Certificate of Achievement in CPA Exam Preparation - Audit

The Certificate of Achievement in CPA Exam Preparation - Audit is designed for students working to achieve the coursework necessary to obtain their Certified Public Accounting (CPA) license. A CPA license is a distinguished and highly valued credential which enables the holder to work for public accounting firms, industry, government, not-for-profit, and education. The CPA exam consists of four parts: 1) Audit and Attestation, 2) Business Environment and Concepts, 3) Financial Accounting and Reporting, and 4) Regulation. This certificate begins the preparation for the Audit and Attestation section of the CPA exam. All courses in this certificate meet the 150 semester hour education requirement for licensure in the state of California.

 

The Intermediate Accounting sequence averages between 100 and 200 students each per year, with ACTG 51A and ACTG 51B being the most heavily enrolled. Financial Statement Analysis and Auditing average between 270 and 235 students per year. All the courses for this certificate are offered online. The demand for these courses continues to be consistent. The efficient design of the certificate will attract students looking to gain the courses necessary to take and pass the Financial Accounting and Reporting as well as the Audit sections of the CPA exam.

 

All of the courses for the Certificate of Achievement in CPA Exam Preparation - Audit can be taken 100% online, asynchronously, allowing students anywhere to take these classes. We believe this will increase the number of students who complete the certificate.

Course #	Course Title	Annual Sections (Y1)	Annual Enrollment (Y1)	Annual Sections (Y2)	AnnualEnrollment (Y2)
ACTG 51A	Intermediate Accounting 1	5	207	5	195
ACTG 51B	Intermediate Accounting II	4	155	3	101
ACTG 51C	Intermediate Accounting III	1	84	1	49
ACTG 52	Advanced Accounting	2	102	2	65
ACTG 53	Financial Statement Analysis	7	230	4	246
ACTG 58	Auditing	7	284	7	258

The general objective of the Certificate of Achievement in CPA Exam Preparation - Audit is to prepare students to work as accountants, examining and preparing financial records, preparing budgets, and implementing internal control and cost control for private industry, public accounting companies, government agencies, individuals, and non-profit entities. The academic goal of the certificate is to prepare students to transfer to four-year institutions. The vocational goal is to prepare students to take the CPA exam, to satisfy the educational requirement for the CPA license, and to prepare students to become marketable in the field of accounting.

 

Program Learning Outcomes:

·      Students will be able to prepare financial statements under special purpose frameworks

·      Students will be able to understand and calculate various items related to compensation and benefits

·      Students will be able to prepare and adjust for business combinations

·      Students will be able to prepare and journalize hedge accounting, foreign currency transactions, leases, nonreciprocal transfers, research and development costs, software costs, and the treatment of subsequent events

·      Students will be able to apply and journalize fair value measurements

·      Students will be able to articulate the differences between IFRS and GAAP

·      Students will be able to understand and apply the skills related to professional responsibilities, including ethics, independence, and professional skepticism

·      Students will be able to understand the business entity including its operations, information systems, risks, and internal controls

·      Students will be able to understand the flow of transactions and underlying data through a business entity

·      Students will be able to assess risk and develop a planned response

·      Students will be able to obtain audit evidence and perform further procedures

·      Students will be able to form conclusions and report on those conclusions

Students are required to take Actg 51A, 51B, 51C, 58 and a choice between ACTG 52 and 53

Proposed Sequence:

Year 1, Fall = 5 units

Year 1, Winter = 10 units

Year 1, Spring = 10 units

TOTAL UNITS: 25 units

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
ACTG 51A	Intermediate Accounting I	5	Y1Fall
ACTG51B	Intermediate Accounting II	5	Y1 Winter
ACTG51C	Intermediate Accounting III	5	Y1 Spring
ACTG 58	Auditing	5	Y1 Winter
Select between ACTG 52 or ACTG53	ACTG 52: Advanced Accounting or ACTG 53: Financial Statement Analysis	5	Y1 Spring

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Foothill College offers programs and services that empower students to achieve their goals as members of the workforce, as future students, and as global citizens. The demand for accountants continues to be high, with growth projected by the bureau of U.S. Labor and Statistics at 7% over the next ten years. The Certificate of Achievement in CPA Exam Preparation - Audit will enable students to achieve their goals in respect to CPA candidacy, as well as those returning to the workplace, self-employment, or transfer to a four-year college. The program is a critical step for students who wish to obtain the courses necessary to sit for the CPA exam. Foothill College currently offers all six of these courses necessary to complete the Certificate of Achievement in CPA Exam Preparation - Audit. They are established courses taught by full-time faculty and adjuncts who are current practitioners in the current subject matter.

In Foothill College’s service area, the Certificate of Achievement in CPA Exam Preparation - Audit is similar to offerings at Mission College and College of San Mateo. These colleges also have certificates based on specific portions of the CPA exam. Outside of our service area, but still in California, Santa Monica College has a CPA track certificate which is more general and covers the basic concepts for the examination.