[xmas]

Hello…

What is the quickest way to get 15 accounting credits – online? I am looking for online classes with decent pricing.

Thanks in advance..

[Anonymous]

Do you mean undergrad or did you truly mean graduate? I know some undergrad sources but not graduate.

[xmas]

Thanks for looking …I need 15 graduate credits for MA state licensing. Undergraduate will mean lot of more courses though- graduate would be 5 courses.

[mla1169]

MA doesn't have a requirement that any of your classes be graduate level unless you are trying for a Non reporting license. In that case you'd have to have a graduate level degree not just graduate level courses. Your masters need not be in accounting and all accounting classes can be undergrad but you'll need to prove an accredited university conferred a masters degree. 15 credits is usually about 5 classes whether you do graduate level or undergrad.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[xmas]

mla1169, thanks for your input. Here is the quote from MA board website for non-reporting license;

If you earn a graduate degree in accounting from a school that does not fall within the above AACSB category, or if you earn a graduate degree in business administration or law, you will need 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) of accounting at the graduate level or 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) at the undergraduate level, or an equivalent combination thereof (undergraduate courses are weighed as 3/5 of graduate courses per this new rule as mentioned above). These courses must include coverage in financial accounting, audit, taxation, and management accounting. In addition, the degree must include or be supplemented by 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) of business courses (other than accounting courses) at the undergraduate level or 18 semester hours at the graduate level, or an equivalent combination thereof (undergraduate business courses are weighed as 3/4 of graduate courses per this new rule as mentioned).”

The way I understand this is: If you have an MBA……..

– you would need 18 semester hours of accounting at graduate level

OR

– 30 semester hours at the undergraduate level

So it would be 6 Graduate level courses or 10 undergraduate level assuming 3 credits/course.

[mla1169]

You have no undergrad credits at all in accounting? Many grad level accounting courses are going to have prereqs. Just another factor to consider. Not to mention that 10 undergrad courses are going to give you a much better foundation for the exams themselves if you haven't already started taking the exams.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

To me it sounds like if you have an MBA you need 30 semester hours at the undergraduate level in specific accounting courses, which should be outlined by the board. There will probably be a PDF or Word doc on their site specifying which accounting classes fulfill the 30-credit requirement.

It also seems to me that classes taken in your undergraduate or MBA studies may already fulfill some of the accounting requirements. For example, if you took accounting 101, that may fulfill 3 credits.

I'm sure your MBA covered all of the business courses, too.

Additionally, remember that community colleges are undergraduate courses as well and you should be able to take any classes you need on the cheap at your local CC. I did this as my undergrad was not accounting.

Consult your state board if you are unsure. No need to go around throwing money away on classes you don't need.

[xmas]

Thanks for the feedback…

I do not have accounting credits in undergrad but I have been working with accounting systems for a while now.

delsol1989: MA site is not that great. It seems antiquated. That said I have about 6 accounting credits from MBA – financial accounting and cost accounting.

I have about 163 credits – so I am OK on that 150 hour rule and business courses. Just the accounting part is posing challenges.

[Anonymous]

This part: “These courses must include coverage in financial accounting, audit, taxation, and management accounting.”

They should have guidance in which courses qualify.Your financial accounting should satisfy, obviously, the financial accounting course and your cost accounting should satisfy the management accounting course.

As for audit, tax, and whatever else. Just go to an accredited community college. That's what I did and had no issues in my state. You may want to check with your board as to if your local CC's accreditation is sufficient, but I don't see why it wouldn't be.

Plus, most CC's tend to have a decent amount of online courses.

[xmas]

mla1169… May be you are right. Here is the quote from MA boards

“What is the experience requirement for CPA certification/licensure?

The experience requirement is set forth in 252 CMR 2.07(2) (b) and is essentially the same as it was detailed under the old rule 252 CMR 2.07(3). The experience requirements depend on your level of education. With 150 credits, you need one year of public accounting experience for a full reporting license and the CPA experience must include 1000 hours of report (attest) experience as defined in these sections. With a graduate degree in accounting, business, or law, no experience is required for certification/licensure, but the candidate can only apply for the non reporting license.”

The way I interpret is….

It says with graduate degree in business (MBA) no experience is required for certification/licensure, but the candidate can only apply for the non reporting license.

Is that what you were saying? So I need not really look into the 18 accounting credits since I am interested in non reporting anyway?

[mla1169]

Unless something has changed since 2012 (and things do change) as long as you meet the minimum accounting credits (is it 24?) AND have a masters you can get the non reporting license. My masters happens to be in accounting so I didn't pay much attention to the credits requirement because I had many more than required.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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