Online Advanced Tax Practice Certificate
Launch and Advance Your Career Through Advanced Tax Expertise
The Lucas Graduate School of Business is a trusted leader in specialized business and accounting education. Our online Advanced Tax Practice Certificate program gives you the precise competitive edge needed to stand out to top accounting firms and corporate employers throughout California and beyond.
Our program is led by Annette Nellen, who is recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Accounting by Accounting Today. Her national expertise is at the core of our curriculum. You will benefit from world-class mentorship that directly bridges cutting-edge financial theory with actual corporate tax practices.
Earning this 9-unit graduate certificate through highly practical courses like Tax Research, Taxation of Business Entities and Taxation of Property Transactions will equip you with the advanced skills and knowledge demanded by today's complex tax landscape.
Through structured online course work delivered during evening hours that purposefully avoid the peak constraints of the busy tax season, you will gain exact portfolio skills and strategic decision-making expertise. Whether you are looking to sit for the CPA or Enrolled Agent examinations or complete your 150-hour California CPA educational unit requirement, your path begins here.
Accreditation: SJSU's Lucas College and Graduate School of Business is accredited by AACSB International, the gold standard of business education.
Program Information
Modality
Online
Program Length
1 year · 9 units
Cost Per Unit
$847* for Fall 2027
Applications Open
Rolling admissions
Start Terms
Fall
How to Apply
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4-year bachelor's degree in accounting from a U.S. institution. Applicants with degrees in other disciplines are eligible to apply, provided they have completed foundational U.S. undergraduate course work in financial accounting and federal income tax.
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A GPA of 3.0 or better, with an absolute minimum overall GPA of 2.5.
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There is no conditional admission to the certificate program.
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Rolling admissions. The program starts in the Fall.
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Submit a pre-screening form. If you are verified and accepted, you will be contacted with the next steps.
Attend a Virtual Info Session
Join us virtually to learn more about how the Tax Practice Certificate can advance your accounting career and fast-track your path to professional certification.
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Valuable Learning Experiences
Develop your professional advisory voice while building advanced diagnostic and compliance skills through a rigorous, client-focused learning environment. Our specialized program format delivers field-tested experience alongside flexible study:
- Maintain Professional Balance: Complete your graduate courses entirely online in the evenings, with interactive schedules specifically structured to avoid the peak tax season workload.
- Accelerated Master's Degree Pathway: The units earned within this certificate program can be applied as elective credit toward your full Master of Science in Accounting and Analytics degree at SJSU.
- Professional Networking: Gain exposure to corporate tax roundtables, specialized webinars and regional networking venues such as the annual TEI-SJSU High Technology Tax Institute.
Featured Courses
What Can You Do With an Advanced Tax Practice Certificate?
Earning an Advanced Tax Practice Certificate lets you master advanced tax research frameworks, build specialized diagnostic skills and confidently step into strategic leadership roles within corporate finance departments or accounting firms.
It signals to prospective employers that you possess the rigorous foundation necessary to handle complex research and compliance assignments from day one.
- In-Demand Skills: Adding advanced tax competencies to your resume expands your professional versatility. It helps fulfill the critical 150-hour unit requirement to sit for and pass the California CPA Exam or Enrolled Agent (EA) examinations.
- High-Value Markets: Corporate, private and public accounting sectors throughout California continually seek trained tax specialists, ensuring exceptional long-term career security and resilience.
- Bay Area Salaries: Senior tax accountants, tax managers and practitioners in the corporate-heavy Silicon Valley region command highly competitive salaries, earning an average annual salary of $110,000 – $230,000, according to Glassdoor.
Take a look at some of the top sectors, companies and job titles of our alumni, according to LinkedIn.
Top Job Titles
- Tax Associate
- Senior Tax Accountant
- Corporate Tax Analyst
- Tax Manager
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Enrolled Agent (EA)
Top Companies
- Deloitte
- PwC
- EY
- KPMG
- Anderson Tax
Top Sectors
- Public Accounting
- Corporate Finance and Taxation
- Private Wealth Management
- High-Tech Sector Corporate Compliance
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Gain momentum through intentional learning, meaningful support and real opportunity. Whether you’re starting your journey, advancing your education or expanding your professional skills, SJSU helps you go further.
Graduate Admissions
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Costs and Financial Aid
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