[LD]

In a crazy twist of fate I don’t qualify for a CPA license because I am missing 1 accounting credit (not one class, one credit!), despite having a BS in Accounting and an MBA. I have to take an accounting course at a four year accredited university that doesn’t double up on what I’ve taken before. As you can imagine I have already taken basic and intermediate/advanced accounting, auditing, accounting info systems, cost accounting, etc. Does anyone here have any creative suggestions for online courses that fit the bill or 4 year universities you know of that are accredited? The ones I’ve been researching are SNHU and Colorado State University, but I was hoping someone else might have other suggestions!

[Anonymous]

You need one course and only one? Well…I'd do an online course if you can. I did most of my courses thru UCLA Extension and Santa Monica College (I have a BS degree in Chemistry, and graduated from UCLA Ext with their Accounting Certificate, which most employers consider a BS in Accounting). Anyone can take courses at UCLA Extension, anywhere in the world, no admission required I don't think. For Santa Monica college, you just have to apply and be admitted, then you can take the online courses no matter where you live, and they're cheap, under 200 USD.
The ones at UCLA are, as you can imagine, expensive (600 USD apiece, or more.) I took a class called Advanced Excel for Accounting online thru Santa Monica. Accountants can do their jobs much easier if they know Excel, as you may already know. If you are already good in Excel, you'll get an ‘A' very easily. If not, you'll learn, and the ‘A' is still easy to get. http://www.smc.edu

[LD]

Just one @crazyleon ! I have 29 credits and I need 30, but obviously that means I have to take a 3 credit course 😑 Thank you so much for the info! You've been really helpful in all of my posts. I appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

Well, actually the 2 more credits wouldn't do you any harm! SMC actually offers two Advanced Excel classes – I only took one of them but since I'm kind of an advanced Excel user already, I just took the second one. I don't know if they have any one-credit courses…then again, I have never heard of a 1 or 2 credit accounting course. Anyhow, I'm sure you will find something that will work.

When i applied to take the CPA last year, I was actually worried that they were gonna come back and tell me that I needed to take more Ethics classes, because they did change the requirement for that (at least in California where I am) in 2014. But, surprisingly, they said all was fine. Which I was glad about because I did *NOT* want to pay money to take a philosophy/ethics/religion course that would do me absolutely no good.

I try to be helpful. Sometimes I can be quite sarcastic and this whole thing does piss me off a lot sometimes but if I can help someone else out or steer them in the right direction, I will gladly do it.

[LD]

That's true! You're right it doesn't hurt. Ugh that would totally be perfect except they aren't accredited as a four year university! What a bummer. I could always learn more about excel. Yeah no thanks to the ethics! So many different requirements, it makes my head spin!

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's a 2 year college, although many students go there for longer than 2 years. What state are you in, or are you in a non-US country? I know you have to have a bachelors degree from a university but as far as accounting credits, those don't have to be from a university. At least in California where I am. I know it does depend on where the candidate is applying for licensure in. I think some states require a master's degree! I'm glad I don't live in those states because I don't have one!

[CageTheCPA]

@Lczarnecka just curious but how did you sit without meeting the educational requirements? And which state? I ask because I know I have a mash up of total credits and worry that once I'm done with this bloody exam, I may be a class or two short for licensing (I'm a WI candidate).

Have you tried the UNA accounting courses (be sure your state board will accept them as accounting credits)? They're about $450 and you go at your own pace, I did the taxation courses and it was basically a slimmed down REG course (used the same CPAExcel videos and questions).

[LD]

@crazyleon I'm in MA. I think you do need a masters in my state, or at least 150 credits. MA is pretty particular about the accounting credit, as I mentioned it has to be from a 4 year accredited university, which is proving to be difficult

@cagethecpa MA lets you sit before meeting the requirements, I can't remember the specifics but I think you can get your additional 30 credits (usually a masters) within four years if you already have a bachelors in accounting. I have four years to take one more course because I already have a masters and a BS in accounting, so I really only have to take that last class to get certified, but some people do wait to get their masters until after they've passed

[CageTheCPA]

Ah…

Here's the UNA info, they are an accredited four year university

[LD]

@cagethecpa it looks like I've already taken all of the UNA courses but the LSU ones look totally promising! I'm emailing my state board right now! thank you so much for the advice 🙂 good luck with your credits, I'm sure they've seen a lot of mash ups in the past few years, I wouldn't be too worried about it!

[Author]

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