How do I Become a Certified Public Accountant?

An individual who wishes to become a certified public accountant (CPA) must pass the CPA Exam. To be eligible to sit for the CPA Exam, a person typically must meet certain academic requirements according to the testing authority in the geographic area in which they will work. Most certified public accountants have a bachelor's degree in accounting, and some possess a master's degree in business administration.

The CPA Exam is the uniform test used in 55 jurisdictions, each of which has a board of accountancy that administers the CPA exam and awards the credential. These jurisdictions include the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. When an individual passes the CPA exam, he is considered to be a licensed certified public accountant. While the CPA exam is accepted for licensure by all 55 jurisdictions, the educational requirements for eligibility to take the exam vary according to jurisdiction. Many areas may require 150 credit hours of education at an accredited college or university.

To take the CPA Exam, candidates apply to the board of accountancy of the jurisdiction where they want to practice. They commonly must provide certified academic documentation and pay a fee to take the test, and there are usually no additional requirements for international applicants. The board considers whether the applicant wishing to become a certified public accountant has met the requirements of the jurisdiction. If he has, the candidate is invited to schedule an appointment to take the CPA examination. People usually spend a great many hours preparing for the CPA exam, which many consider to be extremely difficult.

The CPA examination consists of four parts, including auditing and attestation, business environment and concepts, financial accounting and reporting, and regulation. The four sections comprise a total of 14 hours of testing, and candidates must pass each section with a minimum score of 70 on a 0-99 scale. They do not have to pass all four sections at the same time and can take parts over again at another sitting, though they typically must pass all four sections within 18 months. Once an individual has passed the exam and become a certified public accountant, he can use the CPA designation. Most jurisdictions require that certified public accountants obtain continuing professional education to keep the credential.

An individual who has passed the exam to become a certified public accountant may provide various professional services for businesses, industries, non-profit organizations, government agencies and education. They commonly perform accounting, auditing, tax preparation, financial planning, consulting, and business valuation services. They also prepare financial reports that business owners and managers use to run their businesses. Although certified public accountants perform some of the same services as their non-licensed counterparts, only certified public accountants are permitted to perform the required audits of all publicly traded U.S. companies.