TESU vs UMPI for CPA

[dfrecore]

I'm at TESU only because I got no other choice since <18. Would have done UMPI otherwise. Also think about which state you want to apply to. Dont restrict only to NJ. Some states have tougher ed (like 30 accounting credits) but their work experience requirements are lighter. One state I think doesn't even need you to report to a CPA, just a CPA signs off your work experience.

I just spoke to a lady at UMPI and "enrollment specialist" who knew nothing of the age requirement. 

Since I am going to be 20 in February, I might just do UMPI and in the mean time just do the study.com credits.

So you're only doing the 120 credit degree? Whats your plan for the other 30 credits required to gain licensure?

What do you do as a CPA who passed the test but is not licenced?

At UMPI looks like I need the GED(I was homeschooled) at TESU I dont need a GED if I am 20.

You should not need a GED, you should have been issued a high school diploma.  That's always better than the GED.

[acethroughcollege]

You might have not been talking to someone who's familiar with UMPI's YourPace program. When we talk about UMPI here, that's what we mean, not the traditional program.

Yes the "enrollment expert" didnt seem to know much.

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Being licensed as a CPA lets you do a handful of very important things—sign/submit certain required financial filings, sign audits, and represent taxpayers in front of the IRS being 3 of the most important.  At least in my state, there are also things that local governments have to do/file that have to be signed off on by a CPA, but that probably varies state-to-state.

Most accounting tasks—keeping books for a business, preparing most tax returns, preparing payroll, supervising accounts payable and receivable, doing internal analyses regarding things like profitability and costs—do not require that the person doing them be a licensed CPA.  Most accountants in the US are not CPAs. Most federal and state auditors are also not required to be CPAs.  

So, more or less you can do anything that doesn’t specifically require you to be a licensed CPA. If you go to work for an accounting firm, that could also include things like helping out with an audit or preparation of disclosures, while a licensed CPA actually signs the finished product.

I thought you had to be an EA to represent taxpayers in Tax Court?

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I'm at TESU only because I got no other choice since <18. Would have done UMPI otherwise. Also think about which state you want to apply to. Dont restrict only to NJ. Some states have tougher ed (like 30 accounting credits) but their work experience requirements are lighter. One state I think doesn't even need you to report to a CPA, just a CPA signs off your work experience.

I just spoke to a lady at UMPI and "enrollment specialist" who knew nothing of the age requirement. 

Since I am going to be 20 in February, I might just do UMPI and in the mean time just do the study.com credits.

So you're only doing the 120 credit degree? Whats your plan for the other 30 credits required to gain licensure?

What do you do as a CPA who passed the test but is not licenced?

At UMPI looks like I need the GED(I was homeschooled) at TESU I dont need a GED if I am 20.

The 30 extra credits to get licensed I'm gonna do while working. In NJ it's one year of work experience anyway, so I'm just gonna do it in parallel. e.g. a bunch of easy credit courses at CC, perhaps some stuff I'm interested in. On Reddit, there's lots of people who've documented hacks to get that extra 30 for free or almost free. Doesn't seem to be a big issue.

Loads of small/mid CPA groups hire grads. At the moment anyway. I plan to just grind it out one of these places for a year, get my license, and then move on. I might do a season with H&R block to get some PT experience in individual tax that will help ease me into the CPA work experience.

I got a lot of small biz CPA/accountant/EA's in my family. They've given up hiring because few were applying for their jobs before COVID. Now no one is. They say it's the same for most small firms. No one wants these jobs which are seen as a bit crappy.

Could you point me to where on Reddit they speak of the hacks to get the extra 30 credits for free or almost free?

[sanantone]

You need to be an attorney, CPA, or EA to represent someone in front of the IRS. This is usually a revenue officer, revenue agent, or an ACS call center worker you'll be speaking to. There are other professionals who have limited representation privileges.

To practice in the U.S. Tax Court, you either need to be admitted to the Bar in a state, territory, or district or pass the tax court exam.

[ss20ts]

I just spoke to a lady at UMPI and "enrollment specialist" who knew nothing of the age requirement. 

Since I am going to be 20 in February, I might just do UMPI and in the mean time just do the study.com credits.

So you're only doing the 120 credit degree? Whats your plan for the other 30 credits required to gain licensure?

What do you do as a CPA who passed the test but is not licenced?

At UMPI looks like I need the GED(I was homeschooled) at TESU I dont need a GED if I am 20.

The enrollment counselors don't actually work for UMPI. They're farmed out. Some of them know less about UMPI than my dogs. I've actually had to educate a few of them on things about YourPace. HUGE eye roll! 

Yes you need proof of high school graduation unless you have an associate degree which you can get from Pierpont! There's a bunch of threads on here discussing how to get that inexpensive, easy associate degree.

[acethroughcollege]

You need to be an attorney, CPA, or EA to represent someone in front of the IRS. This is usually a revenue officer, revenue agent, or an ACS call center worker you'll be speaking to. There are other professionals who have limited representation privileges.

To practice in the U.S. Tax Court, you either need to be admitted to the Bar in a state, territory, or district or pass the tax court exam.

Ahh yes that's the distinction then, unless you're an attorney, you have to pass the Tax Court Exam.

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I just spoke to a lady at UMPI and "enrollment specialist" who knew nothing of the age requirement. 

Since I am going to be 20 in February, I might just do UMPI and in the mean time just do the study.com credits.

So you're only doing the 120 credit degree? Whats your plan for the other 30 credits required to gain licensure?

What do you do as a CPA who passed the test but is not licenced?

At UMPI looks like I need the GED(I was homeschooled) at TESU I dont need a GED if I am 20.

The enrollment counselors don't actually work for UMPI. They're farmed out. Some of them know less about UMPI than my dogs. I've actually had to educate a few of them on things about YourPace. HUGE eye roll! 

Yes you need proof of high school graduation unless you have an associate degree which you can get from Pierpont! There's a bunch of threads on here discussing how to get that inexpensive, easy associate degree.

I am learning this exact thing! So you think my homeschool diploma will work then? The didn't know.

[ss20ts]

I tried to send you a pm about who to contact directly at UMPI, but your account isn't set up to accept pms. I have someone you can contact directly, but I don't want to post their info publicly.

[dfrecore]

I am learning this exact thing! So you think my homeschool diploma will work then? The didn't know.

Yes, a homeschool diploma/transcript is valid in all 50 states.  The only thing a college may require is testing (and most require that anyway).

As an example of this, my kid with a public school HS diploma, who has taken English Comp I & II from a CC, is being required by her CC here (different state) to take the AccuPlacer for READING, because her Comp courses don't have the word "Literature" in them.  Even though she got B's in both courses. Even though she has an overall GPA of 3.3 with 30cr under her belt.  SMH.

So, you may have a hoop or two to jump through - but then again, you probably would with a GED as well.

[acethroughcollege]

I dont believe TESU requires any testing if youre 20.

[ss20ts]

UMPI doesn't require testing.

[rachel83az]

As a holder of a GED, I have encountered no issues from Pierpont or TESU regarding not having a "real" HS diploma. There is nothing wrong with having a GED. I'm a bit salty that my GED is too old to be worth any college credit, though.