How to Get Your Cpa Certificate In Accounting

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification allows a professional to practice as a qualified accountant in the USA. You have to clear the examination conducted by the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination in addition to satisfying the experience and education required by the specific state to get the CPA certificate in accounting. Most of the companied prefer to hire the accredited professionals for jobs in finance, accounting, auditing and business. The CPA certificate is a post-graduate degree. So a person is required to complete undergraduate accounting coursework and earn a bachelor’s from a recognized college or university. Further, the person can consider joining some additional graduate courseware to become eligible to appear for the CPA examination.

Instructions

Each state in the USA has its individual accountancy board with specific requirements to issue the practice license to a person having CPA certificate. So you have to decide the exact state where you want to obtain the certificate. The companies and accounting firms hiring CPAs require the candidates to clear the requirements of the accountancy board of the state. You can always refer to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) guidelines to know the state level requirements.
After earning the required educational degree and choosing the state where you want to work as a CPA, you have to prepare for the examination by enrolling into a recognize college or MAcc program. You can also take the additional training offered by the private test preparation companies and online course providers. You have to study the online material and training books provided by these institutes to prepare for the CPA examination.
Once you have mastered the accounting courses required for the uniform CPA examination, you can take the standard CPA test divided into four parts. The candidate will be asked questions regarding regulation, financial accounting and reporting, auditing and attestation, and business environment and concepts. You may also be required to clear the Rules of Professional Conduct required by the specific set.
Each time you pass a single section of the CPA examination, you will receive a letter informing about the passing score and the effective date. The passing score remains valid up to a period of eighteen months from the effective date mentioned in the received letter. If you are not able to clear the remaining sections of the CPA examination within the stipulated time frame of eighteen months, the score will expire and you will again be required to clear that section of the CPA examination.
After getting notification about clearing the CPA examination, you can apply to the State Board of Accountancy to issue you a CPA license. The application needs to be accompanied by your Candidate Performance Report highlighting your passage through the CPA examination. Further, based on your chosen state, you may also be required to submit some additional documents and certification at the time of applying for the CPA license. After getting the license, you can start practicing on your own or join any accounting firm or company looking for CPAs.