How to Become a US Certified Public Accountant From India

Chartered Accountancy (CA) is one of the most rewarding professions and the highest degree in India but it is not recognised globally. Thus for those who want to build a career in the accounting field at a global level, there is one course that is recognised in most of the world known as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) course. Is CPA for you? Confused about it? Check out our blog on how to become a certified public accountant.  \

The Certified Public Accountant course (US CPA) is a professional accounting course administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The AICPA is a US-based accounting organization. With the US CPA exam now accessible from anywhere in India, there has been a significant increase in the number of CPA applicants in recent years. In this article, we share information about the course, eligibility and procedure to become a CPA.

Introduction About Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Course

For US CPA the eligibility criteria could vary based on the state in which you are applying. If you are applying for US CPA outside India then you could merely apply in one of the five states that do not need the applicants to secure a social security number. Washington, Pennsylvania, Guam, Alaska, and Montana are the states in which you can apply to be a US CPA from India. 

For the evaluation of academics the US has a credit-based system and to be eligible to sit in the US CPA exam and obtain the license, there are a set number of credits that you ought to have in your academics. On the grounds of the Indian academic system, the eligibility criteria for US CPA can be expressed as follows:

• Exam – Graduation + 1 year of Post Graduation (120 credits)
• License – Graduation + Post-Graduation (150 credits)

Along with these academic qualifications the candidate would required to gain 2000 hours of work experience which is equal to 2 years. 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 a 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.

Procedure to Become A CPA

Interested and eligible candidates can only apply for the US CPA (Certified Public Accountant) after getting their educational requirements verified. After successful verification and applying to the CPA, he/she will receive a Notice To Schedule (NTS) for taking a paper/section of the 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, fulfil the work experience requirement, Make payment for licensure fees, and get the CPA license.

CPA Course Structure in the United States

Candidates have to qualify for 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 centres located in various countries. There are four papers in the US CPA courses. Each of these papers could be provided on demand in January, February, April, May, July, August, October, and November.

In the CPA exam, there will be four, four-hours papers for the subjects:  

1. Auditing and Attestation (AUD),
2. Business Environment and Concepts (BEC),
3. Financial Accounting and Reporting(FAR) and
4. Regulation (REG)

Read Also: Steps For Foreign Students To Become Chartered Accountants

What is the Method to Apply for US CPA?

If you wish to apply for US CPA then you can do the same by taking the below-mentioned steps-

1. Evaluation

The evaluation procedure is performed to assess whether you are qualified to sit in the US CPA exam. You could obtain your academic evaluation via distinct platforms like World Education Services (WES) and NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES). At the time of evaluation, your local academic transcripts, i.e. mark sheets will be assessed and translated in a way that a U.S.-based evaluator can comprehend them. Post evaluation you can provide your academic transcripts and enroll for the US.

2. Registration and Payment 

After you have completed your evaluation, you can begin the registration process. As part of this process, you will need to pay the registration fees and submit your academic transcripts. Once you receive authorization to take the test, you can pay the exam fees and await your NTS (Notice to Schedule).

3. Appear for the Exams

After receiving your NTS, you can schedule the date and time of your exam based on slot availability. After completing the exam and 2000 hours of work experience, you can apply for the CPA license.

The registration process for the US CPA is confusing as it engages technical procedures. 

The US CPA qualification is acknowledged all across the world and can open doors to opportunities in Europe, Asia, and North America. Whether you’re an accounting professional looking to progress your career or curious to comprehend the course.

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 let’s start with the main fee. The fee for International candidates is $356.55 (Rs. 25,400 approximately) per section. 

After that, 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.

FAQ’s on US CPA Eligibility Criteria in India: