MADISON — Accounting students at University of Wisconsin System institutions continue to rank in the top of the nation for passing the uniform CPA Examination, according to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s (NASBA) 1999 edition of Candidate Performance on the Uniform CPA Examination.
The highly competitive professional licensure exams for certified public accountant (CPA) candidates are given twice a year, in May and November.
UW-Whitewater ranked first and UW-Oshkosh ranked second in the percentage of first-time candidates passing all parts of the November 1998 exam. Rankings for the May 1998 exam placed UW-Whitewater second, UW-Madison seventh and UW-Milwaukee ninth.
During the past 10 years, four UW System institutions have been listed among the top 10 undergraduate institutions four or more times. These rankings are based on the percentages of first-time candidates passing all subjects taken. Top honors go to UW-Madison, which has been listed 13 times. UW-Whitewater has been listed nine times and both UW-La Crosse and UW-Oshkosh have been listed four times.
“These high national rankings are a wonderful reflection on the quality of teaching and learning going on at UW System campuses,” said UW System President Katharine C. Lyall. “We are very proud of the achievements of our students.”
The NASBA has gathered CPA examination information since 1982 and has published reports since 1985. The 1999 publication lists institutional passing rates on the CPA exam for May and November 1998 and ranks those institutions with at least 20 graduates with baccalaureate degrees or 10 with advanced degrees among its first-time candidates.
The exam is divided into four areas – auditing; business law and professional responsibilities; financial accounting and reporting – business enterprises; and accounting and reporting – other areas. Institutions are ranked according to students who pass individual parts of the exam or all four parts.
Contact:
Sharyn Wisniewski, UW System
(608) 262-6448