US CPA exam

Generally, when we use the term CPA we think of CPA US Course. This is because the CPA US is most widely accepted and in great demand thanks to US Companies all over the world. However, most countries have their own accounting qualifications like Canada has CPA Canada, Australia has CPA Australia and so on.

A Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) is a finance, accounting and business professional with a specific qualification. Being a CPA is a mark of high professional competence. It indicates a soundness in depth, breadth and quality of accountancy knowledge. CPAs are highly respected by employers and members. It provides members with an internationally recognized qualification as well as the opportunity to complete specialist training and continuing professional development (CPD).

1. CPA Australia

To use the CPA designation in Australia, a member must:

A. Complete a degree or a postgraduate award recognized by CPA Australia

B. Complete the CPA Program, including three years of professional experience in finance, accounting or business undertake CPD activities each year

C. Comply to a strict code of conduct set by CPA Australia.

D. To offer public accounting services, CPAs must also complete CPA Australia’s Public Practice Program and hold a Public Practice Certificate in accordance with the CPA Australia’s By-Laws.

CPA Australia is a two-part journey having a foundation program, followed by the CPA program as mentioned below:

1.1 The Foundation Program:

1. The focus of the Foundation Program is to – Impart the basics and covers 6 major areas (which are further divided into courses) including Economics, Accounting, Business Law, Finance, Financial Accounting & Reporting, and Management Accounting.

2. Depending on whether you have a graduate degree in accounting & finance, overseas graduates will have to appear for a few courses of study within this.

3. The foundation exams cover the knowledge required to become an Associate member of CPA Australia.

4. They can be taken in any order, at your choice of exam location and time.

1.2 CPA Program:

1. Upon successful completion of the Foundation Program, the main CPA Program starts.

2. The CPA Program consists of 4 compulsory subjects + 2 electives + An experience component.

3. The CPA Program, like any CA/CPA program, is extensive.

4. And similar to most such programs, the experience component (article-ship) is of a mandatory 36 months duration.

5. Subsequent to the successful completion of CPA Program requirements, you become a CPA.

6. Depending on the courses you are required to undertake in the Foundation Program, the total program stretches from anywhere between 3-4.5 years.

1.3 Switch over from CPA Australia to CPA US Course and Vice versa

CPA Australia has a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with the International Qualifications Appraisal Board (IQAB) representing AICPA and NASBA. Under this MRA, a CPA Australia member may be eligible for the CPA US credential if they are a citizen of Australia or New Zealand, or a holder of a Visa granting legal residency in Australia or New Zealand. They must also be a member in good standing of CPA Australia and meet additional criteria for prior education, relevant CPA Program examinations, practical experience and continuing professional development.

Members of CPA Australia seeking to obtain the US CPA credential via this agreement can visit the NASBA website for specific eligibility requirements. The following steps demonstrate the pathway to CPA membership for holders of a US CPA credential, under the conditions of the current MRA.

Step 1: Determine your eligibility

You may be eligible to apply for CPA Australia membership if you:

a. are a current member of good standing with a State Board and not under any investigation for professional conduct infringements

b. did not obtain the US CPA credential under a mutual recognition agreement, reciprocal membership agreement, or other similar agreements which the IQAB may have/had at any time

c. have successfully completed the Uniform CPA Examinations

d. hold a baccalaureate or higher degree

e. have satisfied the experience requirement of the relevant State Board.

Step 2: Apply

a. Complete online application and submit it with the required documentation, including your application and membership fee.

b. In your application, nominate AICPA or NASBA as the professional body with whom you studied and hold membership.

Step 3: Verification and outcome of your application

Your application will take approximately 10 to 15 working days to verify. They will send you an email informing you of your assessment outcome.

1.4 Agreement gives US CPAs path to Australia, New Zealand audit rights

Qualified CPA US’s are eligible to obtain a credential that is a pathway for obtaining audit rights in Australia and New Zealand under a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) that has been renewed.

The AICPA and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) renewed their MRA with the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ). The AICPA and NASBA had signed an MRA with CPA Australia in July 2018, so qualified CPA US’s have two paths to licensure in Australia and New Zealand.

Under the renewal, qualified CPA US’s may obtain the CA ANZ credential if the holders meet eligibility requirements detailed in the appendices of the MRA. CA ANZ credential holders who are citizens or legal residents in Australia or New Zealand are eligible to obtain the CPA US credential if the holders meet the eligibility requirements described in the MRA’s appendices.

2. The Canadian CPA Designation

To become a Canadian CPA, students must meet the academic prerequisites, complete the CPA Professional Education Program (PEP), pass the Common Final Exam (CFE), and obtain 30 months of qualifying practical work experience. This is the case for a majority of students but there are a few exceptions. For example, internationally trained accountants can challenge the CFE and transfer their credentials to the Canadian CPA without having to go through the entire program. This is covered under CPA Canada’s Memoranda of Understanding (MOU).

The four requirements to becoming a Canadian CPA (prerequisites, PEP, CFE, and work experience) are part of the CPA certification program. The educational component, called PEP, consist of six, 8-week modules. I find the first two modules (Core 1 and 2) to be the most challenging because of the breadth of topics tested. Fortunately, each module is taken separately, except in the fast-track modules where two modules can be taken simultaneously.

The first four modules (the Cores and Electives) have exams made up of cases and objective-format questions (MCQs). Students entering PEP from university find the cases challenging because of their integrative nature and ambiguous requirements. Case-based exams are only part of the Canadian CPA pathway, which is perhaps why the Canadian CPA is called one of the world’s most rigorous programs. The CFE is offered once or twice per year and has an average 75% pass rate. The CFE is marked based on displaying competencies and average performance.

3. The CPA US Course Credentials

To become a CPA US, students must fulfil educational requirements, pass four 4-hour exams, complete an ethics exam (if required by state), and obtain required work experience (if required by state). These four requirements (education, exams, ethics, experience) are known as “the four Es.”

Note: While the Canadian CPA program has six modules and a CFE, the CPA US course has only four section exams:

·       Auditing and Attestation (AUD)

·       Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)

·       Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)

·       Regulation (REG)

Candidates take the four sections during four testing windows throughout the year. To pass, candidates must score a minimum of 75 out of 100 on each part. The four exams, which are called the Uniform CPA Exam, have an average 53% pass rate, much lower than the Canadian exam pass rates.

