Accounting Program

Accountants are always in demand. After all, businesses run on money, and people have to pay taxes. Professionals who understand the ins and outs of commerce are incredibly valuable. If you are interested in finance and want to pursue a reliable and respected career, accounting could be a great program for you.

Oakton's Accounting curriculum is designed to prepare you for employment in an accounting position upon completing the degree or certificates. In the Accounting program, you'll learn about various aspects of accounting and become familiar with the most commonly used accounting technology. The skills you develop will serve you well as you pursue a career in various accounting-related fields, including working as a certified public accountant (CPA), tax accountant or staff accountant.

A Path For Your Future

Oakton and Roosevelt University have a transfer pathway for students completing the A.A.S. degree in Accounting degree. See Partnerships and Transfer Pathways for more information. The transfer pathway with Roosevelt allows students who have completed the A.A.S. degree to transfer accounting courses that would typically not transfer to the four-year university.

If you're interested in beginning an entry-level career in accounting, such as staff accounting, accounts payable, payroll or income tax preparation, you can pursue the two-year Associate of Science (A.A.S.) degree. A bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field is typically required to become an accountant or auditor. If you plan to pursue a bachelor's degree, you can take your transferrable general education courses at Oakton through the Associate in Arts (A.A.) pre-major pathway for Business and Accounting.

Degrees and Certificates

Certificates are stackable, meaning that they build upon each other so that you are progressing toward a credential and a higher certificate or degree. Check with Advising to learn more.

This comprehensive program encompasses financial accounting, accounting technology, managerial accounting, taxation and business ethics. The primary difference between the A.A.S. in Accounting and the Accounting Associate Certificate is that the A.A.S. requires students to also complete 18 hours of general education courses. Students will be eligible for a variety of accounting jobs, including staff accounting, accounts payable, general ledger, payroll or income tax preparation.

Learn More About the A.A.S.

The following pre-major is recommended for students who are considering completing a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Business and/or Accounting after transferring to a four-year institution. It is designed for students who have not decided upon a specific four-year college or university.

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Our Accounting Associate certificate covers financial accounting, technology, managerial accounting, taxation, and business ethics, preparing you for roles like staff accounting, accounts payable, or income tax preparation. With a focus on both technical skills and ethical grounding, our graduates stand out in the professional world.

Time to Complete: 41 credit hours

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Unlock your potential with Oakton College's Accounting Technology Certificate. Gain hands-on experience in general accounting procedures, mastering Microsoft Excel, QuickBooks, and cloud accounting systems.

This program opens doors to diverse roles, from accounts payable and credit to general ledger and payroll. As a graduate, you'll be well-qualified for sought-after positions in staff accounting. Embrace the future of accounting technology with us and step into a world of career possibilities.

Time to Complete: 22 credit hours

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Embark on a strategic career path with Oakton College's CPA Preparation Certificate. Tailored for CPA exam readiness, the program encompasses 30 credit hours in accounting, meeting Illinois Board of Examiners' education standards. Delve into comprehensive courses covering financial accounting, managerial accounting, taxation, and auditing.

Upon completion, doors open to advanced roles such as staff accountants, tax accountants, internal auditors, assistant controllers, or external auditors. Elevate your professional standing with Oakton's program, positioning yourself for success in the dynamic field of accounting. Your journey towards career advancement begins here.

Time to Complete: 37 credit hours

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Discover a comprehensive path to success with Oakton College's Tax Preparation Certificate. Gain a deep understanding of the accounting cycle and undergo the same tax preparation courses as CPA candidates. Our program includes essential training in Microsoft Excel, QuickBooks Online, and other cloud platforms. As a graduate, you'll unlock opportunities as a tax accountant or in roles such as accounts payable and general ledger in staff accounting.

Plus, prepare for the IRS Enrolled Agent Exam, further enhancing your credentials. Elevate your career in tax preparation with Oakton, where your aspirations meet a world of possibilities. Your journey to tax expertise begins here.

Time to Complete: 17 credit hours

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What’s Next?

We are glad you are considering attending Oakton College. No matter where you are in your decision-making process, we are here to help you with your next steps. Whether you're ready to apply now, need information on paying for college or have questions and want to contact someone, we're here to help.

An Oakton professor teaches their class.

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Enrolling at Oakton College can save you thousands of dollars and help you earn more over the course of your career. Our tuition is among the lowest in the region, and we offer many ways to bring your costs down even more.

