Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 CNM Catalog, Volume 54 
    
2022-2023 CNM Catalog, Volume 54 [The CNM Academic Year includes Fall, Spring, Summer Terms]

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


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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

Financial Aid Considerations

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.

Ten Year Rule for CTE Courses

Career and technical education courses in this program will qualify for credit for a period of ten academic years. Due to changing technologies, trends, and professional demands, courses completed ten or more years in the past will satisfy program requirements only if they are approved by the instructional school in which they were offered. Cohorted programs may have additional restrictions.

Program Requirements


  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • Department Approval
  • ACCT 2110  or equivalent course
  • ACCT 2120  or equivalent course
  • BCIS 1110  or equivalent course

Courses


Minimum Credit Hours Required to Complete Certificate: 30


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