Our Certificate in Accounting prepares individuals to assume greater responsibility for the accounting function. The 30-credit undergraduate/post-baccalaureate accounting certificate (10 courses) provides a foundation in accounting, auditing, taxation, commercial law, and managerial finance.  The accounting certificate can be completed in 20 months by enrolling in 2 classes per term. 

Why Accounting?

Accounting is the backbone of every successful organization. Today’s accountant not only keeps track of an organization’s finances, but he/she also writes the reports that managers use to make their future projections and recommendations.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accountants and auditors are expected to experience much faster employment growth through 2018 … [those] who have a professional certification, especially CPAs, should have the best prospects.

Who Should Enroll?

The accounting certificate is ideal for those individuals new to the accounting profession, as well as for mid-level professionals looking to stay ahead of the competition, advance in their career, or increase their earning potential. Completion of the certificate demonstrates evidence of specialized educational achievement in accounting.

The accounting certificate program includes courses that are both required and recommended as preparation to sit for the Certified Public Accounting (CPA) examination.  The Virginia State Board of Accountancy currently requires CPA applicants to have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a total of 120 semester hours in accounting and business subjects distributed as follows:

• 24 semester hours in accounting including financial or intermediate accounting, management/cost accounting, taxation, and auditing. (Introductory accounting courses cannot be considered in determining whether a person has obtained the number of semester hours required for an accounting concentration or equivalent.)
• 24 semester hours in business subjects at the graduate or undergraduate level.

The coursework must be completed prior to application to sit for the CPA exam.

Many individuals who have completed our Certificate in Accounting have successfully passed the exam and are now CPAs.