Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Academic credit in an introductory financial accounting course AND an introductory managerial accounting course (such as ACCTG 215 and ACCTG 225 at the UW). These courses are typically five quarter credits each.

Note: If you’ve taken a hybrid financial/managerial accounting class (like ACCTG 219 at the UW), you may still apply to the program, but caution is advised. Hybrid courses are typically shorter and provide less training in critical topics than the separate introductory courses do. You’ll be required to remedy any deficiencies in your accounting knowledge through independent self-study before the program begins. The certificate program moves quickly, so students need to focus on learning new material rather than revisiting introductory topics. See the financial and managerial accounting topics you’ll need to know.

Admission Requirements for the Summer Intensive Option

The above admission requirements represent the minimum to be admitted to the accounting program. The summer intensive version of this program is very demanding and requires a full-time study effort for 11 weeks. All applicants must have the willingness and ability to dedicate more than 40 hours per week to classroom and independent study.

The typical student in the intensive program has earned a GPA of 3.3 or above in their financial accounting prerequisite course and also has some relevant business knowledge from prior work experience or coursework. Unless you’ve completed both accounting prerequisite courses within the last year, we recommend that you review that material before starting this program.

English Proficiency

If English is not your native language, you should have at least intermediate English skills to enroll. To learn more, see English Language Proficiency Requirements – Credit Programs.

International Students

Only the summer intensive option for this certificate qualifies for F-1 visa status. For more information, see Admission Requirements for International Students. 

Technology Requirements

• Access to a computer with a recent operating system and web browser
• High-speed internet connection
• Headset and webcam (recommended)

Earning the Certificate

You earn the certificate by adhering to the program's attendance policy and completing all required courses (Financial Accounting I–III, Accounting Information Systems, Audit, Cost Accounting and Taxation). Students must earn a grade of at least 2.7 in each course (unless granted a waiver by the program director and department chair) and maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.7 for all courses combined. For more information, see Earning the Certificate.