Graduate Certificate in CPA Preparation

Study at Keller on campus, online or a mix of both

We give you the flexibility to attend classes at any of our 90+ campus locations, take all of your graduate courses online or even do a combination of both.

Explore online learning

At Keller, we offer online graduate classes taught with the same focus on personal attention and academic rigor as classes taught on campus. And because courses are offered online, you can schedule working on your education around working on your career — not the other way around.

On campus and online

For those students who need the flexibility of studying online to balance work, school and life, but also want a classroom experience, we offer a mix of both on campus and online learning. Take some courses online and some at a location convenient for you, whichever best fits your schedule.

Tuition, fees and expenses^†
CPA Preparation Graduate Certificate¹

See payment options

Note: Tuition for Canadian residents enrolled in U.S.-based programs delivered online is charged in Canadian dollars at rates shown.
† Effective beginning July 2012.
1 Availability varies by location.
2 At average estimated per-course expense for textbooks and materials of $175; average estimated per-course expense does not apply to exam-prep courses, the per-credit-hour cost for which includes textbook and materials expense.
3 At current tuition rates and credit hours shown; includes $40 application fee ($30 for applicants at locations in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee), and average estimated textbook and materials expense.

Experience the real value of a graduate education

Not only will you be learning skills that could help you rise to the top of your field, you'll also be gaining a valuable credential that may affect your entire career. A graduate education could change your earning potential, ability to be promoted and more.

Financing options

There are many scholarships and other financial aid options available for qualifying students that may help make your graduate education more affordable. Click one of the links below for more info.

CPA Preparation Graduate Certificate Requirements

Total program length varies based on the number of courses taken per 8-week session. That means that if you take 1 class per session, you could earn your graduate certificate in as few as 20 months.

CPA Preparation Graduate Certificate Coursework

Our graduate certificate coursework is designed so that you can earn the credentials and core competencies you need to move forward in your career. You can earn a standalone graduate certificate or you can transfer the qualifying credit hours toward earning a master's degree.

Click on a course name below for its full description.

Required certificate courses (30 credit hours)

NOTE: there are two tracks for earning this Graduate Certificate, both of which include Becker's proven CPA exam learning approach: Advanced Accounting and Professional Leadership. All courses listed below.

Advanced Accounting Track:

CPA Exam Preparation: Auditing and Attestation (ACCT591) - 2 credit hours

This course covers auditing procedures, auditing standards generally accepted in the United States (GAAS) and other standards related to attestation engagements. Also covered are skills needed to apply that knowledge in auditing and other attestation engagements. The auditing and attestation section of the CPA exam tests knowledge in the context of five broad engagement tasks. (The course is two semester-credit hours and is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.) Prerequisite: ACCT551 or equivalent

CPA Exam Preparation: Business Environment and Concepts (ACCT592) - 2 credit hours

This course prepares students to pass the business environment and concepts section of the CPA exam. Coursework focuses on business structure; economic concepts essential to understanding an entity's operation, business and industry; financial management; information technology; and planning and measurement. Students become familiar with underlying business reasons for - and accounting implications of - transactions, and gain skills needed to apply that knowledge in financial statement audit and attestation engagements as well as perform other functions affecting the public interest. (The course is two semester-credit hours and is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.) Prerequisite: ACCT551 or equivalent

CPA Exam Preparation: Financial Accounting and Reporting (ACCT593) - 3 credit hours

This course prepares students to pass the financial accounting and reporting section of the CPA exam. Coursework covers accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) that affect business enterprises, not-for-profit organizations and government entities. Also addressed are skills needed to apply such knowledge, as well as financial accounting concepts and standards. (The course is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.) Prerequisite: ACCT551 or equivalent

CPA Exam Preparation: Regulation (ACCT594) - 2 credit hours

This course prepares students to pass the regulation section of the CPA exam. Topics include federal taxation, ethics, professional and legal responsibilities, and business law, as well as skills needed to apply that knowledge. Topics address CPAs' professional and legal responsibilities, and legal implications of business transactions, particularly as they relate to accounting and auditing. Coursework focuses on federal and widely adopted uniform state laws, as well as principles of - and procedures for - federal income, estate and gift taxation. (The course is two credit hours and is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.) Prerequisite: ACCT551 or equivalent

