Education requirements to obtain a certified public accountant certificate

The following educational requirements shall be met before an applicant is eligible to apply for a certified public accountant certificate pursuant to section 20-280-21 of these regulations: (a) An applicant who takes the examination prior to January 1, 2000 shall be a graduate of an accredited college with a degree of bachelor. The college shall be accredited by the regional accrediting commission subscribing to the national policies and procedures established by the federation of regional accrediting commissions of higher education; or a college of equivalent accreditation as determined by the Connecticut State Board of Accountancy. The candidate shall have received credit for at least 46 semester hours from such an accredited college in the study of accounting and related subjects, including, but not limited to business law, economics, and finance; of which at least twenty-four semester hours shall be in the study of accounting. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of these regulations to the contrary, an applicant who takes the examination prior to January 1, 2000 need only have the educational qualifications set forth in subsection (a) of this section to retake any or all parts of the examination on or after January 1, 2000. (c) An applicant who takes the examination for the first time on or after January 1, 2000 shall have completed 150 semester hours of college education, including a baccalaureate degree, at a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting commission subscribing to established national policies and procedures or of equivalent accreditation as determined by the Board. Such an applicant shall have received credit for at least 36 semester hours in accounting education, which may include the basic or introductory accounting course; at least 30 semester hours in economics and business administration education other than accounting; and at least 60 semester hours in general education. The balance may consist of any for-credit courses, including courses in excess of the minimums set forth in the preceding sentence. (d) In lieu of subsections (a), (b) or (c) above, an applicant shall hold an authority to practice as a public accountant in the state of Connecticut under Section 20-281b of the General Statutes.