The Certified Public Accountant title is one of the most sought-after and highly respected credentials in the accounting world. It is also challenging to obtain as it requires passing a rigorous exam plus two years of accounting experience or 150 hours of college credits. While achieving this designation has many benefits, it also comes with certain drawbacks that one must weigh before embarking on the journey to becoming a CPA. Completing post-secondary education is the first step in becoming a CPA. Most states require applicants to complete at least 150 semester hours of college credit, with a concentration in accounting. Depending on the university, this could be five or six years of a full-time college education.

Each state has specific requirements to become a CPA, but many states’ requirements are similar. While you may earn an accounting degree and go on to work in the profession, you need to pass the CPA exam to earn the right to use the CPA credential. It’s one of the most respected designations and professions in the world. “CFPs can advise businesses and individuals on tax saving, investment, retirement and educational funds based on personal accountant the financial situation of their clients,” says May Jiang, a finance and tax advisor at Offit Advisors in Towson, Md. CPAs are uniquely qualified to work in public accounting firms, which serve multiple clients across industries. These clients may be companies, governments or individuals, depending on the size and type of accounting firm. An accountant is typically a professional who has earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

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Certified public accountants are accounting professionals who have passed both the privately issued CPA exam and public licensing requirements. If you need someone to look at your money, they’re the cream of the crop. Large public companies enlist the help of CPA firms annually in order to provide the SEC with audited financial statements and the IRS with their corporate tax return. CPA’s play an important role in giving confidence to investors to trust the financial statements they are analyzing. This Certified Public Accountant job description template can help you attract experienced and qualified accountants. Feel free to add specific accounting duties to meet your company’s requirements.

Starting in 2024, all CPA candidates will take the same three core sections of Accounting, Auditing, and Taxation. Then each candidate will have a choice between Taxation Compliance and Planning, Business Reporting and Analysis, and Information Systems Control. The new model will allow candidates to show a deeper knowledge of the content while still testing the foundation of accounting principles. It will also allow candidates to demonstrate a knowledge of technology, critical thinking skills, advanced problem-solving skills, and sound professional judgment which is an important skill used in the workplace and profession.

What are the requirements to become a CPA?

In 2019, the AICPA conducted a study that showed that CPAs needed an increased skill set in data analytics, excel, and overall, more technological skills. While the CPA exam tested knowledge on information technology, employers believed that not enough was being tested. This led to the evolution of the 2024 exam, known as the Core+Discipline Model.