[Finally_a_CPA]

Ok, so we all know that many changes are coming to the exam. There is also this new 3 unit ethics course requirement. Does this mean that those of us who have not passed all four exams as of the end of 2016 will have to go back to school?

[Accountant183748]

What state are you in?

[ipadminihalf]

This depends on your state, but the board of accountancy should have literature on this, or you can call them. In CA, you can qualify to take the CPA exam with 24 semester accounting units and 24 semester business units. The educational requirement to obtain the license after you pass the exam is more strict however, you need 150 total units, and the 150 units need to be comprised of the 48 units mentioned above, 10 ethics course units, 20 accounting study units, and maybe some other ones, I don't recall at the moment. If I am able to pass my last exam, I will have to take like 3-4 classes to meet the educational requirement for the license. I figure the hard part is out of the way, and I can take these courses online or something.

REG - 2/19/16 - 77!
BEC - 4/16/16 - 79!!
AUD - 6/04/16 - 84!!!
FAR - 8/31/16

[Finally_a_CPA]

Sorry, I should have mentioned what state I am in. I'm in CA but unless I'm mistaken, this new requirement applies to every state since this is a requirement by CALCPA and not the California State Board.

Yeah I've known about the 150 units requirement. Luckily, accounting was not my first major in college so I completed approximately 160 units before graduating.

The following is taken directly out of the CALCPA website:
‘Starting on Jan. 1, 2017, an applicant will be required to take a standalone 3-semester or 4-quarter unit course devoted solely to accounting ethics or accountants’ professional responsibilities as part of the 10 unit ethics requirement.'

I took audit in college which had a long chapter devoted solely to ethics but the CALCPA mentions a ‘standalone ethics course'.

[Accountant183748]

I think CALCPA is just for California.

I'm in Colorado and this has been a requirement since July 2015

[Anonymous]

CalCPA has nothing to do with National Requirements. CalCPA is just the fancy name for the California State CPA Society. In fact, state societies have no control over requirements whatsoever.

You will very likely be required to go back to fulfill the education requirements. For the VAST majority of states, a new requirement for licensure is placed on ALL applicants who have not yet been licensed. Also, Audit is NOT an ethics course at all. Audit is ANOTHER requirement for licensure and one chapter of ethics doesn't cut it.

Pay close attention to this issue when you get to REG. The mistake you made, confusing powers of state boards vs. state societies, can cost you some easy points.

[Anonymous]

CA BPC §5093(b)(2):

“An applicant for issuance of the certified public accountant license under the provisions of this section shall present satisfactory evidence that the applicant has completed at least 150 semester units of college education including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a college or university, meeting, at a minimum, the standards described in Section 5094, the total educational program to include a minimum of 24 semester units in accounting subjects, 24 semester units in business-related subjects, and, after December 31, 2013, shall also include a minimum of 10 units of ethics study consistent with the requirements set forth in Section 5094.3 and 20 units of accounting study consistent with the regulations promulgated under subdivision (c) of Section 5094.6.  This evidence shall be presented at the time of application for the certified public accountant license.  Nothing herein shall be deemed inconsistent with Section 5094 or 5094.6.  Nothing herein shall be construed to be inconsistent with prevailing academic practice regarding the completion of units.”

CA BPC §5094.3:

(a) An applicant for licensure as a certified public accountant shall, to the satisfaction of the board, provide documentation of the completion of 10 semester units or 15 quarter units of ethics study, as set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 5093, in the manner prescribed in this section.

(b)(1) Between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016, inclusive, an applicant shall complete 10 semester units or 15 quarter units in courses described in subdivisions (d), (e), and (f).
(2) Beginning January 1, 2017, an applicant shall complete 10 semester units or 15 quarter units in courses described in subdivisions (c), (d), (e), and (f).

(c) A minimum of three semester units or four quarter units in courses at an upper division level or higher devoted to accounting ethics or accountants' professional responsibilities, unless the course was completed at a community college, in which case it need not be completed at the upper division level or higher.

(d) Between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2016, inclusive, a maximum of 10 semester units or 15 quarter units, and on and after January 1, 2017, a maximum of 7 semester units or 11 quarter units, in courses containing the following terms in the course title:
(1) Business, government, and society.
(2) Business law.
(3) Corporate governance.
(4) Corporate social responsibility.
(5) Ethics.
(6) Fraud.
(7) Human resources management.
(8) Business leadership.
(9) Legal environment of business.
(10) Management of organizations.
(11) Morals.
(12) Organizational behavior.
(13) Professional responsibilities.
(14) Auditing.

Basically, I would be very careful with ensuring you meet the education requirements, ESPECIALLY if you are not going to be licensed prior to January 2017 as it appears many changes are coming…

[Mashukzzz]

Guys, can someone recommend an online program that offers 3-semester units of ethics? I took all my classes at UCLA Extension and they have quarter units system. If I take 4 quarter units of that ethics, I will have to take 2 ethics classes to qualify for 3-semester units. That's what my CBA status letter said.

Do you know where I can take it online?

REG - 91 on 01/21/15
FAR - 87 on 05/30/15
BEC - 88 on 01/04/16
AUD - 96 on 10/16/15

DONE

[Want2BeCPAsoBad]

You can take it online at Foothill Community College. That's where I plan to take mine after I pass my tests

[Mashukzzz]

thank you!

REG - 91 on 01/21/15
FAR - 87 on 05/30/15
BEC - 88 on 01/04/16
AUD - 96 on 10/16/15

DONE

[NA474]

Santa Monica College (Community College) and Mission Community College have accounting ethics courses online as well.

FAR-5/31 -PASS
REG-7/29 (TBD)
AUD TBD
BEC TBD

[ultrarunner]

Hi Mashukzzz, may I ask when you sent your application? Anyway, I took online Ethics from Foothill, but the class is usually full. I also recommend Mission College, which offers online Ethics class. I believe the class just started. Good luck!

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[T Rev]

@vanche I am applying for Colorado licensure as well. Can I ask how you were able to fulfill the Accounting Ethics course requirement?

[Kim W.]

I tried to sign up for the ethics on line class for the summer session. They had five of them and they all filled up including the wait list spots before I could register! They did add an additional class later but that one filled up as well.

I only need 5 units (including this ethics course) and the online ethics exam to be done!

🙁

Kim W.

[CPYay]

Same here. I've been registered for a community college for three semesters now and the ethics class and the waitlist fill up before my registration even begins. I'm extremely frustrated. May have to consider the UCLA extension. It's considerably more expensive, but I just want to get this over with.

[OneDance]

I'm in a similar situation to many in this thread. I just graduated from a university in CA, and have 220 units. I've been taking online accounting courses at Foothill since Fall 2016, and have had no luck enrolling in their Accounting Ethics class. I just forked out the $685 for the UCLA extension course. UCSD Extension course has already filled up, and Berkely isn't offering the course until next fall.

[Author]

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