Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
The certified public accountant (CPA) designation is a professional designation granted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). It is given to individuals who pass the Uniform CPA Examination and meet additional education, experience, and state licensing requirements that allow them to provide accounting services to the public.
The CPA designation is a certification of accounting expertise that helps to enforce professional and ethical standards in the industry. CPAs must adhere to the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct and are required to maintain independence to provide unbiased judgement.
The CPA Exam consists of four, four-hour sections: Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) and Regulation (REG). You must pass all four sections within 18 months, earning a minimum score of 75 on each part.