99 percent of Oakton students graduate without debt.

To help you get there, you can apply for a scholarship, which you don’t have to pay back. We award $12 million in scholarships annually. Financial Aid includes grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance that can reduce your costs of attending college.

We offer payment options that give you control over how you pay. Pay all at once or spread your payments over the course of the semester.

Learn more about your options for paying for your education

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As your community college, we serve students from various backgrounds. We aim to make the application process as easy and as clear as possible for everyone.

We can help you get started on a degree or certificate. Applying to Oakton is fast and easy.

Your first step before you begin your studies is filling out an admission application and completing your enrollment process.

Get Started at Oakton
Oakton College students celebrate graduating in full regalia.
Maria Gutierrez
"I am learning things like how to do income statements, how to do inventories, and figuring out what will make profits and how to decide if you should make investments. When I start my own business I’ll need all of these skills. My teachers are so nice and helpful and reply to my emails right away. I can manage my busy life with the kids and work and school."

Maria Gutierrez

Accounting student

Maria's Story

Meet Your Faculty and Experts

Oakton's accounting faculty is composed of distinguished professors and lecturers who are also qualified and certified CPAs. 

In addition, the accounting curriculum is guided by a panel of experts.

Leslie Van Wolvelear, EdD, CPA, CGMA
Chair and Student Advisor for Accounting Program
Distinguished Professor of Accounting
A.A. William Rainey Harper College
B.S. University of Illinois at Chicago
B.G.S. Roosevelt University
M.S. Roosevelt University
M.O.T. University of Illinois Springfield
Ed.D. in Leadership American College of Education
lvanwolv@oakton.edu
847.376.7135
Room 3610, Des Plaines

Anita Cotton, CPA, CMA
Professor of Accounting
B.S. Illinois State University
M.A.Ed. Concordia University
M.B.A. University of Chicago
acotton@oakton.edu
847.635.1462
Room B224, Skokie

Prashant Rawal, CPA
Professor of Accounting
A.A. William Rainey Harper College
B.S. Roosevelt University
M.B.A. University of Phoenix
prawal@oakton.edu
847.635.1814
Room 3616, Des Plaines


Meet our part time faculty

Larry Cohen, CPA
Senior Lecturer
B.S. Roosevelt University
M.S. Roosevelt University
J.D. John Marshall Law School
L.L.M. John Marshall Law School
lcohen@oakton.edu
312.339.5555
847.635.1910
Room B206, Des Plaines

Mark Gershman, CPA
Lecturer
B.S. Indiana University
M.B.A. DePaul University
mgershma@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Room B206, Skokie

Ruizhen Hardin, CPA
Lecturer
B.A. East China Normal University
M.P.A. Georgia State University
M.B.A. University of Chicago Booth School of Business
D.B.A. Capella University
rhardin@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Room B206, Skokie

Mitchell Helfand, CPA
Lecturer
B.A. University of Illinois Champaign
M.B.A. Northwestern University - Kellogg Graduate School of Management
mhelfand@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Room B206, Des Plaines

Eralda Kanacevic
Lecturer
B.A. Robert Morris University
M.B.A. (concentration in Accounting) University of Phoenix
ekanacev@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Room B206, Skokie

David Molley, CPA, CMA
Lecturer
B.S.C. DePaul University
M.B.A. DePaul University
dmolley@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Room B206, Skokie

Jonathan Mrowiec, CPA
Lecturer
B.S. Millikin University
M.B.A. University of Illinois Urbana
M.S.A. University of Illinois Urbana
M.S.F. Northern Illinois University
jmrowiec@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Room B206, Des Plaines

David Polster, CPA, CMA
Lecturer
B.A. University of Colorado
M.B.A. Kellogg Graduate School of Management
dpolster@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Room B206, Skokie

Rebecca Rosenblum, CPA
Lecturer
B.S. Tulane University
M.S. Tulane University
Career and Technixal Educator License
rbirg@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Room B206, Des Plaines

Paul Simkus, CPA
Lecturer
B.S. Ball State University
M.B.A. Ball State University
psimkus@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Room B206, Des Plaines

Michelle Wray, CPA ret.
Lecturer
B.S. Truman State University
M.A.S. Northern Illinois University
mwray@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Room B206, Skokie