Unlike the Canadian CPA exams, the US CPA exams are made up of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), task-based simulations (TBS) and small written communications (WCs). There are no lengthy cases, no integrative required, and no final, multi-day exams to tackle. While the Canadian CPA program takes 24-30 months to complete, the US CPA exams have a strict 18-month deadline to complete. Let’s summarize the two options.

US CPA Exam 2021 – New Updates In 2020, the US CPA exam in India had few changes; the most prominent change was the introduction of the CARES Act to the REG section effective in Q4 2020. In 2021, the US CPA Exam will undergo additional changes, mainly to the AUD & BEC sections, with minor revisions to the remaining two sections – FAR & REG….continue reading

4. Choosing the right program: Canadian vs. the CPA US Course

If you are interested in working as an accountant in the U.S., it’s best to pursue the CPA US course credential. You will learn U.S. GAAP and prepare yourself for an American career. It’s also quicker and more cost effective.

If you are interested in working and staying in Canada, you should pursue the Canadian CPA program. It’s a prestigious and highly respected designation that prepares you for an accounting career in Canada. It also has higher pass rates and facilitated modules. You have three attempts at the module exams and the CFE, so, if you are unsuccessful three times, you may consider attempting the CPA US course.

Despite the lower pass rates, the US CPA exams are somewhat easier due to the objective format of the questions and extended exam windows. Once you obtain your CPA US course credentials, you can either keep it or transfer to the Canadian CPA, but the process is complicated for CPA US’s who are, or have been, Canadian residents.

Practical benefits of US CPA course – Becoming a CPA US in India is an aspiration for many finance professionals and accountants. Most CPAs agree that becoming a US CPA completely transformed their career. Please follow the link for further reading.

4. Switch Over from CPA US course to the Canadian CPA designation

Transferring your credentials to the Canadian CPA has many advantages. Many employers in Canada look for the Canadian CPA designation. For example, for Canadian positions that require financial reporting and tax analysis, Canadian CPAs have the upper hand in the selection process.

On the other hand, with the CPA US course, you can apply for positions such as senior financial analyst or business analyst and have the same advantage as a Canadian CPA — your work experience will take precedence. If you keep your CPA US course, you can designate the CPA letters after your name once you receive approval from your provincial CPA body. If you decide to transfer, make sure to read CPA Canada’s eligibility and transfer steps. Most Canadians will not be eligible to transfer because, assuming you were a Canadian resident while completing the US CPA exams, you will be required to have:

1. A university degree in the U.S. from having attended in person on a full-time basis,

2.Have at least one year of full-time practical experience in accounting in the U.S.

This means you must physically study or work in the U.S. to transfer your credentials. You cannot use a CPA US as a “shortcut” to attain the Canadian CPA designation.

What is US CPA ? Why and How to become a US CPA – A complete guide on CPA US Course including Eligibility, Details, Duration, Syllabus, Job & Salary, Exam & Pass rate, Structure of US CPA exam, Fees, etc….continue reading ..

5.How to decide which CPA should you go for?

Generally, when we use the term CPA we think of CPA US course. This is because the CPA US course is most widely accepted and in great demand thanks to US Companies all over the world. However, most countries have their own accounting qualifications like Canada has CPA Canada, Australia has CPA Australia and so on.

5.1 When you have to decide which CPA to pursue, Australia or USA? –

1. Understand where you want to work and the DEMAND of the degree in your country.

2. Like the CPA US course is done by a lot of people because US companies are spread all over the globe and thus there is a job opportunity.

3. Anyone intending to move to Australia should consider CPA Australia or anyone considering working in an Australian firm based in India (or anywhere in the world) should consider CPA Australia.

4. Similarly, anyone looking at working in a USA Company should consider CPA USA and the same for CPA from any other country.

5. A course like CPA should ideally be followed by a work stint in the same country so you can understand the application side better.

6. The main reason is that CPA courses are more country-specific unlike other streams of study like MBA or Engineering.

7. If one is studying CPA Australia the course would cover the Accounting Standards applicable in Australia. Not only do Accounting Standards (AS) differ but the difference gets even more as you graduate to Auditing with its country-specific standards and equally if not more so in Taxation.

So, depending on your long-term goals you can choose the right CPA to meet your needs!

6. Which CPA to Pursue? USA or Canada?

If you are interested in working as an accountant in the U.S., it’s best to pursue the CPA US course credential. You will learn U.S. GAAP and prepare yourself for an American career. It’s also quicker and more cost effective.

If you are interested in working and staying in Canada, you should pursue the Canadian CPA program. It’s a prestigious and highly respected designation that prepares you for an accounting career in Canada. It also has higher pass rates and facilitated modules.

US CPA exams are somewhat easier due to the objective format of the questions and extended exam windows. Once you obtain your CPA US course credentials, you can either keep it or transfer to the Canadian CPA, but the process is complicated for CPA US’s who are, or have been, Canadian residents. Transferring your credentials to the Canadian CPA has many advantages. Many employers in Canada look for the Canadian CPA designation. For example, for Canadian positions that require financial reporting and tax analysis, Canadian CPAs have the upper hand in the selection process.

On the other hand, with the CPA US course, you can apply for positions such as senior financial analyst or business analyst and have the same advantage as a Canadian CPA — your work experience will take precedence.

7. Summary

Think about your desired career path, the costs and benefits of cross-border work experience, and the educational requirements of each program before making the decision. If you’re interested in growing in a role that doesn’t require financial reporting nor tax analysis, either of the CPA programs may be sufficient.

If you want to stay and work in Canada, then without a doubt pursue the Canadian CPA designation or go for CPA US course as it has lesser number of papers and then apply for a Canadian CPA license through their mutual reciprocity arrangement or MOU. With over 200,000 members, you will become part of one of the largest accounting organizations in the world, learn in-depth the Canadian accounting frameworks, and become a well-paid professional with an accelerated career growth. 

Similarly, if you want to settle in Australia, go for Australian CPA or use  It is always best to pursue CPA or equivalent courses in the country of that certification. Again, as mentioned above anyone intending to move to Australia should consider CPA Australia or anyone considering to work in an Australian firm/company based in India (or anywhere in the world) should consider CPA Australia or go for CPA US course and take advantage of the MOU. 

