Certificate

Tax Preparer

Program

18 credits, 24 weeks, 6 months

The program is designed to meet the increasing industry demand for tax preparation professionals. This certificate provides students with the tools necessary to gain employment in tax preparation and related occupations. This certificate also prepares students to build a client base and assist clients with their tax returns, representing them to applicable agencies. In this program, students acquire the needed skills in preparation for passing certified exams such as the Microsoft Excel Specialist Certification, and the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeeper Tax Certification. Bryan University delivers this program through dynamic, adaptive, experiential learning that includes personalized instruction and coaching.

Following the completion of this program, students will be able to: 

  • Students will use all appropriate adjustments, deductions, and credits to keep clients' taxes to a minimum.
  • Students will critically analyze and apply problem solving and logical thinking skills to a variety of accounting and tax reporting tasks. 
  • Students will demonstrate compliance with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
  • Students will review financial records, such as income statements and documentation of expenditures to determine forms needed to prepare tax returns.
  • Students will prepare or assist in preparing simple to complex tax returns for individuals or small businesses.
  • Students will use sales and marketing strategies to work with clients to understand their tax needs and represent them effectively. 

The following is a list of occupations and organizations that one could pursue for employment: 

  • Accounting Assistant 
  • Auditing Clerk
  • Credit Analyst
  • File Clerk
  • Payroll Clerk
  • Revenue Agent
  • Tax Examiner
  • Tax Preparer

The following is a list of example organizations in which one could pursue employment:

  • H&R Block
  • Intuit
  • Jackson Hewitt
  • Robert Half
  • Liberty Tax
  • Randstadt
  • Kforce

In order to graduate and receive a Tax Preparer Certificate, a student must earn a minimum of 18 credits for the courses in the curriculum and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better. Students who elect to do so may also take the Microsoft Excel Specialist Certification and the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers Certification in Tax. Completion of these certifications is not required to graduate. One attempt at each certification is included in tuition costs; passing scores on 3rd party examinations are not required for graduation.

Each semester is 16 weeks, split into two 8-week terms. The following term schedule is subject to change.

Term 1

UNV-101S/BUS-130 (First 8 weeks)

BUS-120/BUS-265 (Second 8 weeks)

Term 2

BUS-242/BUS-465

Core Courses

Course Code
Title
Credits
3

Electronic spreadsheets are a powerful tool used in business processes to store, analyze and present information. The focus of the course is to provide the student with functional skills needed to create, edit, and format Microsoft Excel worksheets for a variety of reporting needs.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This course provides the foundation for accounting concepts which will be used throughout the students' business program. This course covers an introduction to financial accounting theory and practice and provides students with the tools needed to develop a functional knowledge of fundamental accounting principles. Students will also be introduced to the methods for summarizing, analyzing, and reporting financial data. Topics include bookkeeping cycles, basic accounting principles and procedures, financial statements, merchandising operations and inventory, and accounting for assets.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None

3

This course provides an introduction to federal income taxation of individuals and businesses, providing a broad overview of the importance of tax considerations in business and personal decisions. Topics such as financial statement analysis, income, deductions, credits, depreciations, and allowances will be explored.

Credits 3

3

This course provides the foundation for service business owners or small teams in marketing and sales of business services. Topics to be covered include marketing strategies for small to medium-sized service businesses, social media marketing, relationship selling, and business soft skills such as communicating with clients, responding to negative feedback, and negotiating services. 

 

Credits 3

Prerequisites

None.

3

This course explores the issues that affect the taxation of businesses operations. Topics include foundation of taxation, including types of taxes, structure of the income tax, taxpayers, and general concepts of income and deduction; business income and expenses; taxation of property transactions; and overview of corporations, S corporations, partnerships, and entity choice; with emphasis on budget planning and capital growth projections. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to apply the United States tax law standards to identify a potential issue or solve a business taxation problem.

Credits 3

Prerequisites

BUS-265 OR BUS-420 

Sub-Total Credits
18
Total Credits
18