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Online Graduate Certificate in Accounting

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Earn Your Degree as Early as:
July 7, 2026*
Admissions Requirements
Courses
Ways to Save on Tuition
Career Outcomes
4
Total Courses
$485
Cost Per Credit
6 months
Average Completion*
15–18 hours
Weekly Course Effort

Graduate Certificate in Accounting Overview

It’s time to create more career opportunities with a 100% online accounting certificate. Be ready for what’s next in your field and your career.

  • Explore key accounting areas including financial and accounting reporting systems, business law, auditing techniques, and cost accounting.
  • Prepare for the CPA exam.
  • Develop practical professional skills you can use right away in the workplace.
  • Enhance your professional expertise and stand out to employers through our targeted curriculum that keeps up with industry demand.

Get a Head Start on Your Master’s Degree

Not only will you earn a valuable credential you can use now, but this certificate also lays the groundwork for your next degree. Apply qualified credits toward certain Purdue Global master’s degree programs.

View Program Degree Plan and Policies

Prepare for Certification

After completing the Graduate Certificate in Accounting program, you may be eligible to take the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Purdue Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

This program is not available in all states or locations and is not eligible for Title IV federal financial aid. Additional coursework may be required to meet eligibility requirements for the CPA Exam. See Notes and Conditions below.

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Admissions Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is required to enroll in a graduate program. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process. Refer to the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.

View Admissions Requirements

What Courses Will I Take?

This online accounting certificate program includes four courses designed to help students excel in accounting.

Sample Courses

  • Financial Accounting and Reporting
  • Business Law for Accountants
  • Advanced Auditing
  • Advanced Managerial/Cost Accounting
See All Accounting Courses

Program Requirements

4
Core Courses
16
Total Quarter Credits

1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Ways to Save on Time and Tuition

Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.

Transfer Credits

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions.

Corporate Partner Benefits

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Military Tuition Reduction

Graduate tuition savings for military include a 17–30% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and 14% per credit for veterans for graduate programs.

Prior Military Experience

Earn credit for your military training. We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.

View the total cost of attendance for your program.

Possible Behavioral Interview Questions for This Field of Study

  • Describe a time you had to explain complex accounting concepts to non-accounting/finance colleagues.
  • Describe a time you had to adapt to a significant change in accounting software or systems.
  • Tell me about a time when you had to stay disciplined to meet a deadline for a financial report or accounting assignment. How did you manage your time?
  • Describe a time you identified an inconsistency or error in financial data. What steps did you take to resolve it?
  • Describe a time when you worked on a group project involving financial data or accounting tasks. How did you contribute to the team's success?

Sample Skills Developed and Used in This Field

  • Accounting
  • Auditing
  • Budgeting
  • Cost Accounting
  • Data Analysis
  • Ethical Standards and Conduct
  • Finance
  • Financial Analysis
  • Financial Statements
  • General Ledger Reconciliation
  • Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
  • Internal Controls
  • Management
  • Planning
  • Problem Solving

Take a Career Assessment

Discover your work interests, and use them to chart your ideal career path.

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Download the Program Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about our business certificate programs and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.

View Brochure

Get to Know Our Faculty

Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.

99%

Faculty members who have advanced degrees

58%

Faculty members who have terminal degrees

477

Faculty publications in 2024–2025

More Than 44,000

Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2024–2025

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, August 2025. 2024–2025 academic year.

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

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NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Estimated Graduation Date and Average Completion: Estimated graduation date is based on the assumption that you will enroll in time to begin classes on the next upcoming start date, will remain enrolled for each consecutive term, and will maintain satisfactory academic standing in each term to progress toward completion of your program. Completion time is based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete.

CPA Exam: Purdue Global’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting prepares students to meet the educational requirements to sit for the CPA Exam. To sit for the CPA Exam in most states, there is an educational requirement of 150 semester credit hours or 225 quarter credit hours. To be eligible to sit for the CPA Exam, a student who has completed Purdue Global’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting would need to complete the University's Master of Science in Accounting or its equivalent. Licensing requirements to sit for the CPA exam vary from state to state. You should review your state's educational requirements by visiting Purdue Global’s State Licensure and Certifications page. For additional information on licensure and state-specific requirements, you should refer to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy website as well as your state's CPA licensing requirements, which can be found at the Accountancy Licensing Library.

Credit Toward a Future Degree: The University cannot guarantee that students will be granted admission to any future programs. Speak to an Advisor about admissions requirements and transfer credit opportunities and see the University Catalog for the Prior Learning policy.

CPA Exam: Purdue Global’s Graduate Certificate in Accounting is designed to help students prepare to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accounting Exam. To practice as a certified public accountant, you will need to pass the CPA exam, meet state-specific educational requirements, and complete state-required work experience. Guidance provided by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) recommends that you will first need to determine what state you plan to sit for the CPA Exam in since the education requirements to sit for the CPA Exam vary by state. Some states require 120 total semester hours (180 quarter credit hours) to qualify to sit for the exam, while most states require 150 total semester hours (225 quarter credit hours). You must then review your state-specific educational requirements by visiting Purdue Global’s State Licensure and Certifications page. For additional information on licensure and state-specific requirements, you should refer to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy website as well as your state's CPA licensing requirements, which can be found at the Accountancy Licensing Library.