[phoenix_laurion]

I know similar posts have been done before, but we are seeing a new age in the Big 4 audit world. Myself and my Big 4 intern class from a year ago are getting ready to enter the work force as fledglings with feathers. However, some of us did not get our Masters in Accounting, but in other fields such as Finance, Information Systems, Analytics, etc. Collectively, we are wondering: is it absolutely contingent that one obtains the “36 upper-division accounting credits” before beginning full-time at the Big 4? We know passing all 4 parts of the CPA in the first year is necessary to meet the bonus requirement, but are we also expected to be fully licensed before bonus eligibility?

Most of us are only 2 or so (accounting) classes short, but will have 150+ credits and have passed all 4 parts of the CPA before our start date. We plan on completing these few courses online in the first year of work. The frustrating part is the scheme by states (such as Florida) to force students into iterative and repetitive ‘upper-division’ accounting courses to feed the graduate university system, when many of us have decided there is no value in the MAcc or MS in Accounting. It is very difficult to find courses that we have not already taken to meet those upper division accounting credit requirements. For Pete’s sake, I’m doing machine learning algorithms in grad school and passing the CPA sections, do I REALLY need to waste my time and money right this moment on these 2 elusive courses?!? Please help, experienced Big 4-ers!

[Anonymous]

Is 36 upper-division accounting credits the requirements to be licensed as a CPA in your state?

[phoenix_laurion]

Yes, 36 upper division accounting credits required for license as part of the 150 (but not to sit). Difficult to find courses beyond 30 or so credits without paying grad prices ($2000+ per course). So, many of us will have well over 150, without meeting this requirement before our start date.

[Anonymous]

On the whole, I'm with you. There has clearly not been a lot of thought put into these requirements. The rules specific to Texas are downright stupid for candidates who majored in accounting/business but did not get a master's degree. You end up taking a lot of upper division coursework in subjects completely unrelated to your career because once you reach the accounting-specific and business-specific course requirements, you are no longer allowed to take accounting and business courses to meet the 150 total hours. You have to go spend your time and money on completely irrelevant classes (and since they're upper division, they're going to require actual work). It is enough to make you wonder if their goal is to have properly educated CPAs or just more tuition $ pouring into the schools. And seriously, if it's the latter, I think my company would probably rather have just written a check than have me missing any work time to attend class, take exams, etc.

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