What is CPA?

The major qualifications required to get certified as CPA includes Educational Qualification for Accountant and Certain Experience in the field. But their can be some differences in these qualification requirements from one State to other. However one CPA can get certified to work as CPA in more than one State also.

If a CPA who is certified in a particular State wants to work in another State than he/she can do this by getting a temporary approval from the concerned State depending on the rules and regulations of the State.

After being designated as CPA one can perform a wide range of tasks like assisting in Income tax preparation, Public attestations, giving advice to individual clients, Business organizations (of any size) & Corporations, Business Accounting & Auditing, Financial Planner, Financial Analyst, Corporate Governance, Forensic Accounting, Consulting work and many more. However CPA can work either in a wide range of services or can work in certain specialized area.

One of the major benefits of being CPA is that many Federal and State Government agencies recruits only CPAs for the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Controllers, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and many more.

While the Accountants who are not licensed as CPA can’t use the designation ‘CPA’ and they can also not perform certain tasks which only CPAs are allowed to perform. Although they can perform the general Accounting works in the State. However CPAs like accountants are also bound to follow certain Code of Ethics.