On-line courses that will count toward CPA requirements?

[Dee*Jay]

The internet is a marvelous thing... but sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming!

I am looking to fulfill some accouting course requirements so that I can sit for the CPA exam. I need:

- an accredited institution (and I'm currently in Missouri, if that makes any difference)
- less expensive is better becuase I will be paying for this myself until my tuition reimbursement kicks in in January
- the option to move at my own pace (i.e., quickly!) if possible, but I can do a more structured time line if necessary

I've looked at so much info now that I'm crosseyed, so if anyone knows of anything...

 

[OneFifty]

Which courses are you missing? Which state are you planning on taking the test in? I'm licensed in Missouri. If you send Kansas your transcripts, they will tell you what you are missing. I'm not sure Missouri has this service. I know it can be difficult to figure out what credits qualify for different reqirements.

I took some accounting classes from a KC metro area community college that were online only. Not necessarily at your own pace, but the deadlines are more lenient than a traditional class. This would also be the least expensive option. Some of these offer classes that you only attend one night a week.

There are a lot of local universities (I attended one) that fit into the more traditional timeline. Although at my school, we had some accelarated courses that could be completed in 8 weeks. Now that I think about it, I don't think any of those were accounting. Some of the other courses required will fit into this category though.

Also, have you thought about what kind of CPA review course you will take when the time comes? I took Becker and it you also did a few extra items, you could receive credit from the Keller School of Mgmt, part of DeVry. I didn't go this route as I had my credits completed before I started. I also don't know which reqirement they fulfill. I would think some sort of accounting credit.

I hope I didn't overwhelm you! I know this is a difficult and confusing process. Just wait until you have to apply to the state and start scheduling the tests. Good luck!

 

[Dee*Jay]

OneFifty -Thank you SO MUCh for the reply.

I did see that info about Becker and will likely go that route for as many credits as I can get. Would you mind sharing which school you took the classes at? I'm having a hard time figuring out which ones are considered appropriately accredited.

I need A LOT of classes unfortunately. Somehow I have achieved a undergraduate degree from Northwestern, including a minor in business, a masters degree in finance, and half of a law degree without fulfilling most of the basic CPA requirements (?). Oh well, at least all those classes will give me something to do! It's either that or, out of utter and complete boredom, I'm going to have to resort to the world of on-line dating again... and we all know how that turned out the first time!

P.S. - Are you actually in the KC metro area? Maybe we should plan a GTG!

 

[OneFifty]

I'm happy to be able to help!

I am in the KC metro and a GTG would be fun! I'm such a PS newbie, you could show me the ropes! Also, I could write about a hundred additional pages on classes and the exam process if you want to torture yourself with more info.

I took some additional accounting courses at Johnson County Community College. If you are in Missouri, this may no be as affordable because of the residency issues. Any of the Metropolitan Community Colleges (i.e. Penn Valley, Longview, Maple Woods, Blue River) would work as well (based on the MO side of the state line). I'm not sure where you are located, but UMKC and Rockhurst University are right off the plaza. However, these are going to be more expensive options.

http://www.nasba.org/exams/cpaexam/missouri/

This link is for the NASBA and gives you Missouri specific information regarding course requirements and specifically says that community college credit and online credit is acceptable. At my university, there was a specific business advisor that was well versed in the CPA requirements, so I knew when I graduated that I had everything I needed. He also kept me on track if certain courses were only offered in the Spring or Fall semester. I would think that a community college would offer a similar service.

It sounds like you don't need any additional hours to meet your 150 requirement with all those degrees under your belt! I know that the CPA boards can be very picky. I ended up taking the exam in MO instead of KS (I was eligible for both) because KS required an additional 3 hours in written communication. I was 3 hours behind the requirement because I had taken English Comp 1 & 2 accelerated in 1 semester. But they didn't like that answer. Oh yeah, and English Lit doesn't count for that! It ended up working out for the best because my company needed me to be licensed in MO anyway. So I know it can be a long and confusing process. I was stressed over it for quite a while. Don't resort to the online dating just yet!

 

[Haven]

Definitely check out your local CC. My college has a specific certificate for CPA preparation, and it is fully accredited. If you're in district the tuition will likely be more affordable than a four-year college. My school's in-district tuition is under $100 per credit hour in-district, and $350 per credit hour out-of-district.

Right now is a good time to contact an advisor at your local CC. They're not as busy as they will be the first week of the semester when all of the students realize, "OMG! I need register before it's too late!" My school has a specific student advisor for students interested in the CPA cert.

 

[Dee*Jay]

OneFifty - I just talked to Becker/Keller... holy sh!t! $609/credit hour, and they have 9 hours devoted to review classes, so $5,000+. Um, I think I'll save that part until my EMPLOYER is footing the bill! Johnson County is about $197/credit hour for non-residents, but Metro is only $92/credit hour, so I don't mind paying for the first semester myself until my tuition assistance kicks in.

Haven - I actually looked into becoming a CPA in Illinois. I had it all planned out--I was going to take classes at either Robert Morris or Harold Washington, but then I tore my ACL a few weeks before the semester started and the whole plan went out the window. Now, of course, I wish I would have just sucked it up and hobbled over there on my crutches, but hindsight is 20/20...

 

[Haven]

I know I definitely couldn't have concentrated on classes with a torn ACL! I hope you find a good, quick, and affordable way to get these requirements finished!

 

[mogster]

UC Berkeley Extension offers an online program geared towards getting a CPA. It's expensive, but I think they give you a whole year to take all the tests and complete the course. I don't know very much as my friend is who's in the program, but it might be worth checking out. http://extension.berkeley.edu/cert/account.html

 

[natascha]

I am not in the US so I can't really help you with your questions but I just wanted to say that you are not alone. I have a Bachelor in Business and Economics ( double specialization accounting and management), half a Law degree and in a year I will have a Masters in Accounting and Financial Management and another Masters in International Management yet I still don't fullfill the requirements for the Swedish version of CPA .

Thankfully the CPA route is not my aim. The areas that would have interested me are Business Combinations and Financial Instruments but in order to get to the good stuff there I would need to do 7-10 dog years at more normal stuff. Add to that a relatively bad pay and that I find stuff like international transfer pricing much more interesting .

With your finance background will you be specializing in BC or FI? Or something else entirely?

 

[Dee*Jay]

mogster, thanks very much for that link! I will check the program out. It's a little expensive, but I talked to HR late this afternoon and as long as I don't ASK for reimbursement of classes until I've been there for six months, it doesn't matter when I actually took them, so the cost isn't as important was when I thought I was shelling out my own $$$.

natascha, you and I are like education sisters! I poured over my transcripts tonight and with all that schooling I think I have (literally) only two classes that will count. So 2 down, 9 more to go... Ug. ETA, to answer your question about specializing, I am a compliance officer in the financial industry, and don't have any *real* plans to change that. But if I do want to move on at some point I'm hoping the CPA will give me more options.


And I've decided maybe the right answer here may be to actually go to a school and TAKE classes. After all, this whole adventure is born of the fact that I am BORED BORED BORED. If I meet some people maybe I'll make new friends and I won't be so BORED any more!