Advanced Financial Accounting and Reporting Issues (ACCT559) - 3 credit hours

This course covers financial accounting practice and theory in relation to consolidations; foreign currency transactions and financial statement translations; and partnership accounting, including formation, maintenance, reorganizations and liquidations. Prerequisite: ACCT557

Advanced Studies in Federal Taxes and Management Decisions (ACCT560) - 3 credit hours

This course expands the foundation of tax topics for non-tax accounting and financial professionals. The course furthers the coverage, and examines the complexity, of corporate and partnership taxation, as well as introduces topics such as estates and gifts, fiduciary accounting, tax-exempt entities, and qualified and nonqualified plans. Prerequisite: ACCT553

Auditing: An Operational and Internal Perspective Including Fraud Examination (ACCT562) - 3 credit hours

This course examines why increased complexity in organizations requires management to establish means of monitoring control systems. Coursework examines the audit process using criteria and controls to evaluate causes and effects of - and conditions for - operational, performance and fraud audits. Emphasis is placed on standards, objectives, principles and procedures involved in reviewing the reliability and integrity of information; compliance with policies, plans, procedures, laws and regulations (including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002); means of safeguarding assets; appraising economical and efficient use of resources; and reviewing achievement of established objectives and goals (including accounting ethics) for operations and programs. Prerequisite: ACCT505

International Accounting and Multinational Enterprises (ACCT564) - 3 credit hours

Topics in this course are studied in the context of multinational enterprises and from a strategic perspective. Topics include accounting for foreign currency transactions, translation of foreign financial statements, transfer pricing, comparative accounting standards, taxation, and multinational systems and control. Prerequisite: ACCT505

Accounting Information Systems (ACCT571) - 3 credit hours

This course addresses computerized accounting information systems, focusing on reporting objectives, management needs, transaction trails, documentation, security, internal controls, and integration of accounting systems in software evaluation and selection. Systems analysis techniques are discussed. Coursework also prepares students interested in pursuing the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential. Prerequisite: ACCT504

Accounting Fraud Criminology and Ethics (ACCT573) - 3 credit hours

This course examines the nature of occupational fraud and how it is committed, and introduces actions to detect it and procedures to deter it. The course also covers how allegations of fraud should be investigated to meet requirements of civil and/or criminal court procedures. Coursework prepares students interested in earning the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential, examining tools and techniques for gathering evidence and information during fraud examinations. Prerequisite: ACCT504

Forensic Accounting: Ethics and the Legal Environment (ACCT574) - 3 credit hours

This course focuses on conducting fraud examinations, and includes discussion of procedures used in forensic accounting examinations and reasons behind using these procedures. In addition, coursework addresses how allegations of fraud should be investigated to meet requirements of civil and/or criminal court procedures. Also covered are detection, investigation and prevention of specific types of fraud. Coursework focuses on preparing students interested in earning the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential, examining criminology and ethics. Prerequisite: ACCT504

Professional Leadership Track:

CPA Exam Preparation: Auditing and Attestation (ACCT591) - 2 credit hours

This course covers auditing procedures, auditing standards generally accepted in the United States (GAAS) and other standards related to attestation engagements. Also covered are skills needed to apply that knowledge in auditing and other attestation engagements. The auditing and attestation section of the CPA exam tests knowledge in the context of five broad engagement tasks. (The course is two semester-credit hours and is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.) Prerequisite: ACCT551 or equivalent

CPA Exam Preparation: Business Environment and Concepts (ACCT592) - 2 credit hours

This course prepares students to pass the business environment and concepts section of the CPA exam. Coursework focuses on business structure; economic concepts essential to understanding an entity's operation, business and industry; financial management; information technology; and planning and measurement. Students become familiar with underlying business reasons for - and accounting implications of - transactions, and gain skills needed to apply that knowledge in financial statement audit and attestation engagements as well as perform other functions affecting the public interest. (The course is two semester-credit hours and is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.) Prerequisite: ACCT551 or equivalent

