CPA, which stands for Certified Public Accountant, is an accounting qualification granted by individual State Boards of Accountancy in the U.S. to individuals who fulfill certain education and experience requirement as a public accountant. The CPA title is one of the most globally recognized professional qualifications, and arguably is the most prestigious in the accounting field.
Only CPAs are allowed to own (either as sole owner or as partners) a public accounting firm, and only CPAs can sign the audit report on behalf of the firm.
While there is no requirement for CPAs in private business, many big corporations strongly prefer their senior financial professionals to have a CPA qualification to show their knowledge and expertise in the accounting field.
What is Ca PA, and Why Become One?
Now that you understand what is a CPA, you may want to know why people want to join the CPA family:
- Respect and prestige
- Higher income generating power (see the CPA salary guide)
- High and increasing demand for CPA
- Excellent job security
- Good work-life balance
You can learn more about why become a CPA here.
How To Become a CPA?
You will need to fulfill the “3 Es” requirements:
- Education
- Exam
- Experience
To find out the details for each requirement, please click the link how to become a CPA here. You may also need to apply to a master’s program to fulfill the educational requirement, so you should learn everything you can about master’s degrees and the CPA license. If this is the case, you’ll want to consider taking the GMAT exam as most programs require a GMAT score.
Additionally, you can learn about the best CPA review courses and find CPA review discounts on my CPA site.
For Your Further Reading
- CPA vs Accountant: Is it the same thing?
- What can accountants specialize in?
- What is public accounting vs non-public accounting?
e finance professionals who aim high to break the glass ceiling.