As a whole, by going through the above information , it can be stated that for an international candidate CPA US course is more preferable due to its wide acceptance, more job prospects and switch over facilities or MOUs between AICPA and the CPA Australia and CPA Canada bodies.

About the top CPA US Course training institute in India, Africa, and Middle East – Uplift Pro

Uplift Pro is one of the top training institutes for the US CPA, US CMA, US CIA, Enrolled Agent US, ACCA UK courses in India, Africa, and Middle East. Our team consists of seasoned professionals and entrepreneurs from IIEST, IITs, London Business School, and ULCA who have decided to provide a strong backup to young ambitious students and professionals to reach their desired career destinations in an organized way.

Uplift Pro, is an authorized partner of Gleim in India, provides you with authentic Gleim materials, updates and Live Online Interactive Classes for CPA US by internationally experienced veteran mentors. All at an Indian Cost. 

Some of our exclusive features include –

A. Affordable US CPA course fees

B. CPA certified veteran TEAM of faculties

C. Live online classes and class recordings ensuring that the regular office working hours is least impacted.

D. 1:1 personal support from our 30 plus years of experienced CPA certified faculties ensuring that all our students pass the  CPA US course

E. “Till you pass” guarantee assuring that students can attend our live online classes at no extra cost until you pass

F. Premium study materials with practice questions bank enabling students to pass the US CPA exam in India and rest of the world

G. Administrative guidance on US CPA evaluation procedure

H. Placement assistance

Request for Live Demo class / contact at +91-8787088850 to book your seats now.

ACCA stands for Association of Certified Chartered Accountant is a Chartered Accountant degree which is given by Association of Chartered Accountant with headquarters situated at London. The role of Work is related to inspection of accounting services to the public, private entities

CPA US course stands for Certified Public Accountant and the degree is provided by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).  The field of work is related to license to accounting services to the public. To maintain the law and procedure these specialized degree holders are required to guide individuals, Small and mid-size firms and MNCs. When pertinent question arises which course, are you planning to do further, ACCA certification or US CPA exam? Will you be aiming to do both in the future? If you are confused about your plans just have a look in this article.

1.What is ACCA?

The ACCA or the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is a body that recognizes the qualification of a CA. ACCA is a global body based in Glasgow UK which works in the interest of the public to ensure that the chartered accountants work according to the principles-based and ensures that the regulations set are properly followed.

The ACCA offers the certification in chartered accountancy and the exam known as ACCA is most recognized in the commonwealth countries. The degree was given with the intention to give protection.

The ACCA Exam consists of 14 papers and emphasis is given on the core values of integrity, accountability, diversity, and innovations, etc. The degree is accepted globally across 180 countries. The Degree has its own reputation of one hundred years and the professionals have provided services to more than 7500 employers across a different field. The 3 important steps of ACCA are applied knowledge (Diploma), Applied Skills (Advance Diploma) and essentials.

Both ACCA and CPA US course are highly qualified Accounting courses designed for professionals who are interested in making a career in Accounting, Taxation, Auditing, and Finance.

2.What is CPA US course?

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) holds the Certified Public Accountant (CPA US course) exam which is recognized across the globe for its competence. The AICPA is the largest accounting body in the world and anyone who wishes to work in the US or has to work with US-based clients requires taking the examination held by the AICPA. 55 states in the US have been granted the license to conduct the CPA certified exams. Each state has its own licensing requirements and pattern of the exam as none of them is controlled by any centralized body.

CPA US course can also choose any stream in Finance Field starting from Management Accounting, Financial Analyst, Auditing, Taxation, Finance Controlling, etc. The course itself includes Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination organized by AICPA and after the exam is passed there are certain procedures which include certain ethics and the candidates have to abide by the regulatory framework guided by the respective governing body.

The professionals are entitled to Audit for Federal and State levels and can act as consultants who could guide several business houses and can act as consultants of several small and mid-size firms, for tax and audit purposes also.

Practical benefits of US CPA course – Becoming a CPA US in India is an aspiration for many finance professionals and accountants. Most CPAs agree that becoming a US CPA completely transformed their career. Please follow the link for further reading.

3. CPA US course vs ACCA: Application & Qualification

The most significant differences between ACCA and CPA are in the qualifications and the application processes.

3.1 CPA US course

For US CPA course candidates must have a minimum of a 4-year bachelor’s degree and preferably a master’s degree to get a US CPA license. Almost all jurisdictions require CPAs to have at least 150 credit hours of higher education, equivalent to 5 years of full-time study (or a US master’s degree).

Before you can even sign up to take the exam, your state board will review your educational background. Then, once you are approved for the exam and receive your Notice to Schedule (NTS), you are on your own to get prepared. It is to be noted that the US CPA exam is a “qualifying exam,” not a “program.” In programs such as the ACCA and CIMA, you can get textbooks from the exam administrator, follow a syllabus, and study accordingly. CPA State Boards do not provide any courses or study materials for the US CPA Exam. In addition to passing the US CPA Exam (and an ethics exam in some states), candidates must also have 150 hours of education and at least one year of qualified experience.

3.2 ACCA

The ACCA entry level is much lower than the CPA US course. Plus, the ACCA has two entry points depending on your education and experience. The ACCA labels these levels as “ACCA Foundations in Accountancy” and the “ACCA Qualification” level.

The foundation level is for people who are new to accountancy and don’t have an education threshold. It’s also the best place to start for people working in finance but who don’t have adequate education levels or qualifications to apply for higher-level positions. The exams at the Foundations level test your understanding of basic accounting principles. Basically, the ACCA feels that you should have mastered these topics before going for the ACCA Qualification exams.

If you’re passing the ACCA exam after CPA, you probably already have this level of knowledge. If you have more experience and/or education, you can start at the ACCA Qualification level.

The ACCA’s exact requirements state that you can begin at this level “as long as you have 3 GCSEs and 2 A Levels in 5 separate subjects including maths and English.” Basically, this means you need a bachelor’s or master’s degree. However, if you only have a high school diploma, you can begin the ACCA Qualification exams if you pass the ACCA Advanced Placement Examination. This test analyzes your proficiency in the material that appears in the ACCA Foundations of Accountancy program.