CPA Exam Preparation: Financial Accounting and Reporting (ACCT593) - 3 credit hours

This course prepares students to pass the financial accounting and reporting section of the CPA exam. Coursework covers accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) that affect business enterprises, not-for-profit organizations and government entities. Also addressed are skills needed to apply such knowledge, as well as financial accounting concepts and standards. (The course is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.) Prerequisite: ACCT551 or equivalent

CPA Exam Preparation: Regulation (ACCT594) - 2 credit hours

This course prepares students to pass the regulation section of the CPA exam. Topics include federal taxation, ethics, professional and legal responsibilities, and business law, as well as skills needed to apply that knowledge. Topics address CPAs' professional and legal responsibilities, and legal implications of business transactions, particularly as they relate to accounting and auditing. Coursework focuses on federal and widely adopted uniform state laws, as well as principles of - and procedures for - federal income, estate and gift taxation. (The course is two credit hours and is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.) Prerequisite: ACCT551 or equivalent

Advanced Financial Accounting and Reporting Issues (ACCT559) - 3 credit hours

This course covers financial accounting practice and theory in relation to consolidations; foreign currency transactions and financial statement translations; and partnership accounting, including formation, maintenance, reorganizations and liquidations. Prerequisite: ACCT557

International Accounting and Multinational Enterprises (ACCT564) - 3 credit hours

Topics in this course are studied in the context of multinational enterprises and from a strategic perspective. Topics include accounting for foreign currency transactions, translation of foreign financial statements, transfer pricing, comparative accounting standards, taxation, and multinational systems and control. Prerequisite: ACCT505

Accounting Information Systems (ACCT571) - 3 credit hours

This course addresses computerized accounting information systems, focusing on reporting objectives, management needs, transaction trails, documentation, security, internal controls, and integration of accounting systems in software evaluation and selection. Systems analysis techniques are discussed. Coursework also prepares students interested in pursuing the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential. Prerequisite: ACCT504

Forensic Accounting: Ethics and the Legal Environment (ACCT574) - 3 credit hours

This course focuses on conducting fraud examinations, and includes discussion of procedures used in forensic accounting examinations and reasons behind using these procedures. In addition, coursework addresses how allegations of fraud should be investigated to meet requirements of civil and/or criminal court procedures. Also covered are detection, investigation and prevention of specific types of fraud. Coursework focuses on preparing students interested in earning the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential, examining criminology and ethics. Prerequisite: ACCT504

Entrepreneurial Finance (FIN512) - 3 credit hours

This course concentrates on the needs of, and financial issues surrounding, entrepreneurial ventures. Topics include internal financial operations of a venture, obtaining seed and growth capital from various sources, and evaluating funding decisions and alternatives as they impact the firm. Other topics include acquisitions, valuing a company, preparing for and executing an initial public securities offering, planning an exit strategy and bankruptcy. Students apply course concepts using real-world cases. Prerequisite: ACCT504

Managing Organizational Change (HRM587) - 3 credit hours

This course addresses concepts and techniques required to successfully implement change across an organization. Coursework focuses on identifying an organization's vision as well as opportunities that can align the vision with the organization's structures, processes, culture and orientation to the environment. Also addressed are opportunities for, and problems in, managing human dynamics in organizations, including intervention techniques, models, principles and values that indicate how to take charge of planned change efforts in order to achieve success. No prerequisite

Project Management Systems (PROJ586) - 3 credit hours

With an emphasis on planning, this course introduces project management fundamentals and principles from the standpoint of the manager who must organize, plan, implement and control nonroutine activities to achieve schedule, budget and performance objectives. Topics include project life cycles, organization and charters; work breakdown structures; responsibility matrixes; as well as planning, budgeting and scheduling systems. Planning and control methods such as PERT/CPM, Gantt charts, earned value systems, project management software applications and project audits are introduced. No prerequisite