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Accountant Cpa

A CPA (certified public accountant) is a practicing accountant who has satisfied the requirements associated with this title. He/she must pass the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination, and meet certain on-the-job experience requirementsï¾—generally in the public sector. While the examination is the same in all fifty states, licensing and certification requirements vary. CPA's work in either the public or the private sector. In the former, they typically perform financial audits to ensure that businesses are adhering to the appropriate "generally accepted accounting principles" (GAAP) in their official financial records. In the latter, CPA's mostly work in the corporate sector. The head accountant for a corporation or a business is called the chief financial officer (CFO). Certified public accountants also work as independent contractors, providing consultation and other relevant services to existing businesses. CPA's are required to renew their licensesï¾—this varies for each state. In order to do so, they must enroll in Continuing Professional Education (CPE) courses. Most states require CPA's to take 40-80 hours of classes every 2-3 years. Most CPA's are members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), although membership is not required.

Fast Facts

  • Requirements to be a CPA include a Bachelor's degree, and a minimum number of credit hours in accounting and business administration.
  • The state boards of Washington and South Dakota no longer issue CPA certificates, only CPA licenses.

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