Master's Degrees
What certifications and credentials are available to accountants?
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Certified Public Accountant (CPA), the most well-known accounting credential
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Enrolled Agent (EA)
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Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
CPA exam preparation and requirements for license
At Globe University/Minnesota School of Business, accounting certification exam preparation is incorporated into the Bachelor of Science in Accounting (B.S. in Accounting) and Associate in Applied Science in Tax and Accounting (A.A.S. in Tax and Accounting) programs.
Our college’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting program prepares graduates to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in Minnesota and includes all required accounting coursework, including courses in financial accounting, auditing, taxation, and management accounting. The certification exam consists of four half-day tests, which can be taken over the course of 18 months. Detailed information is available at www.cpa-exam.org.
A candidate needs one year of accounting experience in public, management, academic or government accounting, verified by a CPA, to receive certification. The candidate also needs an additional year of college, including 36 upper-division credits in accounting and 36 upper-division credits in business-related subjects or accounting beyond the elementary level. Our bachelor’s in accounting graduates have fulfilled accounting and business requirements for that fifth college year. Thus, they have great flexibility in selecting additional courses to complete the 225 quarter-credits needed for CPA licensure.
Each state’s Board of Accountancy has different rules. Some are similar to Minnesota’s; others are quite different. Students should research their state’s rules carefully before enrolling.
Certified public accountants are in demand for positions as financial analysts, auditors, tax managers, cost control managers and general accountants. Maintaining CPA certification requires taking about 40 hours of continuing professional education annually.
Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam prep
Certified Management Accountant (CMA) is a national certification held by many corporate managers and controllers. A CMA has demonstrated the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in management, reporting to and working on teams with owners, CEOs and managers of corporations. Certification requires a bachelor’s degree (not necessarily a bachelor’s in accounting).
Globe University/Minnesota School of Business’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting program prepares students to take the CMA exam, and GU/MSB accounting students are eligible for the Professional Certification Scholarship, which defrays part of the cost of taking the certification exam.
The CMA exam includes four half-day tests. Topics are business analysis, management accounting and reporting, strategic management and business applications. Detailed information is available at www. Imanet.org.
CMA certification also requires two years of management accounting experience, and CMAs take about 30 hours of continuing professional education a year to maintain the credential.
Certified Internal Auditor (CIA): certification requirements
A certified internal auditor (CIA) examines and evaluates a company’s financial and information systems, management procedures and internal controls, guarding against fraud and waste and ensuring compliance with government regulations.
The CIA candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree, not necessarily in accounting. More information on the certification is available from the Institute of Internal Auditors at www.theiia.org
Accredited Business Accountant/Advisor (ABA) exam preparation
The Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation (ACAT) offers the Accredited Business Accountant/Advisor certification (ABA). The ABA requires three years of experience and a passing grade on the ABA exam. Our Associate in Management Accounting program fulfills two years of the three-year experience requirement for the ABA.
The Associate in Accounting and Tax Specialist degree program at Globe University/Minnesota School of Business provides training in skills needed to for the workplace experience, and includes a review course for the ABA exam. Students enrolled in the program are eligible for our Professional Certification Scholarship, which pays the fees associated with the exam.
Other certifications offered by ACAT include the Accredited Tax Advisor (ATA) and Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP).
More accounting certifications
Enrolled Agent (EA) certification
An enrolled agent is a skilled professional focusing on the tax needs of individuals and small businesses. An EA may be self-employed, work for the IRS or work for an accounting firm. Only EAs, CPAs and attorneys may represent taxpayers before the IRS. This accounting certification is regulated by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.).
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) and Fundamental Payroll Certificate (FPC)
The CPP and FPC payroll certifications demonstrate an accountant’s skills and knowledge in the payroll field. Certification, offered through the American Payroll Association, prepares employees in large and mid-sized corporations to earn promotions and other career advancements.
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Students in our Fraud Examination course study topics necessary for the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam. CFEs are trained to identify the red flags that indicate evidence of fraud, or the risk of fraud.
More information about accounting certification exam preparation
Contact Globe University/Minnesota School of Business for more information about online accounting courses or classroom accounting classes and preparation for certification exams. We have locations throughout the Twin Cities area and greater Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. We will be opening more Upper Midwest campuses in the near future, including several in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Globe University and Minnesota School of Business are members of the Globe Education Network. Other member colleges include Utah Career College, Institute of Production and Recording, Minnesota School of Cosmetology, and the Duluth Business University. Globe Education Network also provides academic support and manages a wealth of shared resources for the benefit of students. Through consortium agreements approved by member schools' accrediting bodies, students are able to earn credit for classes taken at member schools.
Globe University/Minnesota School of Business is accredited by Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools to award Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees, master of science degrees, bachelor of science degrees, associate in applied science degrees, diplomas and certificates.