Owais Bhurya
Business and Personal Tax Consultant
Tax Elite Accounting Services

John Blix
Business Education Teacher
Glenbrook South High School

Brian Bohley
Founder and CEO
inFocus Payroll LLC

Will Dixon
Senior Finance and Enterprise Performance Consultant
Deloitte Consulting

Katie Gilbert
Chief Financial Officer
Elevate Packaging

Randall Heman
Owner
Count On Us Bookkeeping Specialists

Eralda Kanacevic
Accounting Manager
Resource Point of Sale

Nick Katranis
Senior Accountant
Dale Bugasch & Associates PC

Veronica Katranis
Senior Accountant
Dale Bugasch & Associates PC

David Perry
Partner
Friedman & Huey Associates LLP

Margaret Tower
Instructor of Accounting
DePaul University - School of Accountancy


Ex-Officio Members:

Ruben Howard II, Ph.D.
Dean of Business and Career Technologies
Oakton College

Leslie Van Wolvelear, EdD, CPA, CGMA
Accounting Program Chair
Oakton College

Contact Us

FAQ

Oakton accepts the national CLEP exam for financial accounting to count as ACC 153 Principles of Financial Accounting. For students who are receiving Oakton degrees and certificates, this will satisfy the requirement for ACC 153. For students who plan to transfer, you need to check with your transfer institution to ensure that CLEP accounting exam will be accepted. If the four-year school does not accept it, please consider taking ACC 153 at Oakton since ACC 153 is a transfer course.

Yes. Oakton is a qualified provider of CPE credits. Accountants may receive 15 hours of CPE credit for every credit hour of class. The most popular classes to be taken for CPE credit are ACC 170 Payroll (15 CPEs), ACC 180 Excel (45 CPEs), and ACC 183 QuickBooks (45 CPEs).

Disclosure Requirements for Academic Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification

Licensure Requirements: Each state and territory has different licensure and certification requirements.  Oakton has researched and/or contacted state licensing authorities to confirm that the program meets the educational requirements leading to professional licensure.  Other licensure requirements may include professional certification exams, background checks, years of work experience, fingerprinting, etc.

Licensure information is reviewed and updated on this site in June of each year. As of June 1, 2023, we have determined that individuals that successfully complete Oakton’s Certified Public Accountant Preparation Program curriculum:

Meets the education requirements leading to licensure/certification in these states and U.S. Territories: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Does NOT meet the education requirements For licensure/certification in these states and U.S. Territories: Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Hampshire

We have not made a determination if the program curriculum meets the requirements for licensure/certification in these states and US Territories: American Samoa

If you intend to practice in any state other than Illinois, you should contact the appropriate licensing agency to independently verify whether Oakton’s program satisfies the educational requirements for licensure in a particular state before beginning Oakton’s program. Be aware that state licensure requirements may change from time to time and that states may have conditions for licensure in addition to educational requirements.

This information is provided to meet the Disclosure Requirements for Academic Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification.

There are two kinds of associate's degrees. The first is the transfer degree. This is the AA degree. All the courses will transfer to the 4 year institutions, and you can seamlessly move on to a university without losing any hours. In accounting, you would only be able to take two accounting courses (ACC 153 and 154) as these are the only courses that are guaranteed to be accepted by the 4-year schools.

In the AA degree, you would take all of the general education core and the business core. These are the same courses that any freshman and sophomore would take at any business school. Colleges don't offer the upper level courses for the major until junior or senior year. Visit the AA for business transfer description, in the Oakton College Catalog for more detail.

The other kind of associate's degree is the career degree (AAS). This is for students who are not planning to transfer. Some people already have a bachelor's degrees in another field. Some students just want job skills. Some students do not feel that their lives will allow them the time to get a 4-year degree so they pursue the 2-year degree. Some students need any degree in order to move up with their jobs.

The AAS in accounting is a career degree program. We cut back on some of the general education classes and focus more heavily on business and accounting classes. If you get this degree, you will have taken more accounting courses that will prepare you for a job in the accounting industry. You will not, however, have taken many of the general education classes. The good part of the AAS is that you develop very strong accounting skills, including a strong focus on working with accounting software.

There are two problems with the AAS. First, the upper level accounting courses do not transfer to the four year schools. The universities want you to take the accounting major courses locally at their institutions. Second, many employers require a bachelor's degree as the minimum job requirement.

If you looking for some job skills, it is much faster to pursue one of our certificate programs than the AAS degree.

