Alumni join the CPA elite

by Desiree Quintero
Staff Writer

The national average for passing the Certified Public Accountant Exam on the first attempt is only 3-5 percent, and three University of La Verne alumni, who recently took the test, are among the elite: Michael Johnstone, class of 1999, Miki Shibuya, class of 2002 and Clint Weiler, class of 2002.

"Candidates need to complete the four 'E's' to become a certified public accountant: First is education, usually a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 150 semester hours in the state of California," said Claudio Muñoz, associate professor of accounting. "Secondly you need experience, one year public accounting experience or experience sitting under a certified public accountant. You also need to take the Epics Exam after passing the CPA Exam."

Before taking the exam, students must enroll in a four-month CPA review course and begin studying at least six months prior to taking the exam.

Muñoz, a professor at ULV who passed the CPA exam on his first attempt, said that in the last nine years at ULV, only about a dozen students have passed the CPA Exam on their first attempt.

"They were all outstanding students both academically and in extra-curricular activities," Muñoz said. "I can't say enough good things about each of those individuals; they are gems of people."

Muñoz said that Johnstone earned the highest score ever reported to him by any student.

The CPA Exam is not the easiest exam to pass on the first attempt; the students are people to be proud of, Muñoz said.