Unlike the US CPA, once candidates are registered, ACCA takes an active role in preparing you for the exam by providing study guides and sample exam papers. They also maintain a database of ACCA Approved Learning Partners. In addition to passing all papers for the ACCA Qualification, candidates must also take the Ethics and Professional Skills module. Additionally, they need to gain 3 years of appropriate work experience before calling themselves ACCA-certified.

4. CPA US course vs ACCA: Exam Content and Format

4.1 ACCA

The ACCA Qualification has several smaller exams to pass, called “papers.” The ACCA exam is divided into 13 papers as follows:

Applied Knowledge

• 1. Accountant in Business
• 2. Management Accounting
• 3. Financial Accounting

Applied Skills

• 1. Corporate and Business Law
• 2. Performance Management
• 3. Taxation
• 4. Financial Reporting
• 5. Audit and Assurance
• 6. Financial Management
• 7.Strategic Professional – Essentials
• 8. Strategic Business Leader
• 9.Strategic Business Reporting

Strategic Professional – Options (complete 2)

• 1. Advanced Financial Management
• 2. Advanced Performance Management
• 3. Advanced Taxation
• 4. Advanced Audit and Assurance

Candidates can apply to waive some papers based on their education levels. Or, they can take the “Certified Accounting Technician Qualification” assessment to waive some papers according to practical experience.

However, please note that you can only receive a maximum of nine exemptions for the Applied Knowledge and Applied Skills papers. Plus, you cannot receive any exemptions for the Strategic Professional portions. So, all candidates must sit for those papers. If you think you might qualify for any exemptions, you can use this tool from ACCA Global to find out. Some—but not all—papers are computerized. Furthermore, the exam is offered four times a year at more than 500 testing centres worldwide.

4.2 CPA US course

The US CPA Exam has 4 parts:

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

The exam is 100% computerized consisting of multiple-choice questions and task-based simulations (similar to case studies). BEC has an additional section for written responses or short essays called Written Communications.

Grading is mainly computerized, even for written communications. You can choose to take the 4 parts separately, 2 at a time, or even 4 at the same time. Although you had to wait for specific “CPA testing windows” in the past, you can now sit for the exam any time during the year. You take the exam at Prometric testing centres, which are located throughout the US and several other countries including India.

US CPA Exam 2021 – New Updates In 2020, the US CPA exam in India had few changes; the most prominent change was the introduction of the CARES Act to the REG section effective in Q4 2020. In 2021, the US CPA Exam will undergo additional changes, mainly to the AUD & BEC sections, with minor revisions to the remaining two sections – FAR & REG….continue reading

5. CPA US course vs ACCA: How Much Time You Need To Pass?

5.1 ACCA

Given the number of papers to pass, candidates generally need 3 to 4 years to complete all papers and become ACCA members. Candidates can sit for the papers during four exam sessions held each year.

However, candidates can only take four exams per session and a max of eight papers in a year. So, in theory, you could pass all papers in 2 years. But because of logistics issues, most need 3-4 years. Plus, candidates need 3 years of work experience before receiving their ACCA credentials.

5.2 CPA US course

Most candidates aim to pass the US CPA exam within 12 to 18 months. After all, once candidates pass the first of their 4 US CPA Exam sections, they must pass the other 3 within 18 months. Candidates who have the time and commitment to study can take all exam parts in one go.

In that case, you can complete the exams within 3 to 6 months. However, please note that this timeframe requires a substantial study commitment. If you might go this route, I suggest reading about how long it takes the pass the US CPA Exam.

How to surmount the US CPA exam – the integral steps |Uplift Pro :-The unified US CPA exam in India conducted by AICPA is the gateway to achieve the hallmark in public accounting in a global perspective. The strategic steps to pass the US CPA exam in India include…continue reading…..

6.CPA US course vs ACCA: Reciprocity and Exemptions

6.1 ACCA

If someone is already a CPA, can they become an ACCA member? Well, ACCA is more generous in this regard — ACCA grants exemptions to AICPA members for several of the papers. If you are a holder of the US CPA credential, you are subsequently a member of the AICPA. Moreover, AICPA members may be able to skip the Foundations of Accountancy papers. You can check out the exemptions CPAs will receive who are interested in becoming ACCA members.

6.2 CPA US course

The US has mutual recognition agreements with 8 accounting bodies in the world. To gain a US CPA license, their members can take a simplified version of the US CPA exam known as the IQEX. However, please note that the ACCA is not among these 8 accounting bodies. Therefore, there is not an MOU for CPA, and ACCA and ACCA members do not qualify for CPA exemptions. So, if you hold an ACCA certification, you are MUST complete the CPA requirements, including 150 hours of college education (5 years).

Many ACCA members have passed the US CPA exam. However, since ACCA does not have a recognition agreement with either the National State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) or the AICPA, ACCA members with advanced degrees find it less challenging to qualify to sit for the US CPA Exam. ACCA members with master’s degrees or higher must also have a minimum number of accounting and business courses (this number will vary by jurisdiction, and there are 55 in the United States).ACCA members without advanced degrees will need to seek education from a degree-granting institution.

7. CPA US course vs ACCA: Which is Easier?

What test is tougher– ACCA or CPA? Honestly, that depends on what you consider to be tough. Is ACCA harder than the CPA? In some ways, yes. But in other ways, no.  Deciding which one is tough – US CPA or ACCA – there are several factors to consider.

First, the CPA US course has fewer sections (4 exam sections vs 13 papers for the ACCA Qualification), but they are all hard. In fact, the US CPA pass rate hovers around 45-55%. Likewise, the ACCA estimates their mean pass rate is about 55%. However, CPA candidates can benefit from studying with a review course. Such review courses are now also available for ACCA.

8. CPA US course vs ACCA: Summary

8.1 ACCA

• 1. Recognized in UK and commonwealth countries
• 2. One single entity with a simple application
• 3. Low entry barrier: post-secondary education needed
• 4. Exam only offered 4 times a year
• 5. 500+ testing centres across the globe
• 6. 13 papers
• 7. 3-4 years to complete.

8.2 CPA US course

• 1. Recognized in the US and anywhere with US regional offices
• 2. 55 jurisdictions with complex licensing requirements
• 3. High entry barrier: master’s level and/or 150 hours of higher education
• 4. Exam offered year-round
• 5. Exam sites in the US + multiple other countries
• 6. 4 parts
• 7. 12-18 months to complete exam, plus an additional 1+ years of work experience (more in some jurisdictions)

Conclusion

Coming to that inherent question, ACCA vs CPA… Which One Should I opt for ACCA vs CPA ? The US CPA is arguably the most prestigious accounting qualification.

