Beta Alpha Psi UCF: A Comprehensive Guide to Membership

Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) is an honor organization for accounting, finance, and management information systems students. This article provides a detailed overview of the Beta Alpha Psi chapter at the University of Central Florida (UCF), outlining the requirements and benefits of each membership type. We are now accepting applications for Spring 2026.

Membership Types

The UCF chapter of Beta Alpha Psi offers three membership types, each with specific requirements and benefits: Associate Member, Candidate Member, and Initiated Member.

1. Associate Member

An Associate Member is a student interested in participating in the chapter's activities but does not yet meet all the eligibility requirements to become a Candidate or Initiated Member. This membership level allows students to engage with the chapter, attend events, and begin building connections within Beta Alpha Psi as they work toward meeting the criteria necessary for candidacy and eventual full initiation. Are you a student who doesn’t yet meet all the requirements to become a Candidate but wants to participate until you do?

Requirements for Associate Membership:

College Major: Undergraduate students must be actively pursuing a major (or minor) in one of the following:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Management Information SystemsGraduate students must be currently enrolled in the MACC or MBA program.
Attendance: Associates must attend a minimum of 6 professional meetings per semester, either virtually or in-person. Exceptions are made via unanimous board member vote for extenuating circumstances. Please note that the first meeting (Introduction Meeting) does not count as a professional meeting.
GPA: Students must have a minimum major GPA of 3.0 and one of the following:
- An institution (UWF) and/or combined transfer GPA of 3.0
- A GPA of 3.25 in the most recent 60 hours
Dues: All members, regardless of type, must pay $50 in dues. These dues help keep the chapter operational and contribute to national fees.

Benefits of Associate Membership:

Associate Members that complete the requirements will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the year.

Please Note: Associate members does not receive lifetime membership or national recognition from Beta Alpha Psi and are not eligible to run for officer positions.

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2. Candidate Member

A Candidate Member is a student who meets all the eligibility requirements to be considered for candidacy at the beginning of the semester. This transitional membership level is for students actively pursuing candidacy, with the goal of becoming an Initiated Member. Are you a student who meets all the requirements to become a Candidate and seek to eventually become an initiated member? Upon successfully completing the candidacy requirements throughout the semester, students will be initiated as full-fledged members at the end of the term.

Requirements for Becoming a Candidate Member:

College Major: Undergraduate students must be actively pursuing a major (or minor) in one of the following:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Management Information SystemsGraduate students must be currently enrolled in the MACC or MBA program.
GPA: Students must have a minimum major GPA of 3.0 and one of the following:
- An institution (UWF) and/or combined transfer GPA of 3.0
- A GPA of 3.25 in the most recent 60 hours
Course Completion: Undergraduate students must have completed, or be on track to complete by the end of the semester, the following courses based on their major:
- Accounting: ACG 3101 Intermediate Financial Accounting I
- Finance: FIN 3403 Managerial Finance and an upper level 3000-4000 course other than FIN 3403
- Management Info Systems: ISM 3011 e-Business Systems Fundamentals
Attendance:
1. Students must be an Associate Member for one semester to apply for candidacy. (Note: For students who were candidates in Spring 2025 and are not initiated members this this term, last term counts towards the one-semester requirement.)
2. Candidates must attend a minimum of 6 professional meetings per semester, either virtually or in-person. Exceptions are made via unanimous board member vote for extenuating circumstances. Please note that the first meeting (Introduction Meeting) does not count as a professional meeting.
Service Hours: Candidates must complete a minimum of 10 service hours per semester, which can be fulfilled through tutoring or participation in community service.
Dues: All members, regardless of type, must pay $50 in dues. These dues help keep the chapter operational and contribute to national fees.
Point Requirements: New Candidates require 20 professional points, 15 service points, and 15 social points to be inducted.

Benefits of Candidate Membership:

At the end of the semester, successful Initiated Members will receive a certificate of completion, be recognized nationally as a Beta Alpha Psi Member, and become eligible to run for officer positions. Candidates will find out who their mentor is at the Candidate Picnic on February 1st, 2026.

3. Initiated Member

An Initiated Member is a student who has successfully completed all candidacy requirements and has been formally recognized as a full-fledged member of the UCF chapter. This membership level reflects dedication to academic excellence, leadership, and service.

