Becoming a CPA
Becoming A Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
What is a CPA? These three letters mean that you have received a broad-based education. They mean you have passed all parts of a very difficult exam. They mean you have the knowledge, skills and abilities to be a trusted business advisor to your clients or employer. They mean you feel comfortable with the latest technology. They mean you are an ethical individual who can provide an independent analysis. CPA’s are many things. They are chief financial officers for Fortune 500 companies and advisors to small neighborhood businesses. They work for large and small public accounting firms. They are well-respected strategic business advisors and decision-makers. They act as consultants on many issues, including taxes and accounting.
To become a CPA you need to meet the requirements of the state or jurisdiction in which you wish to practice. These requirements, which vary from state to state, are established by law and administered by the state boards of accountancy. To qualify for certification, you must:
Complete a program of study in accounting at a college/university. The American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) recommends at least 150 semester
hours to obtain the common body of knowledge for becoming a CPA.
Pass the Uniform CPA Examination, which is developed and graded by the AICPA.
Have professional work experience in public accounting.
The Uniform CPA Exam is a prerequisite for the CPA certificate because it is the primary way Boards of Accountancy measure the competence of CPA candidates. Boards of Accountancy also rely on additional means to ensure that a candidate has the necessary technical abilities and character attributes to become a CPA. These may include interviews, letters of reference, investigation of educational background, and affidavits of employment. In addition, some boards of accountancy administer an ethics examination to assess a candidate’s knowledge of the rules of professional conduct. The Board of Examiners of the AICPA, is responsible for preparing the Uniform CPA Examinations and for operating the Advisory Grading Service, both adopted by the boards of accountancy in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Examination is give...
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...s the economy grows the number of business establishments increases requiring more accountants and auditors to set up their financial, technological and internal control systems, provide tax preparation and planning assistance, as well as management consulting advice and other business advisory services. The volume and complexity of financial and non-financial information will continue to expand, requiring the knowledge of accountants and auditors to interpret and analyze the data and participate in the decision making process. Becoming proficient in the latest accounting and budgeting software packages and keeping abreast of new technologies is critical to the accounting professional’s success.
Bibliography:
American Institute for Certified Public Accountants (2000). Available: http://www.aicpa.org.
Blensly, D.L., and Plank, T.M. (1989). Accounting Desk Book, (9th ed.)
Meigs, W.B. and R.F. (1989), Accounting: The Basis for Business Decisions, (8th ed.)
Rink & Robinson’s CPA’s (1998). Certified Public Accountants & Consultants. Available: http://www.mrinkcpa.com.
Robert Half and Accountemps Salary Guide (1999). Available: http://www.accountemps.com.
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