Accounting Certificate

Accountants and the CPA

Accountants enjoy a number of career options, including public, industrial, governmental/non-profit and tax accounting, as well as roles in the banking and insurance industries. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) may work in any of these fields with a greater likelihood of promotion and advancement, especially in public accounting.

Completion of the Accounting Certificate Program will further your eligibility to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in Virginia.* The Virginia Board of Accountancy requires candidates taking the CPA exam in Virginia** to have a bachelor’s degree with 120 total semester hours
of credits, including 30 semester hours of accounting and 24 hours of business studies.

*Please note that there are additional requirements to be eligible to sit for the exam.
**The requirements for other states may vary.

Why enroll in the Accounting Certificate Program?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, accountants and auditors have median pay of $77,250 per year. There were 1,392,200 jobs in 2020 with a projected increase in demand of 7 percent (faster than average). The forecast is for at least 96,000 NEW positions by 2030.

Requirements for the Accounting Certificate Program

• Bachelor's degree (any major)
• Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better (4 point scale)
• Prerequisites: ACTG 211 and ACTG 212 or equivalent

Accounting Certificate Program Coursework

Required classes: 18 credit hours

• ACTG 311 Cost Accounting
• ACTG 312 Accounting Information Systems
• ACTG 313 Intermediate Accounting I
• ACTG 314 Intermediate Accounting II
• ACTG 411 Federal Taxation
• ACTG 414 Auditing

Electives (Take two)

• ACTG 401 International Accounting
• ACTG 412 Advanced Taxation
• ACTG 413 Advanced Financial Topics
• ACTG 416 Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting
  

How to enroll in the Accounting Certificate Program

Students applying to the Accounting Certificate Program will use the non-degree-seeking application for admission, which can be found on the Office of the Registrar website, click on Apply as Non-Degree Seeking Student.

Questions about the application process may be directed to the Office of the Registrar:

Heth Hall 105
Box 6904
Radford, VA  24142
540-831-5271
540-831-6642 (fax)
registrar@radford.edu

For more information about the Accounting Certificate Program

Dr. Douglas Brinckman, chair
dbrinckm@radford.edu
Department of Accounting, Finance & Business Law
Radford University
Radford, VA  24142-6951
540-831-6595
afbl-ru@radford.edu