[Resacups]

On 11/21/12 I was the happiest person in the world. The 10 month journey of passing the CPA Exam was over. I had been very proactive in obtaining everything I would need for my license application so that I could get my experience verified immediately after Thanksgiving and file my application. On 11/29/12 my favorite partner happily signed off on my work experience and I completed my application for a CPA License in Georgia through NASBA Licensing services that afternoon.

Yesterday I was notified via email that my application was not accepted as NASBA, not the State of Georgia, has determined that I only have 21 credit hours in Business Courses. By my review of my transcript I have 51 hours in Accounting, 21 undergrad and 30 grad, plus 6 hours in business law, 4 hours in statistics and 3 hours in econ. At both my undergraduate and graduate universities, accounting is a part of the business school. Nowhere in the O.C.G.A (official code of Georgia, annotated) is there a definition of a business course for CPA licensure.

To spend years in school, pass the hardest exam(s) I have ever taken, worked 19 months in public accounting and then be told, I am sorry, you don’t have enough business courses to be a CPA…….to say the least, I am devastated. Sure taking one more class is what I will ultimately have to do, but when you find out on 12/12/12 that you are one class shy, it’s too late for spring admissions anywhere. (I finished grad school in the summer of 2011, so I would actually have to reapply to school) At the earliest, it will be late August, most likely September of 2013 before I can officially become a CPA in the state of Georgia.

Has anyone been dealt this similar hand? I feel there has to be a formal appeal process, but the Georgia State Board of Accountancy website has not shed any light on this situation.

BEC: 01/09/12 PASSED
AUD: 05/29/12 PASSED
REG: 07/19/12 PASSED
FAR: 11/12/12 PASSED

[Starlight]

@eboneeCPA – accounting credits aren't the issue, it's the business credits. The OP wanted Principles of Accounting and Stats to count as business courses.

REG: 86
AUD: 92
FAR: 84
BEC: 87
Ethics: Passed!
Licensed 11/20/12

Supporting my husband on his CPA journey: 75% of the way there!

[Anonymous]

Oh sorry left that out. I took Stats also and to my knowledge it didnt count for me. But Acct I and II cant count as business credits cos they dont count at all in GA at least.

[Anonymous]

Statistic is a 1000 level course right ? I would think it will only count if its was a 3000 or 4000 level class if not then its will be classified as intro level.

[sohlman]

I had a similar experience. Passed all the exams, submitted my application, and then was told that I was 1 credit shy of the 30 hour upper-level accounting course requirements. In the state of Georgia, you don't have to have all 150 hours to sit for the exam, you just have to have the hours for licensing.

Ultimately I took an accredited online course through LSU. It was really reasonable (approximately $500) compared to other online course like DeVry (more than $1,000).

I just resubmitted my application to Georgia. So fingers crossed everything goes well. I certainly feel your pain.

[wr8280]

Online class. They start all the time and only last 6-8 weeks.

FAR- 82
REG- 93
AUD- 89
BEC- 88

You are smarter, more focused, and more brilliant than you give yourself credit for. Believe in yourself and truly know in your heart that you can do it.

[Anonymous]

I agree that the communication on this issue could be a lot clearer, but, for those of you who are still going through the exam/licensing process or have not even started it yet, know this:

In pretty much every state, eligibility to take the exam is an entirely different thing than eligibility for a license. When you apply for eligibility to take the exam, that is ALL they are evaluating you for. Some states might be really nice and helpful and tell you what else you still need to do in order to get your license, but most states do not do this. They expect you to be proactive about looking up the requirements and calling the board if you have questions. If you haven't clarified it, then you may well not even discover you have deficiencies until after you've passed the exams and submitted your license application. Don't be caught by surprise. Ask early, and ask often.

[JohnWayneIsGod]

One thing to consider is to transfer your test scores to another state with different requirements. For instance, my understanding is that the State of California accepts lower division courses towards the 24 accounting and 24 business requirement, and residency is not a requirement. After receipt of your license, you could apply for reciprocity with the State of Georgia. But this is just an idea that would require research to confirm that you wouldn't be met with any unwelcome surprises later on. And of course, it would likely be quicker and more rewarding to simply take your missing business class.

FAR - 80

Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.

-John Wayne

[Author]

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