Chartered Tax Professional for California Residents GES 220 » 200 hours

1. How do I register?

You need to locate a university, college, or educational institution that offers our programs and register with them.

2. How much do the programs cost?

The schools and institutions that offer our programs set the prices. You must locate one of our partner schools or institutions for cost and registration information.

3. Why do I have to locate a school?

ed2go doesn't offer programs directly to the public. We work in partnership with colleges, universities, and educational institutions throughout North America. ed2go is the content developer for the program, but the schools actually offer the programs and provide the certificates upon completion.

4. Can I register for programs if I am an international student?

Yes, because ed2go programs are online you never have to actually travel to the school. Most schools offer telephone or online registration. Locate a school for more registration information.

5. Do I ever have to go to the school or institution I register with?

Not in most cases. Most of our partner schools and institutions offer telephone or online registration. All of our programs are delivered entirely online, so you never have to go to a class or travel to the school. Locate a school, and contact them for more registration options.

6. What if there isn't a school in my area that offers the program I want to take?

You can register with the school that is closest to your zip code (even if it's far away). Since ed2go programs are online, you never have to actually travel to the school. Most schools offer telephone or online registration. Locate a school for more registration information.

7. How long does it take to complete a program?

Upon registering, you're given an initial twenty-four months to complete this program.  Should you need more time beyond the twenty-four months, an extension of twenty-four months is available with a fee of $65.

8. Do I have to buy additional materials?

All the materials you'll need are included, and their cost will be covered by your tuition. ed2go will ship all materials ground service upon enrollment.

9. Can I get financial assistance?

ed2go courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Locate a school for more information on this or simply click here to request a loan information form.

10. What happens when I complete the program?

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school you registered with.

11. Am I guaranteed a job?

ed2go programs will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We don't provide direct job placement services, but our facilitators and career counselors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Facilitators will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the program. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

12. Who will be my instructor?

Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (via e-mail) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

13. What software or hardware do I need in order to take online programs and what are the system requirements?

In order to take our online programs, you must have access to a computer and the Internet. You can access the program contents from any Web-enabled computer. You don't have to use the same computer to log-in to the program every time. We recommend that you have a word-processing program (Microsoft Word is best) and the latest version of Internet Explorer.

14. Can I use a Mac?

Yes, you can use a Mac for this program.

15. How can I get more information about the program?

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, please feel free to contact us via LIVE chat (click the button below). If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please feel free to send us a question using the "Ask a question" button below. You may also call us at 1-877-221-5151. We will answer your questions promptly.

16. When can I start the program?

Our programs are all open enrollment. You can register and start the program as soon as you are ready. Locate a school for registration information.

17. Are your tax programs something that an individual can study and do at home on their own, like a correspondence program? If so, are all the materials needed included? What does each program cost? How long does it take to complete each program?

Our programs in income tax preparation are available for home study online, anywhere, anytime, 24/7. The programs are interactive, with instructional feedback and support from qualified instructors provided by e-mail. Everything you need to complete each program is available online, including the student text. The hard copy of the program isn't a requirement; all materials needed are downloadable. However, we do include a hard copy so all students have it for future reference and for convenience.

After successfully completing the first two modules, you'll be qualified to prepare individual tax returns for the general taxpaying public. You can gain practical experience while completing the advanced and small business tax programs.

18. I just registered yesterday and got my user ID and password today. I'm excited to get started but was wondering if you recommend I wait for my book?

You can if you want to; however, everything you need is available online. The book is a great tool to have while taking the program so you don't have to print everything out. It's also a great reference after you finish the program. Feel free to start your program now and just download anything you need until your book comes. It should only be a few days.

19. What does online mean, and how will I know how I'm doing?

Online means via the Internet. When taking an online program, you'll receive instant feedback on the accuracy of each homework assignment, quiz, and exam. You must successfully pass each chapter (a 70% grade is passing) before you can move on to the next one. When you have a question or comment, send an e-mail to your assigned instructor through a direct link. Instructors will respond within one business day, maximum.

20. How up-to-date are your programs? I'm looking into obtaining training for the 2007 tax season.

Our income tax programs have been updated to cover the 2007 tax laws. As you know, the new tax laws that will affect 2008 tax returns have not been finalized as of yet. The 2008 laws usually become final in the last couple months of the year. We will issue tax law updates around the beginning or middle of December. The updates will detail the tax law changes for 2008. This allows you to take the current 2007 tax law program and become familiar with the tax laws as they are enacted for 2008. The practice problems in our program allow you time to apply the knowledge as you learn. The tax law updates provide the enhancement necessary to prepare you for the upcoming tax year. There is no additional cost for the tax law updates.

