subject: Requisites for Achieving CPA Status [print this page] Requisites for Achieving CPA Status Requisites for Achieving CPA Status
Certified Public Accountants are in-demand these days. This is why a lot more people are considering a career in public accountancy; plus the pay is more than any other average salaried jobs available today.
But, the road to becoming a Certified Public Accountant may not be for everyone. Before seriously considering shifting gears and turning to public accountancy, one should check the Requirements for Becoming a CPA first to ensure that we really want to pursue this path and start on the right foot.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Depending on where you plan to set-up a career on public accountancy, the Requirements for Becoming a CPA may differ. In some states, a Bachelor's Degree is enough; with a certain amount of credits on accounting and business subjects; usually twenty-four units.
While in other states, a graduate course in business or at least a couple hours of credits based on attendance in a semester, are required. However, to be truly in-demand and for companies to take notice of you, a graduate degree in business or law will be most helpful. This will allow CPAs to fully meet the strictest requisites of companies.
CPA TESTS AND LICENSES
Once we have the required educational background to further pursue our interest in becoming a Certified Public Accountant, the two other things we need to focus on are the CPA Tests and acquiring a CPA License.
These are likewise two Requirements for Becoming a CPA that we should meet; otherwise, we will not be allowed to practice in public accountancy no matter what state or location we are in.
We can take the CPA Exams even if we have no proof yet of our completion of the required Bachelor's Degree provided that we can supply such within ninety days after taking the exams. Credits for completion of the exam and the scores will be forfeited if we fail to provide the said requirement.
PASSING THE CPA EXAMS
In order to help us pass the CPA Exams, we need to be fully prepared for these before taking them. This does not only mean that we have all other Requirements for Becoming a CPA on-hand already; but that we are mentally, physically and emotionally fit to take the said required tests.
There are a good number of excellent review centers including review sites online that can provide us with the right tools to prepare us for the CPA Exams. If we feel that we don't have time to sit down in a review class, there are online review sites and self-study modules that we can take instead.
These will allow us to review during times that are suitable for us.
GETTING A LICENSE
Usually, one of the Requirements for Becoming a CPA and acquiring a license is a full year of service in an accounting firm or accounting department of a company, under the tutelage of a CPA.
This means that the full-year service should be continuous and not done on certain months of the year only. Interrupted work in accountancy does not qualify as one of the Requirements of Becoming a CPA, even if it adds up to an accumulated twelve months.
