[greenjas]

Hello everyone,

I graduated with a Master’s of Science in Accounting with 38 credits. I have a bachelors degree in Health Science with 121 credits. However, my undergraduate degree allowed me to transfer 41 credits from my trade school (concentration in Medical Assisting) as part of an agreement for anyone within the medical field.

I’m planning on sitting for the Massachusetts CPA exam because I have my own company and I do not want to give up my business in order to go work for someone in order to gain the 1 year experience. I’m an Enrolled Agent and I really want to get my CPA license for personal reasons.

During graduate school I took mostly accounting courses. So all 38 credits are accounting and business credit. I’m just worried that my undergraduate degree will prove that I don’t have enough credit because 41 of my credits are not related to business or accounting. Do I need to make up for the 42 credits that transferred in?

Thanks everyone.

[RachelP]

I'm pretty sure it differs from state to state, but for Missouri, I had to have 150 hours total of classes, 60 of those had to be business related, and 30 of those had to be directly accounting hours. I transferred in classes from both foreign universities & community colleges & they didn't make an issue about it. It looks like you may have enough total hours, and enough total accounting hours, but not enough total business hours. Again, I would check into your states requirements though because it could be different.

"Don't worry, beeeeee happy!"

Unhappy with job, long distance boyfriend, not much studying:
FAR- 66 [08/28/12] AUD- 61 [10/04/12] REG- 59 [11/28/12] BEC- 63 [01/11/13]
Year off (from exams): Got new job, got married, moved, etc
✓ AUD- 79!!! 01/10/14 FIRST PASS!! WOOOO!!!
✓ REG- 73 02/27/14, 81 10/27/14
✓ FAR- 83 5/16/14
✓ BEC- 80 7/24/14
✓ Education ✓ Experience
Ethics Exam

[RachelP]

Ok, I saw after I posted that that you did say massechusetts. ha!

https://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/pa/faqs.html#e01

“The requirements to sit for the exam do not require any other course work, but to become licensed, the requirements vary based on the highest degree you obtain. You should read the regulations at 252 CMR 2.07(2) carefully. In either case, all coursework must be completed at a nationally or regionally accredited college or university and Associate degree/community college courses will be accepted only if transferred into a four-year bachelor's degree program. Elementary or introductory accounting courses will now qualify to fulfill your accounting course requirements for exam and licensure.”

It looks like because the classes were transferred in, they will work!

"Don't worry, beeeeee happy!"

Unhappy with job, long distance boyfriend, not much studying:
FAR- 66 [08/28/12] AUD- 61 [10/04/12] REG- 59 [11/28/12] BEC- 63 [01/11/13]
Year off (from exams): Got new job, got married, moved, etc
✓ AUD- 79!!! 01/10/14 FIRST PASS!! WOOOO!!!
✓ REG- 73 02/27/14, 81 10/27/14
✓ FAR- 83 5/16/14
✓ BEC- 80 7/24/14
✓ Education ✓ Experience
Ethics Exam

[RachelP]

This also seems relevant to you, from the same website:

“How is the ratio calculated for graduate course value vs. undergraduate course value under the current education regulations of 252 CMR 2.07(2) (a)?

Since a candidate now needs 30 semester hours of undergraduate accounting courses or 18 semester hours of graduate courses for licensure, each undergraduate hour now equals 3/5 of a graduate hour (or conversely, each graduate hour equals 5/3 of an undergraduate hour).

For example: A candidate with 15 undergraduate hours and 9 graduate hours would have an equivalent of 30 undergraduate hours. (15 undergraduate hours + (5/3 x 12 = 15). If a candidate sits for the exam with the required 21 undergraduate accounting semester hours, he/she would only need complete 2 graduate accounting courses rather than 3 undergraduate accounting courses to comply with 252 CMR 2.07(2)(a) for licensure.

For business courses, since a candidate remains to need 24 semester hours of undergraduate accounting courses or 18 semester hours of graduate courses for licensure, each undergraduate hour equals 3/4 of a graduate hour (or conversely, each graduate hour equals 4/3 of an undergraduate hour).

For example: A candidate with 9 undergraduate business hours and 12 graduate business hours would have an equivalent of 24 undergraduate hours. (9 undergraduate hours + 4/3 x 12 graduate = 15, and the total is now 24). If a candidate sits for the exam with the required 9 undergraduate business semester hours, he/she would only need complete 4 graduate accounting courses rather than 5 undergraduate accounting courses to comply with 252 CMR 2.07(2)(a) for licensure. All should be advised that if one were earn a graduate degree in business (MBA, MST, MSAIS, or MSF), no specific business course coverage is necessary and only 18 graduate semester hours in business are required.”

"Don't worry, beeeeee happy!"

Unhappy with job, long distance boyfriend, not much studying:
FAR- 66 [08/28/12] AUD- 61 [10/04/12] REG- 59 [11/28/12] BEC- 63 [01/11/13]
Year off (from exams): Got new job, got married, moved, etc
✓ AUD- 79!!! 01/10/14 FIRST PASS!! WOOOO!!!
✓ REG- 73 02/27/14, 81 10/27/14
✓ FAR- 83 5/16/14
✓ BEC- 80 7/24/14
✓ Education ✓ Experience
Ethics Exam

[greenjas]

Ok Thanks very much. It looks like I'll just remain an Enrolled Agent because going back to school is not an option for me right now.

[Anonymous]

@greenjas The way I'm reading the requirements Rachel posted, you count. You have 18 graduate credits in accounting + 18 more which can count as business, right?

[Anonymous]

@greenjas Call your state board of accountancy and verify before you make any final decisions, ok? Trust but verify.

[greenjas]

I decided to change the state I will register with. I live in Philadelphia Pa and Pa will allow me to qualify just with my Master's degree in accounting. They require 24 hours of accounting, audits, or taxation plus 12 additional hours for a total of 36 semester hours.

The only down side is that I have to 1600 hours of experience under a CPA licensed in Pa. I can do this by working part-time. Now, I just to pass the CPA exam and find someone that will let me work part-time so that I don't have to give up my business.

[Author]

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