21. Do your programs qualify for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit?

Yes. All of our programs qualify for CPE credit for CPAs and CFPs.

22. What makes your program different from your competitors?

While many tax programs available focus mostly on theory, our programs are written and taught by veteran tax professionals who work year-round preparing taxes for the general public with Peoples Income Tax, Inc. Because our programs are written by tax professionals working in the tax industry every day, the material incorporates many real-life examples and truly enables the student to prepare taxes for the general public.

23. Are you approved by CTEC?

Yes. We have a California version of our CTP Program that includes the curriculum approved by the California Tax Education Council (CTEC) for qualifying education required for tax preparers to become licensed to practice in California.

24. What program should I take to become a tax preparer in California?

The California CTP Program is approved by CTEC as a qualifying program for California. There are additional requirements to become a tax preparer in California. Please visit the CTEC Web site for more information.

25. How can I be assured that no one will have access to my program information online?

Students are issued a unique user ID and password that are required to enter the secure area of the Web site where their data is entered and stored.

26. What is the actual response time to have questions answered by the instructor?

Instructors will respond within one business day, maximum.

27. Will I be able to complete an online assignment more than once?

Yes. You must successfully complete each section with a score of 70% or better before you're able to move on to the next one.

28. What happens if I'm unable to complete my online assignment in one sitting?

If you're in the middle of reading a chapter, you can simply log off. When you log back in you'll be able to click back to exactly where you left off. If you must log off in the middle of an online graded assignment (a quiz, homework assignment, or an exam), you'll have to start the graded assignment over when you return. To make things easier for our students, we recommend downloading the assignment and completing it offline. Then all you'll need to do is just plug in the correct answers online. This is particularly helpful for students with a dial-up connection.

29. How will I be notified if there's a correction for my online program?

Corrections to your student text will be posted in the program Web site.

30. What if I need to exceed the time frame allowed to complete the program?

You may request an extension for another term for a nominal fee.

31. Once I complete the program, how will I receive my certificate?

Once you've successfully completed each program (and your final exam has been graded), you'll need to fill out the Request for Certificate of Completion. Your instructor will then provide you with a certificate of completion by mail. Your CTP certificate will be issued after you've completed all programs with an average grade of 80% or more and have documented the 500 hours experience needed to qualify for the CTP designation.

32. How would you compare your school to other tax schools?

The Income Tax School is certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) as a private career school and is subject to the same standards as Virginia colleges governed by SCHEV. We are also a sponsor of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) to provide CPE for CPAs. We're approved by the IRS Director of Practice to provide CE for Enrolled Agents, recognized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards to provide CE for CFPs, and approved by the California Tax Education Council to provide the required qualifying course for tax preparers to practice in California.

The Income Tax School's programs were developed initially 18 years ago to recruit and train tax preparers for our multi-office tax practice in Virginia. Our curriculum is written and updated annually by experienced practicing tax professionals. All of the Income Tax School's programs are provided online in an interactive format with instructor support by e-mail rather than by traditional home-study correspondence. We provide learning objectives, lesson quizzes with instructional feedback, and auto-graded exams. Although all of the student textbook content is online, we also provide a hard copy of the student text for convenience and future reference at no additional charge. Our programs are high-quality and are designed to provide students with the knowledge necessary to prepare tax returns professionally.

33. If I sign up for the programs, will the Income Tax School help me find a job as a tax preparer?

There is a Tax Career Center on The Income Tax School Web site where our students can find information about careers in tax preparation and valuable resources for students seeking to be employed or self-employed as tax professionals. You'll also find a number of free articles on tax practice management. In addition, the Tax Career Center includes online classified ad directories where you can post an ad for free to let tax business owners know of your availability to work as a tax preparer. You can also read ads posted by tax businesses who are seeking to hire tax professionals. The job directories are promoted to thousands of tax businesses nationwide through broadcast e-mails to our database and news releases to the media and tax industry contacts. You'll also find links to the Web sites of the major national tax professional associations, which also have state chapters, such as the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP). You can post your ad on the NATP Web site classified ad section for free under the Tax Related Positions Wanted heading through our Tax Career Center, and contact local offices of national tax firms such as H & R Block, Jackson Hewitt, Liberty Tax Service, and others, as well as local independent tax services.

34. How can I become licensed to practice as a tax preparer in California?

In order to register with CTEC and become a CTEC Registered Tax Preparer (CRTP), you must:

1. Complete a 60-hour qualifying education (QE) program from a CTEC-approved provider.
2. Purchase a $5,000 tax preparer bond from a surety bond company.
3. Complete and submit a CTEC New Provider Application by mail, or register online at www.ctec.org. The CTEC registration fee is $25.