Accounting Certificate - Graduate Level

Beginning in spring 2026, the online graduate-level Accounting Certificate will offer students a quicker time to completion and reduced tuition. 

About the Program

Our graduate-level Accounting Certificate program prepares you to assume greater responsibility in your accounting career. You’ll gain a foundation of learning and experience that spans accounting, auditing, taxation, commercial law and managerial finance, which you can apply to a wide range of industries. 

Whether you are new to the accounting profession or already have experience, this program can help you advance your career and increase your earning potential.

Spanning critical fundamentals like the accounting cycle to complex topics like tax, data analytics and ethics, the content of our classes will ensure you are well-positioned for applying your learning to a professional setting. 

Learn at a moderated pace according to a timeline that works for you while balancing your other personal and professional demands.

CPA Candidacy

The graduate-level Accounting Certificate’s courses satisfy advanced accounting coursework that contribute to candidacy for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination. 

All prospective and current students should confirm eligibility requirements for their respective jurisdiction (i.e., where they plan to take the exam and work).

For more information on CPA Examination qualifications visit AICPA’s State & Territory Directory and/or NASBA’s State Board directory. 

Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision about which states’ educational requirements for licensure are met by this program. Upon enrolling in this program, should you change your address to another state, please update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact your ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state.

Key Takeaways

• 24 graduate credits / 8 courses
• Start dates: January, May, August
• Learn accounting skills that can be applied to a wide range of industries and open doors to a career in your area of interest
• Newcomers to accounting can achieve career advancement
• Mid-level professionals can prepare to sit for the CPA exam

(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor: Accountant and Auditor)

SCPS’ Program Offers Advantages:

• Flexible programming: with core courses offered regularly, you can stay on your desired learning journey.
• One tuition rate: you’ll pay the same tuition whether you reside in Virginia or out-of-state.
• Expert Faculty who understand adult learners: learn from Faculty who are experts in their industries and are experts at teaching. They understand the demands adult learners need to juggle and structure courses so you can balance your personal and professional life while learning.
• Synchronous learning opportunities: you’ll join online classes and can ask questions, dig deeper, and learn from instructors and classmates.

Program and Application Details

Tuition and Fee

• Estimated cost: $629 tuition per credit hour plus $12 fee per credit hour or $15,384 for entire program* (same in-state and out-of-state)
• This program is not eligible for financial aid
• You may take advantage of an optional, interest-free semester-based payment plan offered by the University to help spread the cost of eligible charges into monthly payments.
• Additional fees may apply, including course materials. Tuition rates adjusted annually.

See tuition details

* 2025-2026, rates are subject to change by the Board of Visitors

Scholarships

Scholarship Opportunities

New and returning students in certificate or degree programs in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies are eligible to apply for the Enslaved Ancestors College Access Scholarship Program. 

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadlines

• To begin in the fall (August): application must be submitted by July 1
• To begin in the spring (January): application must be submitted by November 1
• To begin in the summer (May): application must be submitted by April 1

Admissions Requirements

• Applicants must have an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
• Prequisites: Completed ACCT 3010: Introductory Financial Accounting or equivalent. 

Application Information

To Apply:

Complete an online application, including:

1. Submit your unofficial transcripts. Offers of admission are not binding until official transcripts are received and verified.

2. Application for Virginia In-State Education Privileges to establish residency.

   Begin your application

Required Courses

ACCT 5110 - Intermediate Accounting I

Provides an intensive study of the generally accepted accounting principles for asset valuation, income measurement, and financial statement presentation for business organizations, and underlying processes behind principles. Prerequisite: ACCT 3010

ACCT 5120 - Intermediate Accounting II

Continuation of ACCT 5110. Provides an in-depth study of accounting for the equities of a firm's investors and creditors. Covers special problem areas in financial accounting including accounting for leases, pensions, and income taxes, and shareholder's equity considerations. Recommended prerequisite: ACCT 5110

ACCT 5200 - Introduction to Accounting Information Systems

Explores how accounting information systems are designed and implemented to meet organizational accounting and decision-making needs. Analyze how capabilities and limitations inherent to current technology may shape organizational operations and strategy. Topics include firm value of AIS, block chain, artificial intelligence, mapping business processes, database design and queries, internal controls, mitigating information risks, and more. 