The entry barrier is high with an equivalent of a master’s degree together with strict working experience requirements. Because of these stricter requirements, the CPA Exam itself has fewer parts than the ACCA — only 4 sections compared to 14 papers for the ACCA. Some jobs can only be performed by a CPA. For example, only CPAs can sign audit reports under the US GAAP standards. Besides, only CPAs can launch a CPA firm in the US. Therefore, the CPA title has distinct advantages if you are interested in public accounting in the United States or American firms.

For ACCA, the application process is much simpler, and the entry barrier is lower than the CPA. However, it takes years to complete the studies and obtain membership. While ACCA is globally recognized, it is not as highly regarded outside the UK and Commonwealth countries

About the top CPA US Course training institute in India, Africa, and Middle East – Uplift Pro

Uplift Pro is one of the top training institutes for the US CPA, US CMA, US CIA, Enrolled Agent US, ACCA UK courses in India, Africa, and Middle East. Our team consists of seasoned professionals and entrepreneurs from IIEST, IITs, London Business School, and ULCA who have decided to provide a strong backup to young ambitious students and professionals to reach their desired career destinations in an organized way.

Uplift Pro, is an authorized partner of Gleim in India, provides you with authentic Gleim materials, updates and Live Online Interactive Classes for CPA US by internationally experienced veteran mentors. All at an Indian Cost. 

Some of our exclusive features include –

A. Affordable US CPA course fees

B. CPA certified veteran TEAM of faculties

C. Live online classes and class recordings ensuring that the regular office working hours is least impacted.

D. 1:1 personal support from our 30 plus years of experienced CPA certified faculties ensuring that all our students pass the US CPA course

E. “Till you pass” guarantee assuring that students can attend our live online classes at no extra cost until you pass

F. Premium study materials with practice questions bank enabling students to pass the US CPA exam in India and rest of the world

G. Administrative guidance on US CPA evaluation procedure

H. Placement assistance

Request for Live Demo class / contact at +91-8787088850 to book your seats now.

Dear Reader,

It seems that you are reading this blog since you are either a finance /accounts student or a professional want to boost your career towards a broader horizon. You know that earning the Certified Public Accountant (CPA US Course) certification is an excellent idea. You know this because of all the benefits of becoming a CPA.

But you might not know how to walk through every single CPA requirement including the unified CPA US course exam and the CPA licensure procedures. So, let’s start the journey. There are 2 parts in the CPA journey- the CPA exam and the CPA license.

Before you can become licensed as a certified public accountant, you must pass all four parts of the Uniform CPA US course examination: Auditing (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG). The exam process could take a year or more to complete, and most jurisdictions require 150 semester hours plus two years of experience. Additionally, some states require an ethics exam.

CPA US course requirements: The basics

Each of the 55 U.S. jurisdictions (the 50 U.S. states plus DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Mariana Islands) maintains its own CPA US course requirements. When you decide to become a CPA US, you must decide which jurisdiction you wish to become licensed in.

You will apply for the US CPA Exam and your CPA US license in that state. You will need to abide by the CPA US course requirements of your jurisdiction to remain licensed.

CPA US course requirements differ by state

Each jurisdiction maintains its own directory of requirements; however, there has been a movement toward uniform standards in recent years. For example, nearly all jurisdictions require 150 semester hours to become licensed as a CPA US now.

However, requirements can still differ among states. While international CPA US course exam administrations are available, each licensing jurisdiction has specific requirements for citizenship and social security numbers, application/registration fees, early examination options, and passage of an ethics exam.

Additionally, licensing requirements may also differ by:

1. The number of education hours required to sit for the US CPA Exam

2. The makeup of coursework within those education hours

3. The years of experience required and how they are validated

4. Whether you can renew a license while inactive

5. The US CPA Exam application process

Requirements to take the US CPA Exam

To be eligible to take the US CPA Exam, you must meet the basic requirements of the board in the jurisdiction where you wish to become licensed.

While these can vary by state, typical CPA Exam requirements include:

1. 120 college credit hours (bachelor’s degree)

2. 24+ credit hours in accounting-related courses

3. U.S. citizenship

4. A Social Security numbers

5. Minimum age of 18 years old

Every state requires you to complete either 120 or 150 credit hours at an accredited college or university before you can apply to take the US CPA Exam.

Usually, a minimum of 24 hours of your coursework needs to be in accounting. Still, some states require that you also complete several hours in general business subjects like finance, business law, or management.

Some states require a bachelor’s degree in accounting or other business-related fields like finance, while others are fine with a general bachelor’s degree. A few states will allow you to sit for the US CPA Exam before you graduate.

Contact your state board of accountancy if you would like to confirm that your academic credits qualify. As part of the US CPA Exam application process, you will have to submit your transcripts.

US CPA Exam Requirements by State

Every state board requires CPA US course candidates to pass the Uniform CPA Examination. The AICPA developed the Uniform CPA Examination with input from NASBA and the state boards of accountancy.

The CPA Exam consists of 4 sections that cover a wide range of accounting topics.

Specifically, the CPA Exam sections include:

1.Auditing and Attestation

2.Business Environments and Concepts

3.Financial Accounting and Reporting

4.Regulation

The US CPA Exam sections present several different question types in a series of testlets. These question types include:

A, Multiple-choice questions

B. Task-based simulations

C. Written communications

Candidates have 4 hours of total testing time for each exam section, and they must pass all 4 sections of the exam within an 18-month period. Each state board of accountancy also defines the US CPA Exam eligibility requirements that candidates must meet in order to sit for the exam.

Almost all of the state boards want candidates to have 120 credit hours of education, the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree, before they will let you sit for the US CPA Exam. But, can you take the US CPA Exam while still in school? Yes, some states let you sit for the exam with less than 120 credit hours if you’re close to graduating.

For example, several states require you to be within a certain time frame of securing the 120 hours, such as 6 months away from graduating with a bachelor’s degree or within 15 credit hours of the 120-hour requirement. Other states make the 150-hour rule part of their CPA test requirements. These states might make similar provisions for those who are close to acquiring 150 credit hours.

