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AccountingCertificates

Enroll in an accounting certificate program at Aims and develop skills to improve your personal or business finances or find work in accounting. The Accounting Certificate teaches key skills such as how to maintain records of financial transactions by establishing accounts, posting transactions, and ensuring legal requirements compliance. The Enrolled Agent Certificate prepares you to become a federally-authorized tax practitioner who is empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service.

Both certificates can be put to good use right away. An Accounting Certificate prepares you to work as a bookkeeper. The Enrolled Agent Certificate prepares you to pass the Special Enrollment Examination (SEE) required to become an enrolled agent. Enrolled Agent certification qualifies you to represent taxpayers, provide tax consultation services and prepare a wide range of federal and state returns.

Bookkeeping Certificate

Develop key bookkeeping skills such as how to maintain records and establish accounts. Learn the basics of accounting and legal compliance that can be applied to any business.

Row Groupings Certificate Requirements: Credits
required

Covers the practical lab portion of the Fundamentals of Accounting course providing hands-on activities using software provided by the publisher or Open Educational Resources (OER) content. The lab demonstrates the recording of accounting information discussed in ACC 1001 with emphasis on the procedures and practices used in business organizations. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

ACC 1001 with a grade of "C" or better

Course Corequisites
ACC 1011
2
required

Focuses on financial accounting concepts prescribed by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), including financial information for external partners, the accounting cycle process, basic terminology, transaction analysis, internal control systems, and financial statement preparation and analysis. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Focuses on the fundamentals of managerial accounting and cost management as tools to aid internal users' decision-making processes. This course covers basic managerial accounting concepts, such as product costing and cost behavior and control. It also covers internal management decision making tools, including cost-volume-profit analysis, budgeting, cost analysis, and planning and control systems.  Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

ACC 1011 with a grade of "C" or better

3
required

Introduces the capabilities of computer applications in accounting. Includes solving accounting problems of a financial nature and hardware and software controls. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

ACC 1001 or ACC 1021 with a grade of "C" or better.

3
required

Introduces laws pertaining to payroll and sales taxes including record keeping rules; preparation of various federal, state and local forms for reporting payroll and sales taxes; and computerized payroll procedures. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Corequisites
ACC 1001 or ACC 1021
3
required

Emphasizes public law, regulation of business, ethical considerations, and various relationships existing within society, government, and business. Specific attention is given to economic regulation, social regulation, labor-management issues, environmental issues, and contract fundamentals. This course analyzes the role of law in social, political, and economic change business environments. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Introduces basic to advanced features of spreadsheet software to design and create accurate, professional worksheets for use in business and industry. The course includes entering data, creating formulas, professional formatting, creating charts, creating, sorting and filtering tables, creating and using templates, applying built-in functions, creating pivot tables, applying "what-if analysis" with data tables, creating macros, and using solver features. Course is repeatable for credit under different titles.

3
Row Groupings Accounting Electives Credits
Accounting Electives

Select one from the following courses:

required

Introduces touch control of the ten-key pad. Emphasizes the development of speed and accuracy using proper technique. Course is not repeatable for credit.

1
required

Introduces interpersonal relations most directly linked to attainment of organizational and individual goals in the business world. Other factors include motivation, career development, and conflict resolution. It explores the importance of effective communication in organizations. Addresses organizational issues such as employee motivation and customer complaints as related to product or service defects. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
Row Groupings (Written) Communication Credits
(Written) Communication

Select one from the following courses:

required

Emphasizes the planning, writing, and revising of compositions, including the development of critical and logical thinking skills. This course includes a wide variety of compositions that stress analytical, evaluative, and persuasive/argumentative writing. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-CO1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Develops skills one can apply to a variety of technical documents. Focuses on principles for organizing, writing, and revising clear, readable documents for industry, business, and government. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-CO1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

 (Recommended)
3
Row Groupings Math: Credits
required

Covers the fundamentals of financial mathematics. Topics include pricing, taxes, insurance, interest, annuities, amortization, and investments. Course is not repeatable for credit.

 (Recommended)
3
Note: Or any higher level math course.
Total Credits for Certificate 27-29

Enrolled Agent Certificate

Prepare yourself to pass the Special Enrollment Examination to become a legal tax representative. This certification qualifies you to represent taxpayers and provide tax consultation services.

Row Groupings Certificate Requirements Credits
required

Covers the practical lab portion of the Fundamentals of Accounting course providing hands-on activities using software provided by the publisher or Open Educational Resources (OER) content. The lab demonstrates the recording of accounting information discussed in ACC 1001 with emphasis on the procedures and practices used in business organizations. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

ACC 1001 with a grade of "C" or better

Course Corequisites
ACC 1011
2
required

Focuses on financial accounting concepts prescribed by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), including financial information for external partners, the accounting cycle process, basic terminology, transaction analysis, internal control systems, and financial statement preparation and analysis. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Focuses on the fundamentals of managerial accounting and cost management as tools to aid internal users' decision-making processes. This course covers basic managerial accounting concepts, such as product costing and cost behavior and control. It also covers internal management decision making tools, including cost-volume-profit analysis, budgeting, cost analysis, and planning and control systems.  Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

ACC 1011 with a grade of "C" or better

3
required

Introduces the capabilities of computer applications in accounting. Includes solving accounting problems of a financial nature and hardware and software controls. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

ACC 1001 or ACC 1021 with a grade of "C" or better.

3
required

Examines the preparation of individual, federal, and state income tax returns within the guidelines and limitations set forth by the Tax Help Colorado program and IRS guidelines. Emphasis is placed on form preparation with the use of tax software. Course is not repeatable for credit.

2
required

Utilizes income tax knowledge and training in the context of a community service setting. Volunteers prepare individual federal and state income tax within the parameters of the Tax Help Colorado program and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines.  Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

ACC 1032 with a grade of "C" or better

1
required

Introduces laws pertaining to payroll and sales taxes including record keeping rules; preparation of various federal, state and local forms for reporting payroll and sales taxes; and computerized payroll procedures. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Corequisites
ACC 1001 or ACC 1021
3
required

Introduces student to taxation of business entities and transactions. Topics include taxation of property transactions, various tax issues that apply to different tax entities, tax administration and practice, and the taxation effects of formation, operation, and dissolution of corporations, partnerships, S corporations, trusts and estates.Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

ACC 1032 and ACC 1033 with grades of "C" or better

3
required

Reviews concepts learned in study of accounting, individual and business income tax, and ethical decision making as they relate to passing the IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) Exam. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Prerequisites

ACC 2031 with a grade of "C" or better.

3
Space
Note Choose one of the following:
required

Emphasizes the planning, writing, and revising of compositions, including the development of critical and logical thinking skills. This course includes a wide variety of compositions that stress analytical, evaluative, and persuasive/argumentative writing. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-CO1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Develops skills one can apply to a variety of technical documents. Focuses on principles for organizing, writing, and revising clear, readable documents for industry, business, and government. This is a statewide Guaranteed Transfer course in the GT-CO1 category. Course is not repeatable for credit.

(Recommended) 
3
Space
required

Covers the fundamentals of financial mathematics. Topics include pricing, taxes, insurance, interest, annuities, amortization, and investments. Course is not repeatable for credit.

 (Recommended) *
3
Total Credits for Certificate 29