HOUSTON (Oct. 30, 06) All too often, the career path that influenced a student’s choice of majors in college loses its luster and appeal after several years.  This truism has guided many in the workforce to change course and launch entirely new careers, careers that brought personal fulfillment and, in many cases, larger incomes.

For those who regret not pursuing a career in accounting and its ultimate credential – the Certified Public Accountant’s designation – the NHMCCD colleges have programs that not only qualifies those with a bachelor’s degree to sit for the CPA exam but also provides the necessary courses at a low tuition cost.

“Thus far, North Harris Montgomery Community College District is one of four community college districts in Texas that has qualified for the designation of ‘Qualifying Education Credit for CPA Examination,’ a new 30-credit program offered through the Texas Board of Public Accountancy,” said Karen Russom, professor of accounting.  “Those completing the 30 credits in accounting courses are then qualified to take the CPA exam.”

Russom said there is currently a niche in a market.  “Some of the people who have other degrees now want to earn their CPAs,” she pointed out. “The State Board of Public Accountancy has realized the community colleges can fill this niche by offering courses and have set up qualifications to make it possible.”

“We became aware of a trend in the general population for people who have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree and now want to change course in their careers,” said William Treacy, executive director of the Texas Board of Public Accountancy in Austin.  “We’re trying to meet a market need – the needs of potential CPA candidates – and this program fits that need.”

Treacy said Sarbanes-Oxley legislation has also created a greater demand for CPAs and people in industry are recognizing the enhanced value of the CPA designation.  “We’ve also seen salaries for CPAs increase considerably,” Treacy pointed out.

In 2004, North Harris and Montgomery Colleges provided the information necessary for the State Board to review the school’s accounting program and, after their review, the Board approved North Harris and Montgomery Colleges to offer courses to prepare bachelor degree holders to sit for the CPA exam.

The approval covers every college within the North Harris Montgomery Community College District, which includes North Harris College, Montgomery College, Cy-Fair College, Kingwood College and Tomball College.

Until the Texas Board of Public Accountancy developed the new program, those seeking the CPA credential had only one option–earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in accounting (usually requiring 150 hours of study) and then taking the CPA exam.

“Now, even though the advanced courses being offered through the new program will not transfer to bachelor’s degree-granting institutions,” Russom said, “the Texas Board of Public Accountancy will accept the courses being offered at North Harris College to meet the requirements to take the CPA exam.”

To meet the standards by which a community college’s accounting/business curriculum is evaluated, the college must be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, must offer a associate degree in accounting or business and/or a certificate program in accounting.  Further, the school must provide the Board of Public Accountancy with the number of students enrolled in each program, a standard that ensures the general quality of the entire college.

A second standard used in issuing the certificate of “Qualifying Educational Credit for CPA Examination” is that the college have electronic authoritative literature available in on-campus technology labs or on networks accessible by student computers.  The use and research of this literature must be included in at least 10 percent of the accounting courses required for the approved programs.  “Additionally, the college must have instructor-taught, on-campus accounting and business classes that account for 75 percent or more of the accounting an business student enrollment.

In addition to standards regarding faculty and existing curriculum, the Board’s community college certification program requires offering the following courses:  intermediate accounting, advanced accounting, cost accounting, ethics, auditing, internal accounting control and evaluation, report writing, financial statement analysis, accounting theory, federal income tax, accounting systems, governmental and not-for-profit accounting and fraud examination.

“Currently, we have 56 students enrolled in our ethics course,” Russom said, adding the new program makes taking the courses more convenient because they’re closer to home.  “We’re seeing a lot of people come back because the CPA designation – due in part to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act – is in high demand.”

“The response to this new program has been favorable and extremely gratifying,” Treacy said.  “Obviously, particular demand is coming from major metropolitan areas and we’re ensuring an institution approved by the board is available to offer this program in each of these areas.  I would also say there is definitely a heightened interest in pursuing the CPA designation and this program is attracting a great amount of interest.”

Salaries for entry-level CPAs in the Houston area begin around $60,000.  “Because of the large numbers of Baby Boomers retiring and expecting to retire in the next few years, the demand for accountants are higher and will get higher as the years go on,” said Russom, “plus Sarbanes-Oxley requires all internal control structures to be audited as well as the other auditing companies, themselves, require.”

Once the designation from the Texas Board of Accountancy was received, the colleges are required to track the progress of 100 percent of its professional accounting certification students while attending courses.  The college is also required to provide a one-time refresher course in that section to each student who has not successfully completed a specific section of the Uniform CPA Examination after four attempts.

“These standards make the college accountable for the performance of its students on the CPA Exam, just like the 150-hour institutions the Board tracks,” Russom said.  “Plus, the new program is a good deal for anyone who wants to move toward their CPA.”

NHMCCD comprises Cy-Fair College, Kingwood College, Montgomery College, North Harris College, Tomball College, six satellite centers and The University Center. To learn more, visit www.nhmccd.edu.

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