Chartered Accountancy (CA) is one of the most rewarding professions and highest degree in India but it is not recognised globally. Thus for those who want to build a career in accounting field at a global level, there is one course that is recognised in the most part of the world known as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) course.
CPA is the highest qualification in the United States (US), In the field of accountancy, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is considered the premium profession. In this article we are sharing information about the course, eligibility and procedure to become a CPA.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Course
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is the administrator body of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) course. AICPA is the biggest accounting body in the World with presence in 122+ countries.
The CPA course provides international recognition for accounting & finance professionals. There are some eligibility criteria for pursuing the CPA Course and we are providing the same here.
Eligibility Criteria for pursuing the CPA Course
All the candidates must have a graduation degree, otherwise they are not eligible for CPA. Indian students are required to have any qualification from MBA, MCom, Member of Institute of Cost Accountants of India, Member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Member of Institute of Company Secretaries of India.
The eligibility criteria vary from state to state thus an Indian Chartered Accountant having B.Com are also eligible to pursue the CPA by some states.
READ ALSO : CA Exams Schedule for November 2020 Session Announced by ICAI
Procedure to Become A CPA
Interested and eligible candidates can only apply for the US CPA after getting thor educational requirements verified. After successful verification and and applying to the CPA, he/she will receive a Notice To Schedule (NTS) for taking a paper/section of CPA Exam. It is important to know here that a new NTS will be required for every section or paper.
Candidates have to clear all four sections, and after clearing all, they also have to clear the AICPA Ethics Exam, fulfill the work experience requirement, Make payment for licensure fees, and get the CPA license.
CPA Exam Scheme and Course Duration
Candidates have to qualify all the exams which will be conducted by AICPA. The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam will be conducted through computer based mode at the designated centers located in various countries.
In the CPA exam, there will be four, four-hours papers for subjects:
- Auditing and Attestation (AUD),
- Business Environment and Concepts (BEC),
- Financial Accounting and Reporting(FAR) and
- Regulation (REG)
These 4 subjects/parts need to be completed within 18 months.
Overall Cost of CPA Exam and How Expensive is it?
The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) course is an expensive program but it is rewarding too. Now if you are willing to know the estimated overall cost then lets start with the main fee. The fee for International candidates is $356.55 (Rs. 25,400 approximately) per section.
After it there are some other expenses such as application fees, exam fees, review course expenses, registration fees, Ethics Exam fees, CPA licensing fees, CPA CPE (Continuing Professional Education) expenses, etc. Just like the eligibility, the charges may vary from state to state.
Contact Us
