Certificate of Achievement in CPA Exam Preparation - Regulations

The Certificate of Achievement in CPA Exam Preparation - Regulations 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 prepares the student for the Regulation section of the CPA exam. All courses in this certificate meet the 150 semester hour education requirement for licensure in the state of California.

Tax Accounting averages over 250 students each per year. Business Law I averages around 525 each year. The demand for these courses continues to be strong. The efficient design of the certificate will attract students looking to gain the courses necessary to take and pass the Regulation section of the CPA exam.

Course #	Course Title	Annual Sections (19/20, Y1)	Annual Enrollment (19/20, Y1)	Annual Sections (20/21, Y2)	AnnualEnrollment (20/21, Y2)
ACTG 67	Tax Accounting	7	270	8	234
ACTG 68A	Advanced Tax Accounting I	1	54	1	55
ACTG 68B	Advanced Tax Accounting II	1	21	1	21
ACTG 68C	Advanced Tax Accounting III	0	0	0	0
BUSI 18	Business Law I	14	539	12	517

The general objective of the Certificate of Achievement in CPA Exam Preparation - Regulations 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, 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 explain accounting terminology, concepts, principles, and frameworks as they apply to individual income tax, sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations, estates, and trusts

·      Students will be able to perform accounting-related calculations and demonstrate the ability to use methods and/or procedures to solve accounting problems as they apply to individual income tax, sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations, estates, and trusts

·      Students will be able to explain business law terminology, concepts, principles, and frameworks, including the laws applicable to businesses, California law applicable to torts negligence, contracts, agency, and the Uniform Commercial Code

·      Students will be able to apply the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, IRS rules, and GAAP to ethical dilemmas faced by CPAs in practice

 

Students will be required to take 5 core courses to earn this certificate. 

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
Actg 67	Tax Accounting	5	Y1 Fall
Actg 68A	Advanced Tax Accounting I	5	Y1 Winter
Actg 68B	Advanced Tax Accounting II	5	Y1 Spring
actg 68C	Advanced Tax Accounting III	3	Y1 Spring
Busi 18	Business Law I	5	Y1 Winter

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 - Regulations 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.

In Foothill College’s service area, the Certificate of Achievement in CPA Exam Preparation - Regulations 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.