Purpose: The purpose of the Accounting Certificate Program is to provide an opportunity for Post Baccalaureate students to earn the academic credit necessary to qualify to sit for the CPA examination in Virginia.
Before you read on, click here to see if the Accounting Certificate Program or a second bachelor's degree in accounting is the best fit for you.
Eligibility: The requirement for enrollment into the Accounting Certificate Program is a minimum of a US equivalent bachelor degree from an accredited college or university. The program is open to individuals holding degrees in any major.
Applying:
All admissions questions should be directed to the Office of Admissions at 703-993-2400 or admissions@gmu.edu.
Note: Students must research the differences between the Accounting Certificate Program and a second bachelor's degree in accounting before applying because it is difficult to switch programs once accepted.
Tuition: Undergraduate tuition rates apply for the Accounting Certificate Program. For information on current tuition and fee rates, click here.
New Students: If you have applied, been admitted, and have submitted your intent to enroll, it is recommended that you complete the online School of Management (SOM) Pre-Orientation Program.
This program is designed to help you:
If you have any additional questions after you have completed the online SOM Pre-Orientation Program, it is recommended that you meet with a SOM academic advisor.
Registering for Classes: Accounting Certificate students are not required to attend the George Mason University Transfer Orientation. However, in order to register for classes, you must first contact the Office of Orientation & Family Programs & Services at 703-993-2475, identify yourself as an Accounting Certificate student and request an Orientation Waiver.
Program Requirements: Candidates are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits to receive the Accounting Certificate. These credits can come from a previously earned degree from Mason or another institution. At least 16 credits must be unique to the Accounting Certificate Program and earned after acceptance into the certificate program. Students admitted to the undergraduate certificate program have four years to complete the certificate requirements.
Curriculum: Accounting Certificate students enroll in normal SOM undergraduate classes; that is, there are no special sections. Although there are many evening sections available, we cannot guarantee that you can complete the certificate with all evening classes.
To receive the Mason Accounting Certificate, students must have completed the following required accounting courses with a grade of C or better, or their transferred equivalents, for a total of 30 credit hours.
NOTE: Beginning in Fall 2008, a minimum grade of B- is required in ACCT 301 as a pre-requisite to ACCT 311, ACCT 331 and ACCT 361:
Major Courses: (Please note the pre-requisites listed in parentheses)
AND two elective courses selected from the following list:
If you have not already taken the following courses or their equivalents, these courses are RECOMMENDED (not required for the Certificate):
For more information about the Virginia CPA Exam, contact the Virginia State Board of Accountancy. We encourage all students interested in sitting for the CPA to submit their academic transcripts to the BOA to determine how many accounting and business credits are needed to be eligible to sit for the CPA.
Accounting Certificate students in catalog years prior to Fall 2006 only require 24 credit hours of major accounting courses in order to earn the Accounting Certificate. For information on the requirements for the Accounting Certificate prior to 2006, click here.