Accounting Certificate

  • Certificate
Four students sit at a table with notebooks and laptops open between them.

Sharpen Your Accounting Skills. Strengthen Your Business Decisions. 

Whether you’re leading a team, managing budgets, launching a startup, or navigating strategic decisions — a strong foundation in accounting gives you the confidence to back your instincts with data. 

Montclair’s Accounting Certificate is a 15-credit, post-baccalaureate program designed for working professionals who want to deepen their accounting knowledge without becoming a CPA. It can be completed in as few as 6 months. It’s ideal for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in business or an MBA who need to understand the numbers behind the strategy — not just crunch them. 

Through five graduate-level courses in accounting, you’ll gain practical skills you can apply immediately in roles across finance, management, entrepreneurship, and more. Whether you're refreshing skills from earlier in your career or expanding your expertise to meet new responsibilities, this flexible certificate keeps you current, confident, and competitive. 

See the curriculum.

Students smiling in class.

Course Spotlight: Fundamentals of Federal Taxation (ACCT 512)

Learn how taxes really work — and how they impact everyday business decisions. This course gives you a practical understanding of how federal taxes apply to individuals and small businesses. You’ll learn the basics of the U.S. tax system, how different types of income are taxed, what kinds of expenses can be deducted, and how things like business structure, employee compensation, and ownership changes affect your tax bill. By the end, you’ll be able to think strategically about taxes when making decisions for yourself or your business. 

Explore the Coursework

Admission Requirements

  • Equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree.
  • Applicants with non-U.S. degrees: Please visit the international applicants page to review U.S. degree equivalency information.
  • Ideal candidates will hold either an undergraduate degree in business or a Master's of Business Administration (MBA) degree from a regionally-accredited college or university.
  • *Students seeking an F1/J1 visa are not eligible for this certificate program unless they are currently pursuing a master's degree at Montclair State University and are able to simultaneously pursue both programs while maintaining their student visa requirements.

Application Checklist

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions for fall and spring.

  1. Online Application: Submit application and $60 non-refundable fee (or waiver if applicable).
  2. Transcript: One from each college attended.
  3. Standardized Test Scores: Optional.
  4. Resume: Required

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Questions? We're Here to Help.

If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please email or call us.

Graduate Admissions Office

Get guidance on every step of the application process, from admission requirements and deadlines to transcripts, test scores and next steps toward enrollment. The Office of Graduate Admissions provides the information and resources needed to put forward a strong application.

Program Coordinator: Dr. James Digabriele

Explore the curriculum, faculty, research and outcomes. The Program Coordinator can help you connect the program to your goals.