Becoming an accountant

CPA

The body which represents the interests of accountants in the U.S. is the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). To become a CPA, the applicant must meet the requirements of the state where he/she wishes to practice, as established by the law of that state and administrated by the state boards of accountancy.

To qualify for certification, the applicant must:

a) study accountancy at a college or university

b) pass the CPA examination, which consists of four sections:

i) Business Law and Professional Responsibilities

ii) Auditing

iii) Accounting and Reporting – Taxation, Managerial, and Governmental and Not-for-Profit Organizations

iv) Financial Accounting and Reporting – Business Enterprises

c) have professional work experience in public accounting.

Most states require a qualified CPA to carry out regular professional training.