The online course below is available online through Radford University’s Government and Nonprofit Assistance Center (GNAC). You must register through VGFOA to take this course. Once you register, an email is sent to GNAC notifying them that you are enrolled. GNAC will then send you a password so that you can log on to their website and take the course.

Due to processing time, please note that it may take 3-5 business days before receiving the follow-up email from GNAC regarding your course password.

ONLINE Introduction to Governmental Accounting

This course does not qualify for credit under VGFOA’s Certificate Program 

Objective: This class is designed to introduce governmental accounting practices to “non-accountants”. Those with previous accounting experience should consider starting with the Intermediate Governmental Accounting course (part of the Certificate Program) instead of this introductory course. The self-paced course has five main sections:

1. Accounting and financial statement elements

2. Effects of transactions

3. Debits and credits

4. Recording information and funds

5. Budgets and the ACFR

Each section has a recorded PowerPoint slide presentation. Prior to starting the exam, you can come and go from the presentation at any time. The slides can be printed in advance for reference and making notes while taking the class. After working through the slides for a section you should take that section’s assessment. The assessments tab is on the left hand side. You can take the assessment as many times as you like. However, you must make 100% on one of the attempts for each section to get credit for the class.

Note: Under the effects of transaction section there is an assignment to complete a second month of transactions. You do not need to submit your work for this assignment. The solution is provided for you to check your work.

After you have completed all five sections (approximately 5 hours), you need to take the course exam. There is a two hour time limit and you only have one attempt. Once you start the exam, the two hour period begins and does not stop if you leave the exam. The exam is required for credit for members of the Treasurers Association of Virginia. For VGFOA Members, the exam is part of learning the material.