GFOAA : Government Finance Officers Association of Alabama

CERTIFIED GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN PROGRAM

a program sponsored by the

GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF ALABAMA

ABOUT THE CGAT PROGRAM
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PURPOSE:
The purpose of the Certified Governmental Accounting Technician (CGAT) Program is to improve the professional, administrative and fiscal skills of candidates through a series of courses approved by GFOAA in the areas of General Ledger, Fund Accounting, Purchasing/Accounts Payable, Payroll and Billings/Accounts Receivable.

QUALIFYING FOR THE CGAT PROGRAM:

Eligibility Requirements:

To participate in the CGAT program, a qualified candidate must meet the following conditions:

Have a high school diploma or GED

Have an interest in governmental accounting

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To be certified, a qualified candidate must complete 24 hours of study consisting of two core courses and two elective courses taken within two (2) years of acceptance to the program. The offered courses are as follows:

General Ledger – 6 hours (Required Core) to be offered annually in April;

Objective: to familiarize the candidate with the study of ledgers in which all the assets, liabilities, equity, revenue and expenses are posted and from which financial statements are prepared.

Fund Accounting – 6 hours (Required Core) to be offered annually in June;

Objective: to familiarize the candidate with the process of recording financial information that groups resources into funds based on their source and any limitations on use.

Purchasing/Accounts Payable – 6 hours (Elective) to be offered annually in August;

Objective: to familiarize the candidate with accounts and techniques used to record and generate payment to specific companies or individuals for products or services that have been purchased on credit by your entity. Accounts payables are usually items that will be paid for in less than one year.

Billings/Accounts Receivable – 6 hours (Elective) to be offered annually in November;

Objective: to familiarize the candidate with techniques to record money that is owed and or paid to your entity for products or services that have been rendered by you on credit to customers.

Payroll – 6 hours (Elective) to be offered annually in January;

Objective: to familiarize the candidate with detailed accounting techniques for processing employee salaries and wages, bonuses, benefits and taxes. This course will also familiarize the candidate with IRS rules and regulations.

CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

It is also recommended, but not required, that certificate holders complete 12 hours of CPE every 2 years.

ADDITIONAL ENROLLMENT INFORMATION:

Click here to view the CGAT Courses.
Click here for registration information

For additional registration information, please call (205) 348-4260.