First off, greetings to everybody! I've come by here a few times but this is my first time actually registering and writing up a post. I'm trying to plan out an accounting (NYS CPA track) degree from Excelsior. I got my unofficial summary today, but I haven't enrolled yet because I'm trying to figure out how much time and money is going to go into what I need to finish up. I've got all of the general education component and most of the core business requirements done. But from the looks of things, I can't test out of most of what I have left (still over 50 units I think). I've been hard pressed to find local community colleges that offer these courses, but I have a strong preference for distance learning over B&M anywho. $315 per unit through excelsior is a little too steep for me, so I'm really trying to take as few classes with them as possible. I saw a couple of folks recommended LSU, and it looks great, but it doesn't have all of the courses I need. For instance, their intermediate accounting courses are on hold. Does anyone know of any other distance learning or testing opportunities to help me finish off what I have left? Here's what I need to do and my tentative plans so far. I'm not 100% sure if all the courses meet the requirements so if anyone can confirm that'd be great. ?? indicates stuff that I'm not sure how I'm going to fufill. Business Core Requirements: Accounting II (Managerial) - LSU ACCT 2101 Introductory Managerial Accounting Production/Operations Management - LSU ISDS 3115 Introduction To Operations Management Business Policy - I think think I have to take the course with Excelsior for this? 45.00 semester credits in BAX subjects to include: Intermediate Accounting I - ?? Intermediate Accounting II - ?? Cost Accounting - LSU ACCT 3121 - Cost Analysis And Control Taxation-Individual (United States Tax) - ?? Taxation-Corporate (United States Tax) - ?? Advanced Accounting (partnerships & consolidations/advanced level) - LSU ACCT 4022 - Advanced Accounting Auditing (professional, not internal/advanced level) - LSU ACCT 3222 - Auditing Business Law II - DSST Business Law II Finance II - ?? Advanced Finance for Managers (advanced level) - ?? Accounting Theory (advanced level) - ?? Advanced Financial Statement Analysis (advanced level) - ?? Research of Current Topics in Accounting (advanced level) - ?? Advanced Auditing (advanced level) - ?? Computer Science (3 semester credits in addition to Introduction to Computer) - DSST Introduction to computing I'm aware of there being a TESC exam for operations management, but because of the high cost and the fact that I'm not even sure about the specific exam material, I'm planning to just take the course at LSU. I've got the business core computer requirement down from an intro to computing class I took before. For the computer science requirement that shows up again here, I'm wondering if they'll give me credit again for this similar exam? Thanks a bunch.
For the LSU courses which are on hold - I believe they will still let you enroll in them if you can find the copy of the textbook which is listed. Call them to confirm this, but I think if you search the boards on here you will find this discussed previously. Good luck!
If you go through a partnership program like POAG, Excelsior credit drops to $250 each, which isn't the best, but its still better than $315... Also, you only have to pay $135 for enrollment (instead of $895) if you take at least 12 credits and the grad fee also drops to $130 (instead of $495) if you take at least 6 credits I believe. And the Annual fee after the first year is waived if you take 6 credits per year if I remember correctly. And POAG only costs $20-25/year. *Edit* and no, you don't have to be in Law Enforcement to join POAG, you can just be a fan of the POAG supporting their officers... And you get a laminated card saying that you're a friend of POAG... Dunno what use it is, other than to try and get out of a speeding ticket in GA..
While I couldn't find the thread with this info, I'll be sure to give them a call and ask about this. Thanks! Thanks, that's a great tip, I'm already a member of the IEEE and apparently they've got a partnership program too that I didn't know about. I've been looking around, but I'm starting to wonder if it's impossible to meet all these requirements through distance classes alone and if I'm better off getting a general accounting degree, then getting 30 more units from somewhere else so that I can sit for the CPA exam. My state seems to have more lax requirements than New York, but I thought this would be a good way to get the 150 units I need (I need 120 units for general accounting). Maybe I can look into an affordable MBA program or something?
Have you considered Penn Foster I would check with Penn Foster to see if they are still offering the below ACE reviewed accounting courses. Intermediate Accounting I ICS-0109 Intermediate Accounting II ICS-0110 Cost Accounting ICS-0089
McMaster University Certificate McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario has a certificate in accounting that you can take individual courses from. As accounting is slightly different in each national jurisdiction, you will need to check if the courses are acceptable for the NY/US CPA track. See: http://www.mcmaster.ca/conted/programs/accounting/ Best wishes---Jim
I wouldn't recommend DETC accounting courses if you plan on sitting for the CPA exam. Although Excelsior *may* accept them, it is unlikely the state accounting board will.
Don't be confused. I wouldn't bother with the NYS CPA major. New York is pretty much over the top with its specific course requirements compared to other states. Do the general accounting degree. Take as much as you can from LSU. You aren't going to get upper-level accounting courses much cheaper than that. Take a look at the educational requirements for the CPA in YOUR state. I would also look at the accounting courses your local universities require for an accounting degree. Between the CPA requirements and what your local colleges are doing, you'll get a feel for what courses you really need to take.
