Historic success on the CPA exam pass rate
Lipscomb’s Master of Accountancy Class of 2019 scored a CPA exam first-time pass rate of 79%.
Janel Shoun-Smith |
Lipscomb’s Master of Accountancy Class of 2019 experienced historic success on the CPA exam. The overall CPA exam pass rate was 79%.
According to Brian Masterson, director of the MAcc program, this pass rate is the highest first-time pass rate in many years.
“At all levels of the Lipscomb accounting program, our students are buying into the amount of time it takes to be successful in accounting courses and we are seeing that effort reflected in the high pass rates on the CPA exam,” he said.
During the 30-hour MAcc program, graduate students are required to sit for at least three of the four parts of the CPA exam.
Masterson attributed the success of MAcc students on the CPA exam to two factors. First, the accounting faculty modified the sequence of the MAcc courses to align with when students are studying for the corresponding part of the CPA exam. MAcc students sit for a part of the CPA exam shortly after completing the relevant academic courses.
The other factor that Masterson cited was that the MAcc program tracks the number of hours that each student studies for each academic course and each part of the CPA exam. MAcc students are provided with clear goals regarding the number of hours they should be spending each week preparing for class and the CPA exam.
Beginning in the fall of 2020, Lipscomb undergraduate accounting majors will have a unique opportunity to pursue dual certification. New undergraduate accounting courses will be added to the curriculum that prepare students to sit for the two parts of the Certified Management Accountant exam.
Undergraduate students also seeking the CPA certification will continue to work toward that certification during graduate school.