Study Accounting in Tennessee
Accounting is the type of degree that can get you far. In one regard, accounting is a rapidly growing profession with a need for qualified workers. In another regard, you can earn an advanced degree like a master’s to enhance your skills and qualify for higher-paying jobs. An advanced degree can also help qualify you to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam.
In Tennessee, these opportunities are endless with undergraduate and graduate programs available from numerous colleges and universities. This is true of on-campus and online programs alike. If you opt for an online accounting degree, you don’t even have to reside in Tennessee to reap the benefits of one of its accounting programs.
Explore the guide below to learn about popular bachelor’s and master’s-level accounting programs in the Volunteer State!
Online Accounting Degrees in Tennessee
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering accredited online accounting degrees in Tennessee:
- University of Memphis
- King University
- Middle Tennessee State University
- University Tennessee Chattanooga
- Tennessee Tech University
- Capella University
- Walden University
- Southern New Hampshire University
University of Memphis
Online Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting
At the University of Memphis, you can complete an online Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in accounting. The program is offered by Memphis’ prestigious Fogelman College of Business and Economics and the Crews School of Accountancy, which is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
This degree requires you to complete at least 120 credits of undergraduate courses. Most students need about four years to complete this degree. However, the University of Memphis will conduct a transfer credit evaluation if you’ve completed credits at another institution. Depending on the number of credits that apply, you could finish your accounting degree in two years or less at Memphis.
The university requires you to complete specific general education requirements to earn your undergraduate degree. This core of courses helps you gain a broad understanding of a wide scope of fields. You’ll also acquire a host of important skills related to communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
A total of 41 credits are required in the general education core. The breakdown of courses is as follows:
- Nine credits of English and communications
- Nine credits of humanities and fine arts
- Six credits of social and behavioral sciences
- Six credits of history
- Eight credits of natural sciences
- Three credits of math
The next component of the program is a 24-credit sequence of lower-division business classes. These courses provide you with a foundational understanding of accounting and its application in a host of business settings. For example, you’ll take Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting. You’ll also take Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and Foundations of Information Systems.
This program has a heavy emphasis on business statistics and math. As such, you’ll take either Business Analytics or a Probability or Statistics course. You must also take at least one lower-division math course, like College Algebra or Elementary Calculus.
The upper-division business classes include an additional 24 credits of studies. These classes are often more specific in their scope and application than lower-division classes. For example, you’ll take Legal, Social, and Political Environments of Accounting, in which you’ll examine how these forces impact business executives, their decision-making processes, and business operations.
Another example of a niche upper-division class is Strategic Management. You’ll study managerial planning, corporate strategies, and frameworks for implementing business change. This course also explores social responsibility, ethics, and issues of professionalism.
Other required upper-division business courses include the following:
- Financial Management
- Principles of Management
- Communication and Career Readiness for Accounting Professionals
- Critical Thinking Using Analytics
- Principles of Marketing
Lastly, you’ll complete 27 credits within the accounting major. As you’d expect, these courses examine key accounting topics while also helping you build competency in applying accounting skills in real-world settings. Classes like Intermediate Accounting I and II, Intermediate Managerial Accounting, and Accounting Data and Analytics form the basis of the major. Other classes explore areas such as:
- Accounting Information Systems
- Audit and Assurance Services
- Individual Tax Compliance and Planning
- Systems Assurance and Advisory
- Advanced Financial and Government Reporting
You’ll also take a class on Personal Tax Advisory that explores tax planning, gift and estate planning, and other topics of importance for filing individual taxes.
You must meet the following requirements to apply as a first-time student:
- Submit official high school transcripts showing that you’ve completed the following coursework:
- Four units of English
- One unit of visual or performing arts
- Three units of math
- Two units of natural and physical science
- Two units of social studies
- Two units of the same foreign language
- Submit official ACT or SAT scores
King University
Online Bachelor of Science in Accounting
King University’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting is a comprehensive, well-rounded program with studies in critical areas like advanced accounting, taxation, and business law. In fact, the curriculum is designed to prepare you for the CPA exam. Though you have to earn additional credits beyond this degree to qualify for the exam, the knowledge and skills you learn here are integral to your success in passing the test.
