Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 NOVA Catalog 
    
2024-2025 NOVA Catalog

Accounting, C.S.C.

Location(s): AL, AN, LO, MA, NOL, WO


CIP Code: 52.0301

NOVA Code: 221-203-02

Purpose: This curriculum will provide students with the accounting courses needed to meet the requirements of the Virginia Board for Accountancy to sit for the Certified Public Accountancy (C.P.A.) examination. To meet the educational requirements to sit for the Virginia CPA exam, a candidate must obtain from one or more accredited institutions or from the National College the following:

  • at least 120 semester hours of education;
  • baccalaureate or higher degree; and
  • accounting concentration or equivalent*

Requirements include:

  • a minimum of 24 semester hours of accounting courses, to include courses in auditing, financial accounting, management accounting, and taxation; and
  • a minimum of 24 semester hours of business courses. As many as 6 hours of accounting courses (not included in the 24 hours of accounting courses) may be considered for the business course requirement.

*Principles or introductory accounting courses cannot be considered in determining whether a person has obtained the 48 minimum number of semester hours required for an accounting concentration or equivalent.

Admission Requirements: Successful completion of ACC 211   and ACC 212   or equivalent as demonstrated through transcript evaluation.

These accounting courses may also meet accounting requirements of various government and private sector positions.

Students on Financial Aid should consider the AAS in Accounting Degree in order to get financial aid coverage of ACC 211  and ACC 212 .

Students who do not have the required business courses may find the AAS in Accounting Degree a good alternative for covering all CPA requirements.

One Year


Total credits for the Accounting Career Studies Certificate: 27 credits


All first-time students must take a one-credit Student Development (SDV) course prior to enrolling in their 16th credit at NOVA. First-time-to-college students ages 17-24 must complete an SDV course within their first year at NOVA.

Since the CPA exam is a computer-based test, students should be proficient with computers, including the ability to work with Windows, Word, and Excel.