About Certified Public Accountant

Certified Public Accountant

Being a Certified Public Accountant is a very hard task. To be a CPA requires a lot of dedication as compared to other careers. You should follow the regulations of the state or the authority where you want to work. The State Board of Accountancy is responsible for setting regulations and changes according to the state. So, it is important to first decide in which state you want to work as a CPA.

To be a certified public accountant, one has to fulfill the following criteria:

College level education of 150 credit hours, added to five years of college and graduate work.
A passing grade in each part (total four parts) of the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination.
Accounting experience in the industry, however the period of experience is different for each state. Generally, two years of experience in accounting is required.

Areas where you don't need a CPA certification:

Even without a CPA certification, you can still perform accounting functions. Most of the people adopt this career path. Accountants without a CPA certification are not required to fulfill the five-year criteria. Some non CPA accountants even don't have a degree in accounting. A conventional four year degree program in any discipline is all that is required to be a non CPA accountant. However, a degree in accounting is helpful and preferred. The role of an accountant doesn't include complicated calculations. In the non CPA accountant category, we have job positions like internal auditors, management accountants and tax personnel. All these positions do not require a CPA certification.

Areas where you need a CPA certification:

Even though you can have good career opportunities without having a CPA certification, there are certain disadvantages. Among these disadvantages, the most important is that you have a limited career opportunity, if you are not CPA certified. Most public accounting firms will not promote an auditor above a definite level. Also, a CPA has the authority to sign an audit opinion. Hence, it is not possible for an auditor to carry out certain activities without a CPA certification.

Also your failure to pass a CPA examination is considered as a lack of sincerity towards your profession. Another important drawback of being a non CPA is that you will have less income. However, it doesn't imply that you would have an unsuccessful career without a CPA certification. You can still excel in the accounting field. But with a CPA certification, you are exposed to more career opportunities, which will prove to be beneficial for a successful accounting career.