Finally, many state boards also require you to have a certain number of upper-level accounting credit hours before you can sit for the US CPA Exam. Ultimately, each state board decides who is eligible to sit for the exam in their state. I try my best to keep up with each state’s requirements in the pages on my site, but these requirements change sporadically and without much warning. Therefore, the best way for you to be certain that your understanding of your state board’s requirements is up to date is to visit your state board’s website or contact them directly.

US CPA Exam 2021 – New Updates In 2020, the US CPA exam in India had few changes; the most prominent change was the introduction of the CARES Act to the REG section effective in Q4 2020. In 2021, the US CPA Exam will undergo additional changes, mainly to the AUD & BEC sections, with minor revisions to the remaining two sections – FAR & REG….continue reading

CPA US License Requirements

Becoming a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA US ) involves acquiring a combination of education, work experience, and passing examination scores. However, the CPA license requirements are not universal. In the U.S., the boards of accountancy of the individual states/territories determine the regulations for accounting and dictate the requirements for CPA licensure. There is no one national governing body that makes these rules. Therefore, each jurisdiction has a slightly different set of CPA requirements, though there are general areas of overlap within each state’s requirements.

Since each state enforces distinct CPA requirements, earning the CPA license from certain states might be easier for you than from others. And luckily, you can choose. You are allowed to pursue a CPA license in any state, even if you don’t live there.

Across the states, the basic CPA requirements would be the 3 Es:

A. Education: earn a 4-year bachelor’s degree and 150 credit hours of general education

B. Exam: pass the entire Uniform CPA Examination

C. Experience: acquire at least 1 year of relevant accounting experience.

So, all CPA candidates must meet these requirements in some way. However, many states also have one additional “E” requirement:

D. Ethics: pass the state’s ethics examination

The 3 Es are the most generalized summary of the CPA US course requirements. Each state has an education, exam, and experience requirement of sorts, but the differences among the CPA state requirements manifest themselves in the type of educational credit hours needed, the US CPA Exam requirements, and the amount and type of work experience expected. Which ethics exam the state uses is another point of distinction.

CPA US Course Work Experience Requirements by State

The CPA US course work requirement has the most variability of all the requirements. Some state boards only accept experience under a licensed CPA, while others readily accept academic and non-public accounting experience.

Many states substitute higher amounts of non-public accounting work experience for lower amounts of experience acquired under the direct supervision of a CPA US. Most states require 1-2 years of relevant accounting experience, and they often make provisions for part-time work as well.

The Application

It might seem that applying for the US CPA Exam is more difficult than the US CPA Exam. After all, there are many different facets to the application which can make the process a bit confusing. This is especially true since US CPA Exam requirements vary by state.

One thing to keep in mind is that there are two routes US CPA Exam candidates can go through when they’re applying to the US CPA Exam:

1. State Boards of Accountancy, or

2. NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy).

Which route you take to apply for the US CPA Exam depends entirely on the state you’re obtaining your CPA license in. If you’re applying to any of the states below, you will be applying through CPAES (CPA Examination Services), a part of NASBA which provides a comprehensive array of services to state boards of accountancy related to the CPA Exam. The CPAES includes application processing, credential evaluations, and score reporting.

Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

If you are not applying to any of the above states, your application will be handled and processed directly through your State Board of Accountancy I.e. Independent states. Every state has its own decision as to whether they would like to be a part of NASBA’s CPAES jurisdiction.

States that decide to remain independent do so for several reasons, such as being able to control their own fees and giving candidates a wider range to choose from when it comes to third party companies/organizations that handle credential evaluations and other administrative services. This means that CPA Exam costs will vary more widely within these states, especially when it comes to initial application and registration/re-examination fees.

For these states (listed below), candidates will also contact their State Board of Accountancy directly to determine whether they’re eligible to sit for the CPA Exam. The only part where State Boards of Accountancy interact with NASBA is for processing fees and issuing Notices to Schedule (NTS).

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming and Virgin Islands.

CPA Examination Services States

For states that are a part of NASBA’s CPAES jurisdiction, the application process is much more streamlined. States that decide to utilize NASBA and CPAES do so to make the application process for candidates more simplified.

Candidates applying through CPAES will find that there are no third-party companies/organizations used to help evaluate credentials or process their application. This means that US CPA Exam costs have less variation from state to state. Initial application, individual US CPA Exam sections, and registration/re-examination fees remain relatively the same.

For these states, candidates go directly through CPAES to learn more about what requirements they need to meet to be eligible to sit for the US CPA Exam. CPAES works with the State Board of Accountancy to determine this. The only other time CPAES interacts with State Boards of Accountancy are when candidates are issued their actual CPA US license.

Many international candidates apply to states under NASBA’s CPAES jurisdiction since the application process can be more efficient and simpler, offering in-house credential evaluation services as well as other resources that tailor to their unique circumstances.

The difference between applying to sit for the CPA Exam through NASBA vs. a state board of accountancy

NASBA CPA Examination Services (CPAES) provides a comprehensive array of services to state boards of accountancy related to the Uniform CPA Examination (Exam). Using this service means that some processes like application processing, credential evaluations and score reporting are managed through the website. There are 32 states/jurisdictions that utilize this service. Visit the NASBA website in order to check if your jurisdiction participates.

If your jurisdiction does not participate in the CPAES service, then you will have to visit your state board’s accountancy website. You may be able to submit items online or you may be required to mail them. Also, communication regarding scoring may occur through the website or through mail.

Finding an easier state

What to do if you don’t have 150 credit hours, are a non-accounting major, lack the required work experience, or are not a U.S. citizen/resident, you will have fewer state board options from which to choose.

So, either way, you can determine the easiest state to become a CPA US by comparing your current qualifications and plans for the future with the CPA US state requirements and discovering how you can meet those requirements in your situation.

States That Don’t Require 150 Hours of Education

A typical 4-year bachelor’s degree only awards you 120 credit hours of education. Therefore, you must acquire additional education to meet the CPA US course education requirement of 150 credit hours.

What’s more, you must understand that 150 hours is the standard for all accounting students graduating within the U.S. Therefore, the state boards are simply asking you to match that standard. In the past, some states allowed candidates to get the CPA US license with just 120 credit hours (California, Colorado, Delaware, New Hampshire), but every state now enforces the 150-hour rule.

