Online CPA Courses Graduate-Level Certified Public Accountant Certificate Programs

The 2024 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam update is the result of new skill demands and technological advances within the field of accounting.

With the revision, some elements have changed, while others have remained the same. Three existing core sections — Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Taxing and Regulation (REG) — are retained.³ The Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) section, however, is now interspersed throughout the exam.³

In addition to its emphasis on technology, the new exam allows you to choose one of three specialized discipline units based on your interests and career goals. These areas have been identified as core disciplines for advanced accounting professionals and include³:

• Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR)
• Information Systems and Controls (ISC)
• Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)

SNHU students who would like to earn a CPA designation are encouraged to pursue an MS in Accounting degree and a CPA discipline certificate simultaneously to satisfy eligibility and preparatory needs for the CPA Exam. This approach also allows you to graduate with two credentials instead of one.

NOTE: Eligibility requirements differ from state to state. Successful completion of an accounting degree program does not guarantee exam eligibility or success. Students should check with the individual requirements for their state prior to enrolling in a degree program.

While self-studying is a great strategy, the best way to prepare for the CPA exam is by taking CPA prep courses. CPA courses don't just review the material you'll need to know for the exam; they also go over practical soft skills, like test-taking techniques, which can help you feel even more prepared.

Sometimes, graduates of a degree or certificate program — like SNHU's graduate CPA certificate — experience a gap between the time they graduate and the time they take the exam. So, CPA courses can serve as a helpful refresher.

That all depends on your scholastic strengths! Everyone has a different learning style, and what's easy for one student may not be easy for another.

At SNHU, your CPA courses will be lead by knowledgable, helpful instructors who want to see you succeed, and will point you in the direction of tutoring resources as needed, too.

While we can't say earning your graduate CPA certificate is easy, we can say that at SNHU, you'll have the tools and support you need to be successful — no matter how you learn best. Our mission is to create a world where everyone has access to higher education, and we're here to remove obstacles that stand in your way.

That's why we have inclusive GPA requirements, no test scores and a free application. As an online student at SNHU, you'll also have a dedicated admission counselor assisting you through the enrollment process, and an academic advisor in your corner from day 1 to graduation.

When it comes to CPA exam prep courses, there are a few that come out on top:

• Becker: Many rank this CPA course as one of the best — particularly Becker's campus option.
• Gleim: This is another great CPA prep course with solid on-ground options.
• Fast Forward Academy: If you're looking for an online CPA course to help you prep for the exam, Fast Forward Academy might be the right choice for you. While this company is smaller, they have a very innovative competency-based education (CBE) program.

While SNHU doesn't offer a CPA exam prep course, CPA courses in the graduate certificate are thoughtfully designed to align with the 2024 CPA Exam's discipline areas: Business Analysis and Reporting for Accounting, Information Systems and Controls and Tax Compliance and Planning. Graduates from SNHU's CPA certificate program will walk away with the skills they need to feel confident approaching the exam (and a prep course on top of that knowledge certainly doesn't hurt, either).

All enrollees are required to earn 12 credits' worth of core CPA classes, but these courses will vary based on your chosen certificate:

Business Analysis and Reporting for Accounting

• QSO-511 Business Analytics
• ACC-690 Advanced Topics in Financial Reporting
• ACC-735 Advanced Managerial Accounting
• QSO-570 Predictive Business Analytics

Information Systems and Controls

• ACC-640 Auditing
• ACC-676 Audit of Accounting Information Systems
• ACC-677 Information System Assurance and Advising
• ACC-705 Advanced Topics in Information Systems and Controls

Tax Compliance and Planning

• TAX-655 Federal Income Tax of Corporations and Partnerships
• TAX-700 Special Topics in Taxation
• TAX-705 Personal Financial Advisory Services
• Free Elective

If you don't hold an undergraduate accounting or business degree, you may also be required to complete business foundation courses (6 credits) and/or accounting foundation courses (12 credits).

Online graduate terms at SNHU — including CPA courses in this certificate program — are 10 weeks long, and there are five term starts per year. Applications at SNHU are reviewed on a rolling basis, which means you can apply anytime.

Earning a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation is generally considered more challenging than earning a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation. However, the career paths for each can greatly differ, and many individuals within the accounting field opt to pursue both.

