Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Academic Requirements, Post Degree Certificate of Completion

School of Business & Information Technology (BIT)

The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Academic Requirements, Certificate of Completion provides 27 credit hours in accounting plus 3 credit hours in Business Law. This program is design to provide you with the academic requirements needed to comply with a portion of the qualifications required to take the CPA exam. Satisfactory completion of the coursework does not guarantee passing that exam.

Other requirements, which are set by the New Mexico Public Accountancy Board, include a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university with at least 150 semester hours, which includes the 30 hours of accounting/law.  Additional information about licensing requirements for the CPA can be obtained from the New Mexico Public Accountancy Board. All of the courses included may also be applied toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in Accounting or an Accounting or Bookkeeping Certificate of Completion.

See Recommended Sequence of Courses

Educational Option Information

• This educational option can be completed: Part-Time or Full-Time
• This educational option can be started: Any term
• Primary course location: Main campus, Montoya campus, and many courses are online
• Special requirements for this educational option:
  • Students are required to have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university to pursue this certificate.
  • One of the qualifications required to take the CPA exam is to be fingerprinted to establish positive identification for a state and federal criminal history background check.

Approximate Costs of this Educational Option

• Cost of Attendance
• Tuition
• Books
• Program and Course Fees

Financial Aid Considerations

• This is a financial aid eligible program.
  • Direct Subsidized Loans: 150 percent rule
  • Some courses are not eligible for Financial Aid. Please check the list here when considering a course.

Educational Opportunities

• All of the courses included in the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Academic Requirements, Post Degree Certificate of Completion option may also be applied toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in Accounting or an Accounting or Bookkeeping Certificate of Completion.
• Note: Satisfactory completion of the coursework does not guarantee passing that exam.
• Additional information about licensing requirements for the CPA can be obtained from the New Mexico Public Accountancy Board.

Career Opportunities

• Most businesses, governmental and non-profit organizations employ certified public accountants.
• The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics Job Outlook Handbook predicts that both full- and part-time employment for persons with accounting education are expected to grow faster than average.

Gainful Employment information is available from Job Connection Services.