Industry Certifications and Licensures

Pathways Toward Success with Third-Party Certifications and Licensures

At CSU Global, we are committed to ensuring that your coursework receives the recognition it deserves and that your educational journey remains highly relevant to your career aspirations. Our goal is to provide you with seamless pathways to attain industry certifications and licensure, making the process easier than ever before.

In addition to the comprehensive knowledge you will gain through earning your degree, third-party certifications are an exceptional means of showcasing your expertise in specific areas. As you progress through your coursework, CSU Global will equip you with the necessary preparation to excel in several industry-recognized exams across a range of fields.

How do I get started?

Your initial step depends on whether you’re a prospective student or already part of the CSU Global community.

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS:

Please connect with the enrollment team to express your interest in starting the applicable degree program or coursework for your industry certification. We’ll explain the path toward your desired industry certification, guide you through the application process, and help you register for classes.

ENROLLED CSU GLOBAL STUDENTS:
Please contact your dedicated student success counselor for personalized instructions tailored to your pursuit of the industry certification you desire. Additionally, you can schedule time with a career coach through Global Connect. Once signed in, click Connect > Advising to find a list of available coaches.

Accounting

As you complete your Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Master’s Degree in Professional Accounting, you will be prepared to take several industry-recognized exams:

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

To sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in the United States, you typically need to fulfill certain qualifications, which may vary slightly depending on the state in which you plan to become licensed. After earning a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, you need approximately 30 additional hours of coursework, such as what you would complete during a Master's in Professional Accounting, as well as other educational requirements that vary by state.

We recommend students consult their state’s Board of Accountancy for the most accurate and up-to-date information. See state CPA requirements here.

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

To sit for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam, you need to fulfill certain qualifications determined by the CFA Institute, including earning a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education/work experience, a minimum of four years of professional work experience in a related field, and be a) enrolled in the CFA Program and b) be a member of the CFA Institute. We recommend students consult CFA Institute for the most accurate and up-to-date information. See CFA requirements here.

Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

To sit for the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam, you need to fulfill certain requirements set by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), including earning a bachelor’s degree. The CMA does not have specific work experience requirements to sit for the exam, however, there are additional employment requirements that you must meet within seven years of passing the exam in order to earn the CMA designation. See CMA requirements here.

NOTE: CSU Global’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting program is an Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) Endorsed school. Our students are eligible to apply for IMA scholarships which cover exam fees for first-time exam takers, an exam review course, and three years of IMA membership.

Enrolled Agent (EA)

As an Enrolled Agent (EA) with the IRS, you are able to represent taxpayers before the IRS, including preparing and filing tax returns, communicating with the IRS on behalf of clients, and handling tax matters and disputes. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting will prepare you academically to sit for the EA exam, however, students must pass all three sections of the EA exam and apply for enrollment with the IRS, including completing and submitting Form 23 Application for Enrollment to Practice Before the Internal Revenue Service, fingerprinting, and a background check. See Enrolled Agent requirements here.

Financial Services Audit Certificate (FSAC)

The Financial Services Audit Certificate (FSAC) is a specialized certification offered by the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA). To sit for the FSAC exam, you must be an active member of the ACCA and have relevant experience in the financial services sector. Finally, you must complete a set of online learning modules determined by the ACCA. See Financial Services Audit Certificate requirements here.

Internal Audit Practitioner

To prepare for the Internal Audit Practitioner Exam, it is recommended that you successfully complete the course ACT450 Auditing, preferably in the later stages of your program. See Internal Audit Practitioner requirements here.

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

To prepare for the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exam, which is administered by The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), it is recommended that you obtain a bachelor's degree, preferably in accounting, and have a minimum of two years of internal auditing experience or its equivalent. See Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) requirements here.

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

To prepare for the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) exam, students must obtain a bachelor's degree, preferably in accounting, and have a minimum of two years of fraud-related experience. See Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) requirements here.

Chartered Global Management Accountant

There are a number of requirements in order to prepare for the Chartered Global Management Accountant exam, but students must obtain a bachelor's degree in accounting and a minimum of three years of accounting experience or relevant work-based experience. See Chartered Global Management Accountant requirements here.

Business and Human Resources Management

As you complete your Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, you will earn the ability to sit for a number of industry certifications. Visit the SHRM website for exam eligibility requirements.

SHRM-CP and/or SHRM-SCP

The following CSU Global courses will prepare you to take the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP exam:

ORG300 – Applying Leadership Principles
MGT300 – Principles of Management
MGT305 – Introduction to International Business
MGT315 – Business Law
FIN300 – Principles of Finance for the Private Sector
MGT350 – Business Policy and Strategy
MGT351 – Organizational Innovation and Change
MGT410 – Project Management
MGT405 – Management in the Global Economy
MGT481 – Capstone: Business Policy Development and Implementation

Product Development Professional Certification

To sit for the New Product Development Professional Certification, you typically need to fulfill certain qualifications, including earning a bachelor’s degree and having at least two years of professional-level experience working in new product development. View the Product Development and Management Association website for complete eligibility details.