ACCT 5210 - Introductory Auditing

Examines auditing methodology through a study of auditing standards. Includes the nature of evidence, program planning, work papers, internal control evaluation, types of audit tests, and audit reports. Recommended prerequisite: ACCT 5120

ACCT 5450 - Introduction to Taxation

Analyzes basic federal income tax laws and their application to individuals, corporations, and other entities. Employs a study of scenarios and problems covering personal and business tax situations for tax avoidance results. Assigns several cases for which the student prepares illustrative tax returns. Recommended prerequisite: ACCT 3010

Electives

ACCT 5140 - Managerial and Cost Accounting

Addresses analysis of cost behavior and volume profit relationships, responsibility accounting and reporting flexible budgets, and the use of standard costs to guide and control performance. The focus is on internal reporting for managerial requirements. Recommended prerequisite: ACCT 3010

ACCT 5250 - Advanced Auditing

Builds on the concepts and practice examples from introductory auditing to provide students with an in-depth understanding of professional standards, the audit process, advanced audit techniques, and the auditor's role in ensuring that publicly issued financial statements are fairly presented. Assigns complex auditing cases for which students form audit opinions with appropriate rationale and documentation. Recommended prerequisite: ACCT 5210

ACCT 5310 - Selected Topics in Advanced Accounting

Studies accounting and financial reporting for partnerships, business enterprise segments, home office/branch office, foreign transactions and translation, business combinations, and other inter-corporate investments and consolidated statements. Recommended prerequisite: ACCT 5120

ACCT 5330 - Accounting for Non-Business Organizations

Financial accounting for governmental and non-profit organizations at the state and local levels. Studies the theory and techniques of accounting and reporting for various funds and groups of accounts. Recommended prerequisite: ACCT 5120

ACCT 5410 - Fraud Examination

Focuses on the principles and methodology of fraud detection and deterrence. Examines how and why occupational fraud is committed, how fraudulent conduct can be deterred, and how allegations of fraud should be investigated and resolved. Recommended prerequisite: ACCT 5120

ACCT 5460 - Entity Tax Compliance and Planning

Analyzes the federal income tax laws and their application to corporations, shareholders, partnerships, partners, estates, and gift transactions. Recommended prerequisite: ACCT 5120

ACCT 5470 - Forensic Accounting

Analyzes the various forensic accounting techniques and investigative strategies used in forensic examinations; covers uses of accounting information systems in fraud detection, the nature of financial statement fraud, the framework for detecting fraudulent financial reporting, and the importance of internal controls in fraud prevention. Recommended prerequisite: ACCT 5110 and 5200

ACCT 5480 - Corporate Governance and Ethics

Provides in-depth understanding of corporate governance and ethics related to the public accounting profession. Explores different ethical decision-making models and apply formal corporate governance frameworks to resolve ethical conflicts as faced by accountants. Examines the challenges to ethical decision-making faced by internal accountants & auditors and learn to evaluate & resolve ethical conflict.

ACCT 5490 - Information Systems Assurance and Data Management

Provides essential knowledge needed to make sound strategic decisions related to investments in cybersecurity. Explores methods used to raise general security awareness, review current industry practices, and develop knowledge needed to adapt policies to protect and safeguard proprietary information. Recommended prerequisite: ACCT 5200

ACCT 5700 - Federal Accounting

Provides a comprehensive overview of accounting principles, terminology, concepts, and standards unique to federal accounting to include an analysis and discussion of the laws, regulations, rule-setting organizations, and policies leading to current day federal accounting and reporting practices. Recommended prerequisite:  ACCT 3010

The information contained on this web site is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements.

Meet the Faculty

*As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. Although California does not participate in SARA, it allows students to enroll in out-of-state programs. 

Upon completion of the Certificate in Accounting, graduates may be eligible for professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in the state in which you currently reside. Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision about which states’ educational requirements for licensure are met by this program. For a complete listing of State Board of Accountancy, visit https://nasba.org/stateboards/

Upon enrolling in this program, should you change your address to another state, please update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact your ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state.