Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure

What is a CPA?

A CPA is a Certified Public Accountant, a designation licensed by the state. In Vermont, to earn the prestige associated with the CPA license, individuals are required to demonstrate their knowledge and competence by passing the Uniform CPA Exam. This ensures that they meet high educational standards and have completed a specified amount of accounting experience.

Why do you need a CPA?

Certified Public Accountants act as trusted financial advisers to individuals, businesses, financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies on a wide range of financial matters. Many individuals and businesses turn to CPAs for help with tax preparation, personal financial planning, auditing services, and advice on developing effective accounting systems.

The CPA designation is one of the most widely recognized and highly trusted professional designations in the business world. CPAs are distinguished from other finance professionals, like bookkeepers and tax preparers, by stringent qualification and licensing requirements.

The two most important goals to focus on in your quest to become a CPA are passing the Uniform CPA Exam and meeting licensing requirements.

More information on CPAs and licensing:


CPAs Require More Than a Bachelor's Degree

The requisite credit hours for the CPA exam are 150 post-secondary credits. This means that a typical undergraduate degree (at 120 credits) is no longer enough, and students need to take more classes-30 credits' worth-to be eligible for licensure.

Accounting students at Champlain College have multiple options to consider when designing their academic plans to meet this requirement, and we give them the resources to make a decision that best fits their needs. Our Faculty Advisors help students create the plan that makes the most sense while allowing them to achieve their career goals.

Additional Undergraduate Credits-A Cost-Friendly Alternative. Interested in starting to acquire the requisite additional 30 credit hours while pursuing your undergraduate degree? Champlain allows Accounting students to take up to 12 extra credits-on top those accumulated throughout their undergraduate studies-with no additional tuition fees. You can graduate with 132 credits at no additional cost. Through additional courses during the academic year or over summer semesters (at cost), you may accumulate even more credits before graduating.

Champlain College has not determined whether the Accounting program meets the education requirements for professional licensure in any state (or the District of Columbia) other than Vermont. See the Information about Professional Licensure page for more details about professional licensure.

Accounting and Finance—Double Major

Champlain's five-year double major in Finance & Accounting allows students to meet the necessary 150 credit hours needed in order to sit for the CPA exam. Studying both of these fields will give you a unique and valuable experience that helps you stand out as a job candidate. To learn more about the Accounting & Finance double major, click here.

Master's Degree—Take Your Career a Step Further

Another option for students interested in taking the CPA exam is to pursue a Master's degree through Champlain or one of our partner institutions. This further education benefits your career trajectory while allowing you to meet the requisite credit hours for the CPA exam.

Preferred Admission Status for Masters Programs

Champlain College has a special agreement with New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Accounting students with a G.P.A. of 3.25 or greater can be granted "auto-admission" to one of 14 masters programs offered through NYU-including an M.S. in Management & Systems and an M.S. in Global Affairs.