August 31, 2007, Newsletter Issue #11: How To Become a Certified Public Accountant

Tip of the Week

To obtain an accounting license, you must complete all formal education requirements, then take and pass the uniform examination to receive CPA certification. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, whether earned on campus or online, is the first important step. Previously, you would have been challenged to locate an accredited accounting degree online, but you now will have a good selection of universities offering this degree. You will need a total of around 150 credit hours of university study to be eligible to take the CPA examination.




Immediately after earning your accounting degree or after some years in public accounting, you are eligible to sit for the uniform exam, which will complete your CPA license requirements upon getting a passing grade in all four parts. Yes, there are four parts to the examination and it is quite challenging. The sections are Auditing & Attestation, Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR), Regulation, and Business Environment & Concepts. If you have previously gathered information on the exam, you may notice different subject area titles for a couple of the parts. The switch to a computerized exam has caused this change. The overall subject matter, except for 21st century updates, remains basically the same, however. Check with your state’s CPA Board, who administers the CPA exam, about any additional requirements they may have. While your state board administers the test, they do not correct it. Results (you need to score a 75 to pass) are handled by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Good luck!

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