Accounting Associate Certificate (41 cr.)
This is OCC’s broadest accounting certificate. It includes most areas of accounting, including financial accounting, managerial accounting, and income taxes. It also includes some general business courses. It prepares students for entry into most areas of accounting, including training in accounting software.  It does not include all CPA-track courses.  Students who are planning to pursue the CPA should follow the CPA Preparation Certificate.

Accounting Technology Certificate (formerly known as Bookkeeping Certificate) (22 cr.)
This certificate is a good base for someone entering the field. It covers financial accounting, managerial accounting, payroll, QuickBooks, Excel, Cloud Accounting, Cloud Drives, and Data Analytics.  Coursework includes a great deal of hands on skills training to help students become ready for jobs in the accounting field.

Income Tax Preparation Certificate (17 cr.)
This certificate will prepare students to become tax preparers.  It includes many hands on bookkeeping skills such as QuickBooks and Excel, and also covers the tax content of the CPA exam.  Students who complete this certificate might consider becoming IRS Enrolled Agents.  This exam is given by the government and tests tax law knowledge.  If a tax preparer passes this Exam, it allows him/her to represent a client before the IRS.  This is a privilege that is usually restricted to CPA's and attorneys.

Professional Accounting/CPA Preparation Certificate (37 cr.)
This certificate is designed to help candidates prepare for the CPA exam and meet the minimum number of accounting hours required to sit for the CPA exam.  See our CPA Exam page for more information about the education requirements from the Illinois Board of Examiners.

Most courses with the ACC prefix will count as part of the 30 accounting hours required.  The only exception of ACC 255 Accounting Careers.  ACC 255 is part of the 150 total hours for the CPA exam, but not part of the 30 accounting hours.  All other ACC courses will count toward the 30 accounting hours.

Students who follow our CPA Preparation Certificate will have learned all the accounting knowledge that they need for the CPA exam.  After completing these courses, students are encouraged to take a CPA Review course which will review all of this content as well as provide many practice questions. There are live CPA Review courses, online courses, and study books that can be purchased. Oakton does not offer this program, but you can view providers at Illinois CPA Society - CPA Exam Resources.

Aside from the 30 credit hours of accounting that are required to sit for the CPA exam, candidates must take 24 hours of business courses other than accounting.  Within these 24 hours, there must be at least 2 hours of business communications and 3 hours of business ethics.  At Oakton, the business communications can be fulfilled by MGT 118 Effective Management Communications.  The business ethics requirement can be fulfilled by taking either BUS 107 Business Ethics or MGT 276 Corporate Social Responsibility. 

If students still need to take other business courses at Oakton, it is highly recommended that they take BUS 221 or BUS 225, a business law course.  These include many topics that are tested on the Taxation and Regulation section of the CPA exam.  It is also recommended that they take ECO 201 and ECO 202, the two economics classes.  These include some topics that are tested on the three core sections of the CPA exam.  Other than that, students can take anything from the following disciplines: Business, Economics, Global Business, Management, or Marketing.

The Illinois Board of Examiners does accept credit from foreign colleges. Please visit www.ilboe.org for further information.

The cost of the transcript evaluation is $225 and as long as you sit for the CPA Exam within three years, you won't need to pay the evaluation fee again. It is highly recommended to have your transcripts evaluated immediately as it will guide your choices of which courses to take when preparing for the CPA Exam. Once you have completed the evaluation, you will be able to contact the Board of Examiners to make sure you do not take any duplicate courses.

In order to represent clients before the IRS, a tax preparer must be an attorney, a CPA, or an IRS Enrolled Agent. The IRS makes the Enrolled Agent designation for candidates who pass a comprehensive exam offered by the IRS. There is no official education requirement, but it is recommended that students take at least two tax courses and an exam review course in order to prepare for the exam.

Oakton offers ACC 244 and ACC 274 as the two tax courses. After completing these two courses, it is recommended that you complete a test preparation course. Oakton does not offer this program. For more information about the IRS Enrolled Agent exam, please visit www.irs.gov and search for the Enrolled Agent exam.

See the table below for the course offerings planned. Please note that "Every Term" indicates that the course will be offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer.

