CGAT Program

ABOUT THE CGAT PROGRAM

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, Budgeting, 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 participant 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); offered annually in April.
Objective: to familiarize the participant with the study of ledgers in which all the assets, liabilities, equity, revenue and expenses are posted and from which financial statements are prepared.

Budgeting – 6 hours (Elective); offered annually in April
Objective: to familiarize the participant with key areas of governmental budgeting and finance. Specifically, the course will focus on the appropriation and management of public funds, including the importance and background of budgets, the budgetary cycle, revenue projections, types of expenditures, and the execution of a budget.

Fund Accounting – 6 hours (Required Core); offered annually in June
Objective: to familiarize the participant 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); offered annually in June
Objective: to familiarize the participant 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); offered annually in November
Objective: to familiarize the participant 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); offered annually in January
Objective: to familiarize the participant with detailed accounting techniques for processing employee salaries and wages, bonuses, benefits and taxes. This course will also familiarize the participant with IRS rules and regulations.

CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

GFOAA Certified Government Accounting Technician (CGAT) graduates are encouraged, but not required, to complete Continuing Professional Education (CPE) every two (2) years.

CPE hours may include a combination of attending trainings such as:

• GFOAA Annual Conference
• GFOAA Summer Conference
• CGAT conference
• Additional CGAT elective courses (not taken for original certificate)
• Job related webinars or employer sponsored training including professional development, public speaking, accounting software, or business writing

If you have any questions, please email Jamie Dykes at [email protected] 

ADDITIONAL ENROLLMENT INFORMATION:

Click here  for the current calendar of courses and course registration.

For additional registration information, contact Jamie Dykes at [email protected]