A unique feature of this program is that it’s specifically designed for transfer students. As such, you should have either an associate’s degree or an equivalent number of credits (roughly 60) when you apply to this 64-credit transfer program.
The curriculum is structured such that you develop essential skills in one course that are directly applicable to the next course you complete. The program is based on the cohort model, which furthers the continuity of your learning experience because you move through each course with the same classmates. There is a lot of value in this approach; you’ll build professional relationships with classmates, develop essential learning partnerships with your professors, and have a strong network of colleagues you can lean on after graduation.
As a transfer student, you should have completed all general education courses (e.g., math, science, social sciences, English). The remaining 60-or-so credits you need to complete this program focus on the accounting major. For example, you’ll take classes like:
- Introduction to Economic Principles
- Intermediate Accounting
- Human Resource Management
- Principles of Marketing
- Small Business Entrepreneurship
Clearly, many of the courses you take focus on specific areas of business. But you’ll also take classes in niche areas of accounting applications. For example, you’ll take a Taxation course that introduces you to taxation concepts for partnerships, corporations, and individuals. You’ll also learn how to file computerized tax preparation.
As another example, you must complete a Principles of Auditing course that dives into the theory and practice of financial audits. You’ll learn about standard auditing techniques and how to apply them in examining public and private organizations’ financial records.
Other major-area requirements are as follows:
- Business Law
- Management Communication
- Accounting Information Systems
- Advanced Accounting
- Corporate Finance
You can complete these studies in as little as 16 months, provided King University accepts the maximum number of transfer credits, which currently sits at 76.
You can start the application process to King University online. The admissions requirements are as follows:
- Graduate from an accredited or recognized high school or have an equivalency such as a GED.
- Complete the following general academic requirements:
- Financial Accounting
- Managerial Accounting
- Four units of English
- Two units of algebra
- One unit of geometry
- Two units of the same foreign language
- Two units of history and social studies
- One unit of natural science
- Four units of academic electives
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
Middle Tennessee State University
Online Master of Accountancy
The Master of Accountancy from Middle Tennessee State University is a flexible online option for advancing your accounting career. You can work toward the degree on a part-time or full-time basis and choose from asynchronous or synchronous online courses, depending on your learning preferences and scheduling needs.
This is a student-focused program, too. You’ll benefit from features like one-on-one academic advising, a custom degree plan to fit your career goals, and an integrated CPA review course that earns credit toward your degree while preparing you for the CPA exam.
This AACSB program also prepares you for other credentials in accounting. For example, you can pursue the Certified Management Accountant or the Certified Information Systems Auditor credentials. Alternatively, you can incorporate additional accounting electives into your program if a certification isn’t necessary for your desired line of work. Two specializations are available as well: Tax Accounting and Assurance.
This 30-credit program requires you to earn 15 required credits and 15 elective credits. An additional 15 credits of prerequisites are necessary if your undergraduate degree is not in accounting. These prerequisites include Foundations of Accounting I, Foundations of Accounting II, and Intermediate Accounting I.
The required courses explore essential accounting topics like Accounting Analytics, Taxation of Business Entities, and External Auditing. You must also take a course in Current Legal Topics in Corporate Governance, Risk Management, and Fraud. You’ll explore issues such as social responsibility, accounting and business ethics, liability of auditors, and issues related to bankruptcy.
Additionally, an Advanced Financial Accounting and Reporting Capstone is required for graduation. You’ll apply theoretical accounting concepts to financial accounting and reporting situations. You’ll do so using case studies and real-world examples of what you might encounter as a practicing accountant.