Requirements for Maintaining Initiated Membership:

To maintain good standing within the chapter and remain an active member, previously initiated members must continue to meet the following ongoing requirements:

College Major: Undergraduate students must be actively pursuing a major (or minor) in one of the following:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Management Information SystemsGraduate students must be currently enrolled in the MACC or MBA program.
GPA: Students must have a minimum major GPA of 3.0 and one of the following:
- An institution (UWF) and/or combined transfer GPA of 3.0
- A GPA of 3.25 in the most recent 60 hours
Course Completion: Undergraduate students must have completed, or be on track to complete by the end of the semester, the following courses based on their major:
- Accounting: ACG 3101 Intermediate Financial Accounting I
- Finance: FIN 3403 Managerial Finance and an upper level 3000-4000 course other than FIN 3403
- Management Info Systems: ISM 3011 e-Business Systems Fundamentals
Attendance: Initiated Members must attend a minimum of 6 professional meetings per semester, either virtually or in-person. Exceptions are made via unanimous board member vote for extenuating circumstances. Please note that the first meeting (Introduction Meeting) does not count as a professional meeting.
Service Hours: Initiated Members must complete a minimum of 10 service hours per semester, which can be fulfilled through tutoring or participation in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
Dues: All members, regardless of type, must pay $50 in dues. These dues help keep the chapter operational and contribute to national fees.
Point Requirements: Returning members require 15 professional points and 15 service points to retain membership.

Additional Information

Dues for Spring 2026: The dues for the Spring 2026 semester are $150 for new candidates and $75 for new members.
Application Deadline: January 30th, 2026 is the due date for packets, transcripts, and membership dues.
Recruiting Events: The major recruiting events for Spring 2026 are the Small Firms Picnic, Mixed Firms Picnics, and Mock Interviews. In the Fall semester, the chapter hosts Meet the Firms, its signature accounting-focused job fair.
Event Format: The majority of events will be held in person. More information will be sent before each event.

Benefits of Joining Beta Alpha Psi

BAP provides a great opportunity to learn more about careers in finance and accounting and to network and connect with professionals. BAP also provides resume reviews, mock interviews, mentorship, and other resources to help members and candidates succeed professionally. An accounting degree offered through the Kenneth G. Dixon School of Accounting can prepare you for professional, industrial, managerial or governmental accounting, with strong potential for career advancements.

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Accounting as a Career Field

Accounting is a very diverse career field. Public accounting refers to firms of accountants that serve clients such as businesses (retailers, manufacturers, service companies, etc.), individuals, nonprofit organizations, and governmental organizations. Public accounting firms range in size from sole practitioners to huge international firms that employ accountants throughout the world. Accountants employed in public accounting are typically Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). CPAs must be licensed to practice. The CPA examination, a requirement for obtaining a CPA license, is administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Managerial Accounting refers to a broad array of finance and accounting positions that exist within various entities: public companies, private companies, government agencies, non-profit corporations &emdash even in universities like UCF. A managerial accountant will rarely have the job title “managerial accountant.” Instead, positions held could be called: Staff accountant, Accounting Manager, Financial Analyst, Cost Accountant, Budgeting Analyst, Program Analyst, Internal Auditor, Controller, Chief Financial Officer, Planner, Risk Manager and Corporate Tax Accountant. Perhaps you’ve heard the term Accounting Department. A license is not required to be a managerial accountant. Managerial accountants may seek a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation by passing an exam administered by the Institute of Management Accountants.

Federal, state and local governments all employ accountants. Do you have a passion for a particular cause? Most medium and large nonprofit organizations employ accountants in various positions. The largest nonprofit organizations have CFOs that often receive substantial compensation.

Skills for Success in Accounting

Accounting students should develop their analytical, critical-thinking and problem solving skills. Potential employers place a big emphasis on strong interpersonal skills. Gain work experience and learn information about careers through internships. In preparing for any business career, a strong foundation in accounting will provide the variety of skills necessary to succeed in today’s complex financial world.

Admission to the College of Business

Admission to UCF does not equate to admission to the College of Business Administration (CBA). After receiving admission to UCF, students must qualify to be admitted to CBA and therefore all students enter the University as a ‘pre’ business major. This applies regardless of the specific business major a student intends to pursue. Complete GEB 3006 Career Development & Financial Planning. Earn good grades.

Licensure and Certification

Accounting is a versatile degree. While licensure or certification may be available in this field of study, our program does not lead to such licensure or certification upon graduation. The professional preparation you receive in our program may still assist you in such pursuits; however, we are unable to confirm the specific licensure and certification requirements of each state, territory, or foreign entity in which professional credentialing may be possible. If you intend to pursue such credentialing in your state or elsewhere, we advise you to contact the applicable state credentialing authority to familiarize yourself with its specific requirements and determine if our program meets its academic criteria.

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