Harper College will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day.
Program Facts 
Prepare to qualify for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam by completing this certificate program, designed exclusively for individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree and wish to transition to a career in the field of accounting. Complete the program on campus or online, giving you additional flexibility.
Take classes in financial and managerial accounting, individual and business tax accounting, auditing, financial and tax research, cost accounting, fraud examination and more. Courses are taught by knowledgeable faculty who are accounting experts. Continue your learning outside the classroom by participating in Harper College’s active Accounting Club.
Note that all Harper CPA Preparation Certificate courses meet the Illinois Board of Examiners CPA exam requirements.
This 30 credit-hour certificate is designed to provide individuals with the necessary accounting courses to qualify for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. The program is intended for individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree and wish to transition to a career in the field of accounting.
To qualify for the CPA exam, a candidate must have a bachelor’s degree and a total of 150 semester hours of credit, including 24 hours in business and a minimum of 30 hours in accounting. The 24 hours in business must include two hours in business communication (ENG 130) and three hours in business ethics (ACC 257 or PHI 150). Additionally, it is strongly recommended that the 24 business hours include at least three hours in business law. At Harper, ACC 211 and ACC 213 are available. The Illinois Board of Examiners provides more detailed information on educational requirements at www.ilboe.org. Harper will accept up to 15 credit hours in equivalent courses from regionally accredited institutions.
At Harper College, acceptable accounting courses include: ACC 101, ACC 102, ACC 201, ACC 202, ACC 203, ACC 211, ACC 251, ACC 254, ACC 255, ACC 257, ACC 261, ACC 281, ACC 282, ACC 283.
A wide variety of business courses are offered including ACC 211, ACC 213, CIS 101, ECO 211, ECO 212, FIN 215, MGT 111, MGT 218, MGT 270, MTH 124, MTH 225, PHI 150.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| ACC 101 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | 4 |
| ACC 102 | Introduction to Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 201 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
| ACC 202 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| ACC 250 | Individual Tax Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 251 | Business Tax Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 254 | Auditing | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select 8 credit hours: | 8 | |
| ACC 203 | Cost Accounting | |
| ACC 255 | Accounting Data Analytics | |
| ACC 257 | Ethics and Tax Practices | |
| ACC 261 | Tax Research | |
| ACC 265 | Fraud Examination | |
| ACC 281 | CPA Review Course/Audit and Attestation (AUD) | |
| ACC 282 | CPA Review Course/Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) | |
| ACC 283 | CPA Review Course/Taxation and Regulation (REG) | |
| ACC 284 | CPA Review Course/Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP) | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Students interested in accounting may also be interested in:
For more information about studying accounting at Harper, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.