A CPA is an accountant with a credential that signals a baseline of knowledge and demonstrated proficiency in key financial areas: auditing and review, tax preparation and consulting, consulting services, financial planning and litigation consulting. They often work at banks, tax services, insurance companies, government offices, private enterprises and auditing services.

Conversely, a CMA is an individual with a credential that offers the insight and aptitude to leverage accounting practices with keen business insights to make strategic decisions. They hold roles like accountant/auditor, budget analyst, financial manager, management analyst, financial/investment analyst and financial risk specialist. Learn about SNHU's graduate-level Management Accounting Certificate.

Regardless of the designation you select, you'll be well on your way to a respected accounting career.

Yes, earning a CPA designation is absolutely worth your time and effort. Though you can work as an accountant without becoming a CPA, it's widely considered to be the industry-standard designation of quality and trust.

As a CPA, you'll have the experience and expertise needed to perform functions a non-certified accountant can’t, like audits, reviews and taxation services. Non-certified accountants can't audit public companies, issue audit reports or opinion letters, or review public company financial statements for the SEC. And only a CPA can sign a client’s tax return as a paid preparer and represent the client in front of the IRS.

Furthermore, CPAs can often earn a higher salary. According to the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), "CPAs charge more for their services and earn up to 15% higher salaries because they’re bound to high standards of work, ethics and professionalism. They have to be, because the State Boards of Accountancy may review their work and can revoke their license if necessary."¹

The CPA Exam is challenging by design. As businesses, technology and regulatory standards have evolved, the scope of CPA-required knowledge has expanded. Consequently, valued certifications like the CPA Exam have expanded their breadth of content in order to cover more critical areas.

The 2024 CPA Exam puts a greater emphasis on technology than ever before and includes task-based simulation-style questions.³ It includes four total sections, three of which are retained from earlier versions of the exam³:

• Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
• Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
• Taxation and Regulation (REG)

The fourth section of the exam allows candidates to select one of three brand-new discipline areas³:

• Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR)
• Information Systems and Controls (ISC)
• Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)

This element of choice is new to the CPA Exam and allows you to focus your studies on areas of interest and career goals.

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is an impressive achievement, as is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation. That said, your career goals can help inform which is a better choice for you.

An MBA is a graduate-level business degree designed to give professionals the critical knowledge they need to step into management and leadership roles in companies. The degree can be used as a tool to advance your career in nearly any industry, from business to finance.

On the other hand, a CPA is a designation that represents expertise in public accounting. They focus on auditing and reviewing financial statements, often working in places like a bank or government office. In most states, a CPA credential requires both a bachelor's and master's in accounting, as 150 credits worth of accounting education are a typical prerequisite.

Occasionally, a student will opt to earn both credentials. If they've already earned an MBA online, or on campus, and want to become a CPA, they can broadly approach the field of accounting having potentially already met the educational requirements of the CPA Exam.

The 2024 CPA Exam has been newly revised, but includes four sections, like previous versions. According to multiple sources, candidates spend roughly 80-100 hours per each section, which averages out to approximately 300-400 hours of total studying.⁴

However, everyone learns differently, and you should take as long as you need to feel completely confident in your abilities.

No, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is not the same as an accountant. While all CPAs are accountants, not all accountants are CPAs.

To earn the highly respected designation of CPA, you must successfully pass the CPA Exam, which demonstrates your expertise in public accounting. With this credential, you can perform functions a non-certified accountant can't, like defending tax returns to the IRS or state authorities and preparing formal audited financial statements.

Accountants, on the other hand, hold roles that span varying levels of required skills and experience. At some businesses, accountants may be those responsible for managing the books, including recording financial transactions and managing accounts payable and receivable. They may also be responsible for departmental budgeting, auditing and even payroll.

Both CPAs and accountants fill a tremendously important roles — which one you choose is ultimately dependent on the tasks you want to perform on a regular basis.

The first step in becoming an accountant is earning an undergraduate accounting certificate or degree in accounting. It's important to note that education requirements beyond that will depend greatly on which type of accountant you would like to become. For instance, someone who would like to be a general accountant may need to earn an AS in Accounting, while someone angling to become a CPA is likely to earn an MS in Accounting.