In order to become a Certified Public Accountant, one must pass the CPA licensure exam. It is a must to have the competency and possession of knowledge to be able to pass the Uniform CPA Exam, has high educational standards, and has completed a specified amount of general accounting experience. Being a CPA is a recognition given by the State Board of Accountancy in the US. Individuals who passed the exam usually excel from the following areas: Education, Accounting Knowledge, ethical standard, training and experience, and commitment to the Accounting Industry. The main goals for becoming a CPA are to pass the Uniform CPA Exam and meeting licensing requirements. Also you might want to check out the CPA exam study guide.
Before you become a Certified Public Accountant, an individual must undergo five steps.
1. Education prerequisite
Each state has different set of rules followed. The requirement to become a CPA is determined by the Board of Accountancy of each state and jurisdiction. For you to be able to be guided accordingly, you must refer to the CPA requirements by State.
As part of the requirement, one must have the minimum degree of education, in this case at least a Bachelor degree. Also, all states ask for specific courses varying from accounting to business course, even business laws, auditing and/or ethics as a requirement. When it comes to age limit, 18 – 21 is the minimum requirement.
2. Uniform CPA Exam
After the education prerequisite, one can now be eligible for a Uniform CPA exam. Uniform CPA Exam is a computer-based examination conducted by AICPA which covers accounting and related fields, including business, law, and taxation.
3. Ethics Exam
As part of the requirement of getting your CPA license, an Ethics exam is conducted. This is a self-study course that you can purchase directly from the AICPA website. Though easier than that of the Uniform CPA Exam, one must also take it seriously and remember the important points.
4. Work experience
Once you pass the Uniform CPA Exam, you can now have related working experience. Usually you have to have 1 – 2 years experience depending on the state.
5. CPE requirements
Continuing Professional Education (CPE) is required to maintain your license. You must remember that different states have different set of rules. To be sure that you are getting the right information, you must be aware of the rules of your state.
