The Professional Accounting/CPA Preparation Certificate is designed to help candidates with a bachelors degree prepare for the CPA exam and meet the minimum number of accounting hours required to sit for the CPA exam. Below are sample schedules you can use to help plan your program depending on when you begin taking courses.

CPA Preparation Certificate - start in Fall
Year 1 - Fall Semester
ACC 153 Principles of Financial Accounting
MGT 276 Corporate Social Responsibility

Year 1 - Spring Semester
ACC 241 Intermediate Accounting I
ACC 244 Income Tax Accounting

Year 1 - Summer Semester
ACC 154 Principles of Managerial Accounting

Year 2 - Fall Semester
ACC 242 Intermediate Accounting II
ACC 266 Advanced Accounting

Year 2 - Spring Semester
ACC 260 Auditing
ACC 274 Advanced Income Tax Accounting

Year 2 - Summer Semester
MGT 118 - Effective Management Communications

Year 3 - Fall only - The CPA exam can be started in this term (see note)
ACC Elective

CPA Preparation Certificate - start in Spring
Year 1 - Spring Semester
ACC 153 Principles of Financial Accounting
MGT 276 - Corporate Social Responsibility

Year 1 - Summer Semester
ACC 154 Principles of Managerial Accounting

Year 1 - Fall Semester
ACC 241 Intermediate Accounting I
ACC 244 Income Tax Accounting

Year 2 - Spring Semester
ACC 242 Intermediate Accounting II
ACC 260 Auditing

Year 2 - Summer Semester
MGT 118 - Effective Management Communications

Year 2 - Fall Semester
ACC 266 Advanced Accounting
ACC 274 Advanced Income Tax Accounting

Year 3 - Spring only - The CPA exam can be started in this term (see note)
ACC Elective

CPA Preparation Certificate - start in Summer
Year 1 - Summer Semester
ACC 153 Principles of Financial Accounting

Year 1 - Fall Semester
ACC 241 Intermediate Accounting I
ACC 244 Income Tax Accounting

Year 2 - Spring Semester
ACC 242 Intermediate Accounting II
ACC 260 Auditing

Year 2- Summer Semester
ACC 154 Principles of Managerial Accounting

Year 2 - Fall Semester
ACC 266 Advanced Accounting
ACC 274 Advanced Income Tax Accounting

Year 2 - Spring Semester
ACC Elective
MGT 118 - Effective Management Communications

Year 3 - Summer - The CPA exam can be started in this term (see note)
MGT 276 Corporate Social Responsibility

Note:
The Illinois Board of Examiners has a policy that allows candidates to begin to take the CPA exam during the last semester of academic course work.  As long as the candidate submits the final transcript within 120 days of taking the first portion of the CPA exam, all portions taken will be counted.  The Board of Examiners is very strict about receiving the transcripts on time so it is important to send them as soon as the grades are posted.  This process is referred to to a "provisional approval".

If you have additional questions about this certificate or the CPA exam contact Leslie Van Wolvelear, Student Advisor, at 847.376.7135, or lvanwolv@oakton.edu.