The elective component of the program allows you to tailor your studies to specific areas of accounting. Middle Tennessee offers dozens of options to fulfill these credits, including the following:
- Advanced Financial Accounting
- Forensic Accounting and Fraud Auditing
- Taxation of Pass-Through Entities
- Management Control and Financial Reporting in the Global Corporation
- Empirical Methods in Accounting
You can also choose to take one of several one-credit CPA review courses. This includes options focusing on the Auditing, Financial, and Regulation portions of the exam.
If your undergraduate degree is in a field other than accounting, you must account for taking three additional required electives: Accounting Systems, Introduction to Federal Income Tax, and External Auditing I. Along with the required core courses listed earlier, these classes help you build a solid foundation of basic accounting principles.
As mentioned earlier, you can choose to add a specialization in either Tax Accounting or Assurance. In both cases, you must take three courses to complete the specialization.
You can complete an undergraduate application for admission online at any time. You must meet the following requirements if your undergraduate degree is in accounting:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Have a 3.0 GPA from an AACSB-accredited school OR have a satisfactory GMAT score.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
If your undergraduate degree is in a non-accounting field, you must meet the following requirements:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Have a satisfactory GMAT score.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Complete required and elective prerequisite courses as outlined above.
You must submit TOEFL scores if English is not your native language, regardless of whether your undergraduate degree was in accounting.
University Tennessee Chattanooga
Online Master of Accountancy
The online Master of Accountancy degree from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga is offered by the Gary W. Rollins College of Business. It’s a highly flexible 30-credit program that is AACSB accredited. You’ll gain valuable skills related to technical issues in accounting and have opportunities to prepare for the CPA exam.
This program is open to you whether you have an undergraduate accounting degree or not. If your degree is not in accounting, you must complete 18 credits of prerequisite courses. These courses include:
- Intermediate Accounting I and II
- Managerial Cost Accounting
- Federal Tax Accounting
- Accounting Information Systems
- Auditing
Likewise, you must complete the following if you have a non-business undergraduate degree:
- Principles of Accounting I and II
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
- Statistics for Business
In some instances, a part or all of these prerequisite requirements might be waived. For example, a grade of C or better in an AACSB accredited business school or a B or better from a non-AACSB accredited school is sufficient to waive a background course.
Of the 30 required credits in this graduate program, 18 are required. These courses run the gamut from Advanced Accounting to Accounting Data Analytics to Taxation of Corporations and Partnerships. Three other courses are required, too: Advanced Accounting Information Systems, Financial Accounting Issues and Analysis, and Advanced Auditing.
This combination of required courses helps you develop high-level accounting skills in numerous accounting applications. You’ll gain even more skills by completing 12 credits of elective courses. You must choose one course in a CPA prep or non-CPA prep category. The remaining nine credits are either in a General Track or a Forensic Data Analysis Concentration.
The General Track offers you the choice of five accounting classes, of which you must take three:
- Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting
- Taxation of Estates, Gifts, and Trusts
- Emerging Technologies: Applications, Governance, and Ethics
- Advanced Managerial Accounting and Control
- Forensic Accounting
Alternatively, you can opt for the Data Analytics Concentration, which requires you to complete three of four available classes:
- Forensic Accounting
- Databases and Data Warehouses
- Data Mining and Analytics
- Advanced Data Analytics
This program allows you to transfer as many as six credits from other universities. To do so, you must have earned a B or higher in each course, and the courses must have been completed at a university accredited by AACSB.
The admissions criteria are as follows:
- Have an undergraduate degree in any field from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher in your undergraduate studies or 3.0 or higher in the last 60 or more semester credit hours.
- Have a 3.0 GPA or higher for all bachelor’s-level accounting coursework.
- Complete any required prerequisite coursework.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
Applications are accepted year-round, but application deadlines are in effect for each admission semester. For fall consideration, submit your application by mid-June. Applications for spring admission must be received by the start of November. Applications for summer studies must be received by the start of April for the first summer session and by mid-May for the second summer session.
