Important Update
The Employee Benefits Certificate program is no longer accepting applications, and the program will be discontinued. Required coursework for current students will be offered until the end of the Summer 2025 term and the tax faculty has created a teach-out plan so that students may complete the certificate during this period. Current Employee Benefits Certificate students should speak with Dean Jen Bretschneider to create individual study plans to complete their certificates during this teach-out term.
Current students in the Employee Benefits Certificate program who may be interested in transferring to the Master of Laws in Taxation degree program should speak with Dean Bretschneider (jennifer.bretschneider@temple.edu) about possible options. The LLM in Taxation will be discontinued and no longer accepting applications, however, current Graduate Tax Certificate students may transfer provided they complete their certificates by Summer 2025 and then the LLM in Taxation by the end of Summer 2027. Required coursework for current LLM students will be offered, and the tax faculty has created a teach-out plan so that students may complete the degree during this period.
About the Program
The Employee Benefits Certificate program covers executive compensation, qualified employee benefit plans, ERISA fiduciary provisions, and other important aspects of the taxation of employee benefits. The program provides valuable training for practitioners who want to acquire an advanced level of expertise in employee benefits and plan administration.
Certificate Requirements
In order to be awarded an Employee Benefits Certificate, students must:
- Earn 8 credits in Introduction to Employee Benefit Law (2 Credits) and at least two of the following employee benefit electives:
- ERISA Fiduciary Provisions (3 Credits);
- Taxation of Executive Compensation (2 Credits);
- Qualified Employee Benefit Plans (2 Credits);
- Tax Policy: Employee Benefit Focus (2 Credits); and
- Welfare Benefit Plans (2 Credits).
- Attain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
- Complete the certificate requirements within 2 years.