Course

Des Plaines

Skokie

Online

ACC 153 Financial Accounting

Every term

Every term

Every term

ACC 154 Managerial Accounting

Every term

Every term

Every term

ACC 170 Payroll Tax Accounting

n/a

n/a

Every term

ACC 180 Accounting with Microsoft Excel

n/a

n/a

Every term

ACC 183 QuickBooks Certified User

Fall/Spring

n/a

Fall, Spring

ACC 188 Cloud Accounting

n/a

n/a

Fall, Spring

ACC 241 Intermediate I

n/a

n/a

Every term

ACC 242 Intermediate II

n/a

n/a

Fall, Spring

ACC 243 Accounting Research (inactive)

n/a

n/a

n/a

ACC 244 Income Taxes

Fall, Spring

n/a

Every term

ACC 245 Cost Accounting

n/a

n/a

Every term

ACC 253 Practicum (Independent Study)

n/a

n/a

Fall, Spring

ACC 255 Accounting Careers

n/a

n/a

Fall, Spring

ACC 260 Auditing

n/a

n/a

Fall, Spring

ACC 266 Advanced Accounting

n/a

n/a

Fall, Spring

ACC 274 Advanced Taxes

n/a

n/a

Every term

ACC 275 Enrolled IRS Agent (inactive)

n/a

n/a

n/a

ACC 280 Data Analytics for Accounting

n/a

n/a

Fall, Spring

Please note that "Every Term" indicates that the course is offered in Fall, Spring and Summer.

ACC 153 and 154 are required by all business programs, and are transferable to almost every four year institution. ACC 241 and ACC 245 transfer to a few institutions. Students should contact the individual institution if they are concerned about transferability of coursework.

For students who are looking for an accounting job or an internship, there are a couple of options:

1. Visit www.collegecentral.com/oakton to find local employers who have posted jobs for community college students. All you need is an e-mail address to enroll. Keep checking every week. There are some weeks with 5 posted jobs and other weeks with 40 posted jobs.

2. Students who are at least in their third accounting course are eligible for Oakton's internship program. See our internship page for more information.

The ACC 253 Practicum course requires that students have employment in the accounting field. Students who already have accounting jobs can use their current employment to meet this requirement.

What is ACC 253 Accounting Practicum?
This is an elective course at Oakton where students work in the accounting industry and report back to their instructor.

Does it count as "internship or life experience" credit for the Illinois Board of Examiners?
Yes.  As part of the 30 accounting hours within the education requirements for the CPA exam, candidates are allowed to have up to 3 credit hours for internship or life experience.  ACC 253 will count as these credit hours.

Why kind of job do I need?
This can be a part-time or full-time job at a company or firm where accounting is a main responsibility. The accounting can be in payables, payroll, receivables, general accounting, income taxes, QuickBooks, bank reconciliation, etc. As long as you are getting a real world experience in accounting, it will count.

Does previous work experience count
No. The students needs to be completing this work experience while they are enrolled in the ACC 253 course.

What happens in the Practicum course? Do I need to come to campus?
This course runs as an independent study and there is no weekly face-to-face classroom.  You will meet with you instructor in person or by phone conference several times throughout the term to discuss your progress.

Is there any homework in ACC 253?
There is no textbook and no weekly accounting homework, but there are two projects during the semester.

  • You will need to prepare a top-quality professional resume and cover letter.  It might take several drafts to get this in good shape.
  • You will need to write a 5-page paper.  The goal of this paper is to get students to critically evaluate their own company. Most companies have some flaws in the way they have set up their accounting functions and students will need to make suggestions about how a company can make improvements. The instructor will talk with each student about the needs of their companies to help shape this project.  It can be modified based on each student's situation.

ACC 153- Principles of Financial Accounting and ACC 154 Principles of Managerial Accounting
Both ACC153 and ACC154 are required by all business schools toward the bachelor's degree in a business-related specialty. These courses will transfer to the 4-year institutions.

ACC 170 - Payroll Tax Accounting
This course teaches a skill critical to every accountant.

ACC 180 - Accounting with Microsoft Excel
Provides an accounting refresher, and then applies Excel functions to various accounting topics, including intermediate level user skills.  Prior knowledge of accounting is required.

ACC 183 - QuickBooks Certified User Preparation
This covers basics for beginners and then takes students through the Certified User exam topics.  Prior knowledge of accounting is required.

ACC 244 - Income Tax Accounting
With only ACC 153, ACC 244 and some business experience, a person could try for an entry-level tax preparation position.

ACC 280 - Data Analytics for Accounting
This course includes data preparation, modeling, analysis and interpretation, and visualization.