CPA US Course Work Experience Requirements by State

The CPA work requirement has the most variability of all the requirements. Some state boards that only accept experience under a licensed CPA, while others readily accept academic and non-public accounting experience.

Many states substitute higher amounts of non-public accounting work experience for lower amounts of experience acquired under the direct supervision of a CPA. Most states require 1-2 years of relevant accounting experience, and they often make provisions for part-time work as well.

Picking a State Board Based on CPA Licensure Requirements

If you believe that meeting the requirements of the state in which you currently reside will be too challenging, then a different state may be a better fit for you. Furthermore, if you don’t have 150 credit hours, are a non-accounting major, lack the required work experience, or are not a U.S. citizen/resident, you will have fewer state board options from which to choose. So, either way, you can determine the easiest state to become a CPA by comparing your current qualifications and plans for the future with the CPA state requirements and discovering how you can meet those requirements in your situation.

States That Don’t Require 150 Hours of Education

A typical 4-year bachelor’s degree only awards you 120 credit hours of education. Therefore, you must acquire additional education to meet the CPA education requirement of 150 credit hours. What’s more, you must understand that 150 hours is the standard for all accounting students graduating within the U.S. Therefore, the state boards are simply asking you to match that standard. In the past, some states allowed candidates to get the CPA license with just 120 credit hours (California, Colorado, Delaware, New Hampshire), but every state now enforces the 150-hour rule.

Taking the CPA Exam Without an Accounting Degree?

Here Are the States That Don’t Require an Accounting Degree. Instead of a full accounting degree, some states simply require candidates to have a certain number of accounting credits to earn the CPA license. Usually, these state boards ask for about 24 credit hours in accounting. You’ll still need to earn a bachelor’s degree, but it can be from a different major, such as marketing.

But oftentimes, these states will enforce a stricter experience requirement to compensate for less stringent educational requirements. For example, the U.S. Virgin Islands has 2 paths to CPA licensure that do not specify a certain number of required accounting courses.

Instead, these options substitute higher levels of work experience for the presence of particular accounting education hours. South Carolina, on the other hand, requires CPA candidates to have 24 semester hours in accounting courses. So, the range of CPA class requirements among jurisdictions is fairly broad.

Many CPA state boards also specify the level of accounting courses you must take. They often limit lower-level accounting classes and require more upper-level (junior-level and above, 300+) courses. Additionally, several states have certain mandatory courses that each CPA candidate must take to fulfil the upper-level requirements.

Moreover, a jurisdiction also has the prerogative to disallow lower-level credits earned through non-traditional methods. To use South Carolina as an example again, this jurisdiction requires 24 of the 36 semester hours in accounting to be junior level or above. They also include a list of 4 mandatory upper-level courses: cost/managerial accounting, auditing, intermediate/financial accounting, and U.S. Tax. South Carolina also does not accept non-traditional credits such as placement credits and exemptions.

Consequently, some jurisdictions are much more particular about the accounting courses you must take. For this reason, earning the CPA as a non-accounting major usually involves a bit more concentration and effort.

States That Don’t Require Traditional Work Experience

Can you earn the CPA license without work experience? Not really. But in some states, the CPA experience requirements are laxer than in others. For example, most states nowadays are fine with general accounting work from private industries, government, and even academic teaching positions. Therefore, a non-public accounting career plan shouldn’t be an issue when choosing a CPA state board of accountancy.

Instead, due to the popularity of leniency in this area, you have several options for fulfilling the CPA work experience requirement. If you have never worked in public accounting and don’t plan to work in public accounting, you still have several state boards from which to choose. However, some of these state boards require additional years of experience from a non-public accounting field. North Carolina, for example, requires 4 years of experience teaching accounting at a college or university or 4 years of experience working in the field of accounting without the supervision of a CPA.

On the other hand, this jurisdiction only requires 1 year of accounting experience under the supervision of a CPA. That’s quite a difference! Many other states only require 1 year of work experience, whether it be in academics, general accounting, or public accounting. So, if you don’t plan to work in public accounting, you should seek to apply to one of these states, as you wouldn’t have to work 4 times longer than necessary (like you would in North Carolina) if you don’t have to.

No Work Experience Completed under the Supervision of a U.S. CPA

Maybe you’ve never worked under a CPA US and never plan to. For example, maybe you work in a private industry where CPAs are less common. Or maybe you work outside the U.S. and your supervisor isn’t licensed in the United States. In these cases, you’ll need to find a state board of accountancy that makes allowances for these situations with their CPA experience requirements. Some states do when the candidates can prove that substantial accounting skills have been relevant to their jobs.

And typically, any supervisor who can reasonably verify that you are using relevant accounting skills will suffice. However, self-employment does not usually satisfy the work experience requirement. Examples of states you could apply to when you don’t plan to work under a CPA include the jurisdictions of Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Virginia. After all, they recognize experience supervised by a non-CPA. So, as long as you work in a relevant field, you can get a license for one of these states.

Additionally, Montana, Washington, Arkansas, and Indiana allow someone other than your boss to verify your experience. So, this exception provides some flexibility as well. Finally, there are even some states that don’t require any working experience. But CPA licenses they offer in these situations restrict how you can hold yourself out as a CPA US. One example is Guam, which has an inactive license. Massachusetts is another option because it offers a non-reporting license.

Which State Board is Favourable for International Students?

Based on the flexibility, below are some CPA US state boards which appear suitable for International students.

A. Virginia

May Accept BCOM + CA; Your Supervisor/Verifier doesn’t Need to be a CPA. You can sit for the exam in Virginia as long as you have 120 credit hours, 24 accounting credit hours and 24 business credit hours. Also, I heard that BCOM + CA could be deemed an equivalent US bachelor degree as long as the evaluation report says so. Given rules change all the time, BCOM + CA holders who want to take this route must first double check with Virginia state board.

Another great advantage of Virginia is the flexibility of working experience requirement. You need to work 1 year in a relevant field, but, unlike most other state boards, Virginia doesn’t require your supervisor (i.e. your verifier of experience) to be a CPA. This means that as long as you work in accounting, you can qualify to get the license.

Restrictions/disadvantages of Virginia

Strict requirement of social security number, which makes most international candidates and H4 visa holders ineligible. You need to be concentrated in accounting, i.e. this state is not for non-accounting majors. At the end of the day you do need 150 credit hours to get the license.