The following CSU Global courses will prepare you to take the Product Development Professional exam:

MGT475 – Strategic Innovation and Ideas and/or
MGT571 – Strategic Product Innovation

Computer Science

As you complete your Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, you will earn the ability to sit for the following certification.

Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 Programmer

The following CSU Global courses will prepare you to take the Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 Programmer exam:

CSC320 – Programming I
CSC372 – Programming II
CSC450 – Programming III

Emergency Management

CSU Global integrates FEMA courses into its Emergency Management and Homeland Security Specialization (as part of a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice). When a student takes a CSU Global EMG course, they have the option to take three FEMA Independent Study (IS) courses as well. Upon the successful completion of the FEMA IS course final exam, you will be awarded a FEMA certificate. Additionally, you may apply the FEMA IS course toward FEMA’s Professional Development Series Certificate.

Foundations of Emergency Management

CSU Global’s course EMG300 will prepare you to take the following FEMA exams:

IS-230.d – Fundamentals of Emergency Management
IS-240.b – Leadership and Influence
IS-242.b – Effective Communication
IS-100.b – Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS-100
IS-288 – the Role of Voluntary Organizations in Emergency Management

Hazard Mitigation for Manmade Hazards

CSU Global’s course EMG325 will prepare you to take the following FEMA exams:

IS-393 – An Introduction to Hazard Mitigation
IS-318 – Mitigation Planning for Local and Tribal Communities
IS-328 – Plan Review for Local Mitigation Plans
IS-271.a – Anticipating Hazardous Weather & Community Risk, 2nd Edition
IS-914 – Surveillance Awareness: What You Can Do

Disaster Response

CSU Global’s course EMG375 will prepare you to take the following FEMA exams:

IS-42 – Social Media in Emergency Management
IS-505 – Religious and Cultural Literacy and Competency is Disaster
IS-241.b – Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
IS-700.a – National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction
IS-800.b – National Response Framework, An Introduction

Disaster Recovery

CSU Global’s course EMG400 will prepare you to take the following FEMA exams:

IS-632.a – Introduction to Debris Operations
IS-2900 – National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) Overview
IS-558 – Public Works and Disaster Recovery
IS-634 – Introduction to FEMA’s Public Assistance Program
IS-253.a – Overview of FEMA’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Review

Comprehensive Emergency Planning

CSU Global’s course EMG450 will prepare you to take the following FEMA exams:

IS-120.a – An Introduction to Exercises
IS-244.b – Developing and Managing Volunteers
IS-235.c – Emergency Planning
IS-130 – Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning
IS-660 – Introduction to Public-Private Partnerships

Finance

As you complete your Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, you will become eligible to take the following industry-recognized exam:

Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

As a CFP Board-registered program, upon completion of a Bachelor of Science in Finance with Emphasis in Financial Planning, you will be prepared to take the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam.

Information Technology

As you complete certain courses in pursuit of your Bachelor’s Degree in IT, you will become eligible to take a number of industry-recognized exams:

CompTIA A+

The following course will prepare you to take the CompTIA A+ exam:

ITS310 - Introduction to Computer-Based Systems

CompTIA Network+

The following course will prepare you to take the CompTIA Network+ exam:

ITS315 - Introduction to Networks

CompTIA Linux+

The following courses will prepare you to take the CompTIA Linus+ exam:

ITS420 - Advanced Networking Systems

CompTIA Security+

The following course will prepare you to take the CompTIA Security+ exam:

ITS350 - Information Systems and Security

EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The following course will prepare you to take the EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker exam:

ITS425 - Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing

AWS Cloud Practitioner

The following course will prepare you to take the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam:

ITS435 - AWS Cloud Administrator

CompTIA Cloud+

The following course will prepare you to take the CompTIA Cloud+ exam:

ITS441 - Cloud Technology Fundamentals

Teaching and Learning

As part of your Master’s in Teaching and Learning degree, or as a standalone program, CSU Global’s Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership-Principal Licensure is the only 100% online asynchronous principal licensure program authorized by the state of Colorado. The principal licensure program meets the requirements for licensure in Colorado.

State of Colorado Principal Licensure

Preparation for the Praxis Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision Exam (5412) includes the following courses:

EDL500 – Strategic Leadership
EDL510 – School Leadership Internship (+300 intern hours)
EDL520 – Instructional Leadership
EDL530 – School Culture and Equity Leadership
EDL540 – Human Resources Leadership
EDL550 – Managerial Leadership
EDL560 – External Development Leadership
OTL568 – Action Research