Certificate: Accounting

CPA educational requirements change frequently. Gain up-to-date expertise in accounting principles, reporting practices, and regulatory requirements. Our curriculum is approved by the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and an advisory board of business and education leaders.

CPA educational requirements vary by state. Always check your state's CPA Society website to verify which courses you need.

• Creating a Stronger Résumé - Nearly 60% of our graduates took this certificate to advance or become more competitive in their accounting positions.
• Straight Into the Field - 89% of surveyed graduates put lessons to work within 6 months of completing the courses.
• Applicable, Rigorous Courses - 74% of surveyed graduates are very satisfied with the classwork.
• Tell a Friend or Colleague - 67% of surveyed graduates would recommend this certificate.

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum comprises 6 required courses and 6-semester units of electives for a total of 24-semester units (360 hours of instruction). Candidates must pay a nonrefundable certificate registration fee.

You must take all courses for a letter grade. To receive the certificate, you must maintain an overall minimum 2.5-grade point average, with a grade of C or better in each course. A Certificate With Distinction will be awarded to those who complete the certificate with a GPA of 4.0 or higher (effective to those who register beginning July 1, 2017). All coursework must be completed within five years. Most students take two years to complete the courses.

Certificate and Award Request

Once you have completed the certificate coursework, notify UC Berkeley Extension that you have completed the curriculum and request your certificate. Send an email to [email protected] or call (510) 642-4231. After your records have been reviewed, verified, and approved (usually within two to three weeks), your certificate will be mailed to you.

Additional Information

CPA Licensure Requirements

Information about Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) licensing and renewal requirements is available at:

• Department of Consumer Affairs California Board of Accountancy*
• American Institute of CPAs
• IMA

MBA Programs

Some of our courses may fulfill prerequisites for M.B.A. programs. Please note that acceptance of transfer credit is always at the discretion of the accepting institution; contact the schools to which you are applying for information about the transfer of credits earned at UC Berkeley Extension.

*This program and its courses can serve as preparation for California state licensure. Standards for licensure and certification in other states may vary, and enrollment does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certification. Please review additional information before enrolling.

Courses

Required courses

We recommend that you begin the program with Introduction to Financial Accounting.

• Financial Accounting UGBA XB102A
• Financial Accounting UGBA XBW102A
• Managerial Accounting UGBA XB102B
• Managerial Accounting UGBA XBW102B
• Intermediate Accounting I BUS ADM X421.1
• Intermediate Accounting II BUS ADM X421.2
• Accounting Ethics BUS ADM X420.6
• Advanced Accounting BUS ADM X421.3

Electives

• Auditing and Attestation BUS ADM X422.2
• Accounting for Government and Not-for-Profit Organizations BUS ADM X414.9
• Cost Accounting BUS ADM X419
• Financial Statement Analysis BUS ADM X419.2
• Income Taxes and Personal Financial Planning BUS ADM X433.1
• Presenting Quantitative Data Effectively BUS ADM X419.1
• Principles of Business Law BUS ADM X410.1
• Taxation for Corporations and Other Flow-Through Entities BUS ADM X419.5

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