150 hour requirement specifics…

I have 149 hours from my days of undergrad, so I need one more credit hour to license. My state board website says:

“The board shall grant a license to practice as a certified public accountant to persons who make application and demonstrate:

(1) at least one hundred fifty semester hours of college education, including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a college or university acceptable to the board, with the total educational program including an accounting concentration or equivalent…

To meet the educational requirement as part of the one hundred fifty semester hours of education, the applicant must demonstrate successful completion of:

(1) at least thirty-six semester hours of accounting in courses that are applicable to a baccalaureate, masters, or doctoral degree and which cover financial accounting, managerial accounting, taxation, and auditing, of which at least twenty-four semester hours must be taught at the junior level or above; and

(2) at least thirty-six semester hours of business courses that are applicable to a baccalaureate, masters, or doctoral degree and which may include macro and micro economics, finance, business law, management, computer science, marketing, and accounting hours not counted in item (1).

(C) The board shall accept a transcript from a college or university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or another regional accrediting association having the equivalent standards or an independent senior college in South Carolina certified by the State Department of Education for teacher training, and accounting and business programs accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) or any other accrediting agency having equivalent standards. Official transcripts signed by the college or university registrar and bearing the college or university seal must be submitted to demonstrate education and degree requirements. Photocopies of transcripts must not be accepted.”

That’s all it says on the education requirement. My plan was to attend a local university in the Fall to knock out the one credit hour by taking some kind of elective class. Like a physical education class… tennis or something. I wanted to verify that this was alright, so I called up the board and spoke with one of the administrative assistants. He said that the class cannot be an elective, but must be a course required by a student who is seeking a degree on that specific subject. In other words, a core class for any major. I REALLY don’t think that is correct, especially considering the fact that I’ve never seen anything that specific written anywhere or heard of it. Also, I took plenty of elective courses before, all of which count towards my 149 total currently recognized by the board. For example, swimming isn’t required by any major. I took it when I was a full-time student and the board is currently including it in my total count.

I know this is a board rep that I spoke with and I should take his word for it, but… it just seems wrong. So I figured I’d get some insight from you all. I’m concerned because of cost. Any core class is a 3 credit hour course, which will cost much more than a 1 credit hour course, since I’m a part-time student. Any thoughts? Should I call the board and try to speak with someone else? Thanks

*My state is South Carolina, by the way. Also, I have all required accounting and business courses already completed.