[Peach1024]

I’m hoping someone who is in Florida – or who is in a state with similar requirements to Florida – can help me out. I recently passed all four sections (yay!) but am worried I don’t meet the requirements to get my license.

I have the 150 hours, but here is what Florida says about specific credit hours:

TOTAL REQUIRED HOURS: 150 semester or 200 quarter hours

TOTAL UPPER DIVISION ACCOUNTING HOURS: 36 semester or 54 quarter to include the following: Taxation, Auditing, Financial, Cost/Managerial and Accounting Info Systems.

TOTAL UPPER DIVISION GENERAL BUSINESS HOURS: 39 semester hours or 58 quarter hours to include the following: six (6) semester hours or eight (8) quarter hours of business law. One course can be at a lower lever (freshman or sophomore), the other course must be upper division (junior level or higher).

I don’t have 39 semester hours of upper-division business hours; I have about 33, with the rest being lower-division such as economics, statistics, computer courses, etc. I would think this would mean I don’t have enough but when I read the actual law on the books, this is what it says:

“All general business courses must be taken at the upper division level, except for Introductory Macro and Micro Economics, three semester hours of the six required in Business Law, Introductory Statistics, Introduction to Computer Information Systems, and any written or oral communication course described in paragraph 61H1-27.002(2)(b), F.A.C. Lower level general business courses, other than those listed above, posted to transcripts after August 31, 1989 will not count.”

Am I understanding correctly that lower-level economics, statistics, etc. can count towards your business credit hours needed in Florida? It just seems strange that the actual application doesn’t mention this important exception if I am understanding correctly.

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to answer! A little worried over here. 🙁

AUD - 88
REG - 76
BEC - 88
FAR - scheduled for 10/20/14

[MommyBear]

I think you're fine with what you have. One of the business laws can be lower level for sure. I am in Florida and I still have to take 4 more upper level accounting classes when I am done with the exam, but that is because they are more strict on the accounting requirements. You should be fine with the business. I have attended 4 colleges for my undergrad, masters, and additional accounting classes and I have NEVER seen upper level economics. Even my masters econ classes only qualify as lower level, but they still counted towards the CPA.

[CM]

When I received my approval letter to take the test from the Florida Accountancy Board, all of my business classes were applied against my 150 credits. I was just missing 3 upper level accounting classes, which I took during my master. I don't know if they accepted all of my credits because I had more than enough upper level classes (I studied in 3 different colleges and had to take a lot of extra classes that were not transferred) or because they counted the lower levels too. Send an email to the FAB, and they will help you with this. I have emailed them before and they answer super quickly.

CPA.Applications@myfloridalicense.com

FAR: 78 (5x)
AUD: 80 (3x)
BEC: 9/07/2016
REG: 12/06/2016

Failure is never an option.

"Faith in your own powers and confidence in your individual methods are essential to success." Roderick Stevens

[Peach1024]

Thanks! I sent them an email just to be sure :).

AUD - 88
REG - 76
BEC - 88
FAR - scheduled for 10/20/14

[Anonymous]

Sorry if this is a bit late… its funny, i actually got the license with 2 lower level Business Law courses. I actually asked them specifically about the second course before taking it to be sure they would take it.

I would go ahead and submit my application. they give you two or three years to put your act together if you still need any courses.

In case you do and you live in Florida, you can take online courses with Valencia College. Pretty affordable 333 dollars a course + books etc. , and as long as you live in Florida – resident of florida or not, you can take online courses and not pay out of state tuition fees… you do have to provide proof that you are a citizen or permanent resident or that you have a status that would enable you to get higher education in the US.

Let us know how it works out for you …

[Author]

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