were at a graduate level.

But it is hard to explain to someone that a course that cost $150 is better preparation than a course that cost $2000. Or that an AA degree can be equal to an MBA. It upsets the apple cart. And the CPA Boards are all about keeping the apple cart steady while they balance on top. Because next thing someone will say that an EA or RTRP or some other cert is just as good as a CPA cert. And that will be the end of that charade.

https://collegeofsanmateo.edu/accounting/cpa_prep.asp

From their catalog:

Traditionally Upper Division Accounting Courses

At the CSM, we teach several accounting courses that are traditionally taught as upper division courses at a four-year college or university. These courses are:

ACTG 161 Intermediate Accounting I

ACTG 162 Intermediate Accounting II

ACTG 163 Auditing

ACTG 164 Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting

ACTG 165 Cost Accounting

Who should take traditionally upper division classes at CSM?

These courses are appropriate for students who already have a bachelor's degree or students who do not plan to pursue a bachelor's degree. These courses will help prepare you for the CPA exam and help you develop higher level job skills.

Who should NOT take traditionally upper division classes at CSM?

These courses are not appropriate for students planning to transfer and earn a bachelor's degree. They will not transfer to a four-year school and would need to be retaken after you transfer. Please see your academic advisor to plan your schedule.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

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