CPA Exam Qualifications FAQs
Q: What are the educational requirements needed to sit for the CPA exam in Texas?
A: In order to sit for the CPA exam in the state of Texas, you must meet the educational requirements as prescribed by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy . These requirements state you must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a degree
- Have 150 hours of total college credi
- Have 30 hours of approved accounting course credit
- Have 24 hours of approved business course credit
- Have 3 hours of approved accounting ethics credit.
Q: What accounting courses offered at UT Dallas are approved to count toward the 30 hours as required in 3 above?
A: The following courses are on UT Dallas' approved list:
Undergraduate:
- AIM 3320 Financial Information Management
- AIM 3321 Managing Financial Data
- AIM 3322 Integrated Accounting Information Systems
- AIM 3331 Intermediate Financial Accounting I
- AIM 3332 Intermediate Financial Accounting II
- AIM 3341 Cost Management Systems
- AIM 3351 Individual Taxation
- AIM 4334 Auditing
- AIM 4336 Financial Statement Analysis
- AIM 4337 Business Valuation
- AIM 4342 Analysis and Design of Accounting Systems
Graduate:
- AIM 6330 Corporate Financial Reporting = Intermediate Acct I
- AIM 6332 Issues in Financial Reporting - Intermediate Acct II
- AIM 6333 Advanced Financial Reporting
- AIM 6334 Auditing
- AIM 6336 Information Technology Risk Management
- AIM 6337 Data Strategy and Management
- AIM 6338 Analysis and Design with SAP
- AIM 6341 Planning, Control and Performance Evaluations
- AIM 6342 Strategic Cost Management
- AIM 6343 Accounting Information Systems
- AIM 6344 Financial Statement Analysis
- AIM 6345 Business Valuation
- AIM 6346 Financial Dimensions of Mergers and Acquisitions
- AIM 6351 Individual Taxation
- AIM 6352 Corporate Taxation
- AIM 6354 Partnership Taxation
- AIM 6356 Tax Research
- AIM 6357 Federal Gift and Estate Taxation
- AIM 6362 International Accounting
- AIM 6365 Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting
- AIM 6376 Accounting Application in Capital Markets
- AIM 6380 Business Process Design and Internal Audit
- AIM 6382 Advanced Auditing
- AIM 6383 Forensic Accounting Investigations
- AIM 6384 Analytical Reviews Using Audit Software
- AIM 6385 Accounting System Integration and Configuration
- AIM 6386 Risk Management, Compliance and Reporting for Accountants
Accounting Research and Analysis: Effective July, 2011. 2 semester hours are required in accounting research and analysis. The semester hours may be included in the 30 hour accounting requirement. Both of the following courses must be taken to meet the board's requirements for an integrated approach in accounting research and analysis.
AIM 4334/6334 Auditing
and
AIM 3351/6351 Individual Taxation
Q: I've taken a few courses from a university other than UT Dallas. How can I find out if the Board will accept them?
A: Only the board can tell you what courses will and won't count for the educational requirements needed to sit for the CPA exam in Texas. Please visit http://www.tsbpa.state.tx.us/frmx0002.htm to submit an "Application of Intent" to the board.
Q: What courses are recommended to help prepare for each part of the Uniform CPA exam?
A: While all AIM courses will help to varying degrees with the four parts of the CPA exam, some suggested courses are listed below. This list is not all-inclusive.
| Part | Suggested Courses |
Financial Accounting & Reporting |
AIM 3331 (UG), AIM 3332 (UG), AIM 6330 (GR), AIM 6332 (GR) |
Auditing and Attestation |
AIM 3334 (UG), AIM 6334 (GR), AIM 6336 (GR) |
Regulation |
AIM 3351 (UG), AIM 6351 (GR), AIM 6352 (GR) |
Business Environment and Concepts |
AIM 3341 (UG), AIM 4342 (UG), AIM 6341 (GR), AIM 6343 (GR) |
For more information about the material tested in each part of the Uniform
CPA examination, please visit
http://www.cpa-exam.org/download/CPA_Exam_CSOs_revised_10_05.pdf
Q: Can I take all of these courses on-line?
A: No, the board mandates that at least 15 of these hours must be taken in classes meeting regularly on the campus.
Q: I see that some courses are offered at the undergraduate and graduate level. Can I take both and have them count toward the 30 hour requirement?
A: No, the board states that credit will not be given for repeated courses or coursework.
Q: Can internship credit count toward the 30 hours of approved accounting coursework?
A: Yes, a 3 hour internship course may be used for approved accounting credit. The internship must be taken after 12 semester hours of upper division coursework is complete but prior to completing the last full semester of accounting coursework. All internships must be approved by AIM faculty member, Professor Art Agulnek, (axa022000@utdallas.edu, 972-883-4773, office 4.222) in advance.
Q: Do all business courses count to meet the 24 hours needed as prescribed in requirement 4) above?
A: No. The board states that all related business courses taken must be upper division courses (except statistics and economics courses, in which any level may be used). In addition, no more than 6 hours may be taken in any subject area. The approved business subject areas are business law, economics, management, marketing, business communications, statistics, technical writing, finance and information systems or technology.
Effective July 2011, 2 hours of either accounting communications or business communications will be required. The following course(s) meet the Board's requirements for a discrete (stand-alone) course in accounting communications of business communications.
AIM 3311 Business Communications
BA 3311 Business Communications
Q: The last requirement prescribed above states that I need to take a three hour accounting ethics course. Does UT Dallas offer this course?
A: Yes, AIM 6335-Ethics for Professional Accountants taught by Charles Solcher, Amy Troutman, and Martin Stewart meets the Board definition of an ethics course. It can be taken in class or online?
Q: What if I have additional questions about the CPA exam qualifications?
A: You should contact the board directly with additional questions. Its website is www.tsbpa.state.tx.us or phone is (512) 305-7870. For additional information about UT Dallas's courses or programs, contact AIM faculty member Amy Troutman (amybass@utdallas.edu, 972-883-6719, office 4.419).
See the requirements to obtain a B.S. in Accounting and Information Management.