| The work of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) | | | | advancement very difficult. |
| or for the purposes of this article, a Certified | | | | A Certified Professional Accountant may perform |
| Professional Accountant, requires involvement in a | | | | a variety of job duties. Certified Professional |
| broad range of accounting, auditing, tax, and | | | | Accountants generally perform a broad range of |
| consulting activities. Most positions for a Certified | | | | accounting, tax, and consulting services for their |
| Professional Accountant require a minimum of a | | | | clients. Some may choose to specialize in different |
| bachelor's degree in accounting or related field, and | | | | areas, such as auditing or forensic accounting, |
| will often require or prefer a master's degree in | | | | which involves investigating and interpreting white |
| accounting, or at least some course work in an | | | | collar crimes such as securities fraud and |
| accounting master's degree program. | | | | embezzlement, bankruptcies and contract |
| A Certified Professional Accountant must reach | | | | disputes, and other complex and possibly criminal |
| the (CPA) status through CPA certification. This | | | | financial transactions, including money laundering by |
| involves a number of recommendations and | | | | organized criminals. |
| requirements in order to receive certification. As | | | | An entry level Certified Professional Accountant |
| of early 2005, based on recommendations made | | | | will generally maintain records of routine |
| by the American Institute of Certified Public | | | | accounting transactions, and may also assist in the |
| Accountants (AICPA), 42 States and the District | | | | preparation of financial and operating reports, |
| of Columbia require CPA candidates to complete | | | | including trial balances, adjustments, and closing |
| 150 semester hours of college course work, | | | | entries. The entry level Certified Professional |
| which is an additional 30 hours beyond the typical | | | | Accountant may also assist in the analysis and |
| four year bachelor's degree program. Another | | | | interpretation of accounting records for use by |
| five States have adopted similar legislation that will | | | | the management team. |
| go into effect between 2006 and 2009. The only | | | | The intermediate Certified Professional |
| States not requiring 150 semester hours are | | | | Accountant prepares and maintains accounting |
| Colorado, Delaware, New Hampshire, and | | | | records, not only for general accounting, but may |
| Vermont. Because of the Nation's response to | | | | also work with costing and budget data, as well as |
| this trend, the majority of institutions of higher | | | | examine, analyze and interpret accounting records |
| education have altered curriculum planning | | | | for the purpose of giving advice or preparing |
| accordingly, with most programs offering master's | | | | statements. An intermediate Certified Professional |
| degrees as part of the 150 required hours. | | | | Accountant often acts as a lead to lower level |
| To become a Certified Professional Account and | | | | employees in the accounting department. |
| receive CPA certification, individuals in all states | | | | A senior Certified Professional Accountant |
| are required to take a four part, Uniform CPA | | | | generally establishes, interprets, and analyzes |
| Examination prepared by the AICPA. This | | | | complex accounting records of financial |
| two-day examination is extremely rigorous and | | | | statements. This might also include general |
| detailed. Approximately 25 percent of individuals | | | | accounting, costing, or budget data. The senior |
| who take the exam each year pass every part | | | | Certified Professional Accountant usually also |
| they attempt. Candidates that take the CPA | | | | examines, analyzes, and interprets accounting |
| examination are not required to pass all four parts | | | | records for management. |
| at once, but most States do require that those | | | | A Certified Professional Accountant with CPA |
| taking the exam pass at least two parts for | | | | certification who is just starting out in the field |
| partial credit, and are required to complete all four | | | | may begin their career with a firm, with job |
| sections within a certain period given by the State | | | | duties entailing work with several clients. Those |
| in which certification is sought. The CPA exam is | | | | who excel may work to become supervisors, |
| computerized, and is offered quarterly at many | | | | managers, or partners; transfer to executive |
| different testing centers throughout the nation. | | | | positions in management, auditing or consulting; or |
| The majority of States also require applications | | | | may open their own firms. |
| for CPA certification to also have work | | | | In general, a Certified Professional Accountant or |
| experience in the field of accounting. | | | | CPA has a great amount of occupational mobility |
| Once CPA certification has been received, a | | | | and career flexibility, as well as an ability to move |
| Certified Professional Accountant has many | | | | up, move around, and earn a very comfortable |
| career options available. Certified Professional | | | | living, either through employment by a firm or |
| Accountants may choose to be self employed, or | | | | through being self-employed with their own firm. |
| may seek employment with banks and credit | | | | The position of a Certified Professional |
| unions; government agencies; businesses; | | | | Accountant is most often a stepping stone for |
| nonprofit organizations; accounting firms; auditing | | | | bigger, future career moves. Most Certified |
| firms; and a variety of other areas. Based on the | | | | Professional Accountants eventually choose to |
| individual Certified Professional Accountant, it is | | | | shift into management accounting or internal |
| possible to advance within a corporation or | | | | auditing. It is much less common for a |
| accounting department quite rapidly. Certified | | | | management accountant or internal auditor to |
| Professional Accountants that have inadequate | | | | shift their career and become a Certified |
| preparation, or those that are not adequately | | | | Professional Account. |
| detail oriented, for example, may find career | | | | |