How Do I Become an Accountant in Tennessee?
To become an accountant in Tennessee, follow these steps:
- Education: Obtain at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and complete 150 credit hours
- CPA Exam: Pass all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination.
- Work Experience: Gain 12 months (2,000 hours) of full-time accounting experience under the supervision of a CPA.
- Ethics Exam: Pass the Professional Ethics exam offered by AICPA.
- Licensure: Apply for CPA licensure, including proof of education, experience, and exam scores.
Education Requirements
To sit for the CPA Exam in Tennessee, you must meet specific educational requirements. You need to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree accredited by one of the recognized bodies such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools or the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. There is a distinction between the educational requirements for taking the CPA Exam and obtaining licensure.
To be eligible for the CPA Exam, you must have:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher with a focus in accounting.
- At least 18 hours of upper-division accounting courses (junior level or higher). Note that internship semester hours do not count toward this requirement.
You may apply for the CPA Exam while your education is still in progress, but you must meet all educational requirements before sitting for any exam section.
For CPA licensure, you must complete 150 semester hours, which include:
- 30 semester hours in accounting, with at least 24 hours at the upper-division level (a maximum of 6 hours may come from internship programs).
- 24 semester hours in general business courses, covering subjects such as algebra, business communication, business law, economics, ethics, finance, management, marketing, and information systems.
You can complete additional 30 credits by obtaining a master’s degree in accounting.
CPA Exam
The CPA Exam comprises four sections, each requiring a minimum score of 75 to pass. All sections must be completed within an 18-month window.
Work Experience Requirements
To obtain a CPA license in Tennessee, you need one year of full-time work experience (2,000 hours) within a period of one to three years. This experience must be completed within the ten years preceding your license application date and must be endorsed by a licensed CPA. You may work in government, industry, academia, or the public sector in areas such as:
- Accounting
- Attest
- Management advisory
- Financial advisory
- Tax
- Consulting skills
Tennessee CPA Ethics Exam Requirements
You must pass the Professional Ethics exam with a score of 90% or above. This self-study course from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) covers the basic tenets of ethical and professional conduct for CPAs.
Tennessee CPA License Renewal Requirements
Your CPA license in Tennessee is valid for two years and must be renewed every two years. Licenses with odd numbers are renewed in odd-numbered years, and those with even numbers in even-numbered years.
Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Requirements
To ensure that you stay current with best practices in the profession, Tennessee requires you to complete 80 approved hours of CPE every two years, with at least 20 hours each year. Out of the 80 hours, at least 40 must be in technical subjects.
If you provide attest services, 20 of the 40 technical hours must be in accounting and auditing. If you provide expert witness testimony, at least 20 hours must be in the general area the court deems you an expert (e.g., tax or auditing).
First Renewal Exceptions
New CPA licensees who have held their license for over a year but less than a full two-year reporting cycle must earn a minimum of 40 hours, including 20 technical hours and two hours of board-approved state ethics.
Carryover Rule
If you earn more hours than required for the reporting cycle, you may carry up to 24 hours to the next renewal cycle (12 hours for the first renewal). These hours will count towards overall hours, not yearly minimums, technical CPE, or other mandatory benchmarks.
The Tennessee State Board of Accountancy audits 10% of renewing license candidates for CPE compliance. If selected for an audit, you must submit your CPE credit documentation from the previous two-year reporting cycle. Notifications are sent in early May each year.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Accountant in Tennessee?
Including education, work, and licensing requirements, becoming a fully licensed CPA in Tennessee typically takes 6 to 7 years.
How Much Does a CPA Make in Tennessee?
The average salary for a CPA in Tennessee varies depending on factors such as experience, location, and specific roles within the field. As of June 2024, the average salary for a CPA in Tennessee is $145,265 per year. More experienced CPAs in Tennessee earn well over $300,000 per year.