| Although becoming a CPA is not a cakewalk, it pays | | | | state. Following the AICPA recommendations, colleges |
| to know what it really takes to become a CPA. | | | | and universities have altered their course syllabi for |
| College Education and Training in the Formative Years | | | | master's degree candidates to include the 150 credit |
| The way to the big job always takes years of | | | | hours of mandatory studies. Aspiring candidates would |
| preparation. A bachelor's degree from your university | | | | do well to check the exact requirements and the |
| or college in accounting or any related line of expertise | | | | curricula applicable in their states. |
| is the first step. Using the job demands of entry-level | | | | The CPA examination is a rigorous 2-day, 4 part |
| positions in Federal and several State governments as | | | | Uniform CPA Examination prepared by AICPA. Many |
| a reference, a 4-year college degree is the norm; this | | | | states allow you to pass the 4-part exam in separate |
| includes 24 semester hours of auditing or accounting. | | | | parts. You can take the examination in centers around |
| But it is not entirely surprising to see some employers | | | | the country. |
| deciding to hire candidates with a combination they | | | | Passing the Exams Is Not All |
| consider equivalent to the above, in education and a | | | | To succeed as a CPA, one must be capable of |
| number of years of work experience. | | | | handling multiple responsibilities as dictated by business |
| To practice as in independent auditor or a tax | | | | and market forces. For example, businesses are |
| consultant or investment advisor, one needs to have | | | | demanding expert advice from CPAs on matters as |
| two mandatory things. | | | | varied as tax planning, auditing, investment analysis, HR |
| 1.Certification from American Institute of Certified Public | | | | analysis, scrutinizing financial embezzlement and |
| Accountants, AICPA | | | | organized crime. Although there are recent restrictions |
| 2.License from your State Board Of Accountancy | | | | on any one single CPA advising the same organization |
| The Core Structure of CPA | | | | on multiple issues, a private CPA can advise different |
| Since early last year, 42 states along with the District | | | | clients on various issues. There are no such restrictions |
| of Columbia have adopted the recommendations of | | | | on internal auditors. |
| AICPA. CPA candidates are required by the new | | | | Anyone planning to pursue a career as a CPA must |
| recommendations to complete 150 hrs of semester | | | | have strong analytical abilities and an aptitude for |
| course work- that is an additional 30 hrs after the | | | | mathematics. One should be able to critically analyze |
| usual four years college graduation. The rest of the | | | | data, draw comparisons and interpret figures quickly |
| states, barring a few, follow a similar certification | | | | and infer accurately from the resulting figures in order |
| procedure by enactment of their own law to the | | | | that decision making is expedited. Skills in computers, |
| effect. | | | | stock analysis, and knowledge of micro and |
| The accounting curriculum varies slightly from state to | | | | macroeconomics and interpersonal skills all help. |