B. Guam:

120 Credit Hour + No Experience Needed if You don’t Mind the Inactive License. As long as you are an accounting major with a 4-year bachelor degree, and do NOT practice within Guam territory (hold yourself as a Guam CPA), you can get an “inactive” license without SSN, working experience and fulfilling the 150 credit hours.If you are not an accounting major you do need to fulfil the 150 credit hours.

C. Alaska: 

One can Sit Before Getting 120 Credit Hours. There are quite a lot of international candidates going through Alaska so it’s worth mentioning here. Since Alaska allows candidates to sit for the exam before the graduation, 3-year BCOM degree holders can technically sit for the exam as long as they fulfil enough accounting credit hours (the requirement depends on whether you are an accounting or non-accounting major).

Washington:

Experience can be Verified by third party. Washington requires candidates to have the full 150 credit hours to sit for the exam, but your experience can be verified by a CPA who is not your supervisor. In other words, you can verify the non-US experience that you may have by someone you know who happens to be a US CPA — could be friend, a mentor, a business partner, which makes things much easier.

For Washington, this verifier must be an active US CPA for 5 years or more. The working experience requirement is also quite vague: 2 years of relevant experience deemed appropriate by the Board. I suggest that you find out whether your work is acceptable (by double checking with the state board) before applying through Alaska.

Conclusion

By now, we came to the end of our journey regarding state wise requirements for US CPA exam and licensure procedures. Understanding the US CPA Exam and license requirements for the state you’re interested in as early as possible can help you better prepare for the exam. By judicious selection of the appropriate state board, CPA US course is very much doable and possible to achieve within the stipulated period of 18 months.

It is to be mentioned here that Uplift Professionals, a premier training institute for CPA guides its students efficiently to cross all the hurdles in a smooth manner to cherish their dream of becoming a CPA and uplift their career to an elevated horizon.

About the top CPA US Course training institute in India, Africa, and Middle East – Uplift Pro

Uplift Pro is one of the top training institutes for the US CPA, US CMA, US CIA, Enrolled Agent US, ACCA UK courses in India, Africa, and Middle East. Our team consists of seasoned professionals and entrepreneurs from IIEST, IITs, London Business School, and ULCA who have decided to provide a strong backup to young ambitious students and professionals to reach their desired career destinations in an organized way.

Uplift Pro, is an authorized partner of Gleim in India, provides you with authentic Gleim materials, updates and Live Online Interactive Classes for CPA US by internationally experienced veteran mentors. All at an Indian Cost. 

Some of our exclusive features include –

A. Affordable US CPA course fees

B. CPA certified veteran TEAM of faculties

C. Live online classes ensuring that the regular office working hours is least impacted. Moreover, they provides class recordings.

D. 1:1 personal support from our 30 plus years of experienced CPA certified faculties ensuring that all our students pass the US CPA course

E. “Till you pass” guarantee assuring that students can attend our live online classes at no extra cost until you pass

F. Premium study materials with practice questions bank enabling students to pass the US CPA exam in India and rest of the world

G. Administrative guidance on US CPA evaluation procedure

H. Placement assistance

Request for Live Demo class / contact at +91-8787088850 to book your seats now.

The CPA US course certification is being considered as the highest standard of competence in the area of accountancy and a multifaceted covetable credential for the accountants in a global perspective. The CPA US exam is conducted by the AICPA. For this global designation, one has to clear the unified CPA exam.

The Indian CAs are considered equivalent to CPA in Indian perspective. The first step to initiate the US CPA exam application process is to know the eligibility of the candidate to sit for the CPA exam. If one is not eligible for the exam, the respective state board might reject the application where the non refundable application fees are concerned.

For the uniform CPA exam, the eligibility requirements are set by individual US state board, hence, vary as per the state jurisdiction. Although majority of the state boards have the common core set of eligibility criteria,  slightly different benchmarks are also available. The process of US CPA course certification has 2 steps with some different eligibility requirement which are discussed below.

1. Eligibility for the CPA US exam

For this part, one has to review the following checklist before applying for the exam.

1.1 Citizenship 

Do you need to be a US citizen to apply for the CPA US exam? There are few states like North Carolina that require US citizenship as an eligibility criterion for US CPA exam. Hopefully, there are there are a good number of states that allow non citizens to become a US CPA, a boon for the international candidates.

1.2  Social Security Identification(SSI): 

There are certain states like Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana and Maryland which require a valid SSI number for identification available with the US citizens. Again, there are certain states like Illinois, Montana, South Dacota, Wisconsin, New York etc. which does not require a SSI. So, international candidates should select the appropriate state board in a judicious manner.

1.3 Age Requirement

To be eligible for US CPA exam, all 55 licensing state boards have common requirement of minimum 18 years old to be eligible to apply for US CPA exam.

1.4 Academic Qualifications

The educational qualification for eligibility vary across the states with time. However, the main requirements stands with the consideration that the candidate must possess either a bachelor’s degree or 120 college credit hours in order to be eligible for CPA exam.

In Indian context, each academic year in college is assigned a credit of 30 credits. Hence, a 3 year graduation provide 90 credits which mean one has to fetch another 30 credits by pursuing some other accreditated course. Having a 2 year M.Com or MBA after graduation earn 60 credits to make it 150 credit points ultimately.

Although, majority of state boards require the eligible education sector to be in the field of accountancy and finance, hope is there for the candidates without a basic accounting degree. For this, one has to pick a state board which require less number of credit hours in accounting like Maine, Hawai, Georgia, Massachusetts, Alaska etc. Candidates also can look into the experience requirement of a state board to be eligible for the CPA exam.

US CPA Exam 2021 – New Updates In 2020, the US CPA exam in India had few changes; the most prominent change was the introduction of the CARES Act to the REG section effective in Q4 2020. In 2021, the US CPA Exam will undergo additional changes, mainly to the AUD & BEC sections, with minor revisions to the remaining two sections – FAR & REG….continue reading

1.5 Business and Accounting Hours

The 120 semester hours must include at least 24 hours of general business courses and 24 hours of upper-division accounting. The general business hours may not include principles or fundamentals in accounting. No more than 9 of the 24 business hours may be from computer courses and no more than 6 of the general business hours may be from upper-division statistics courses.

The 24 hours of accounting must be beyond the principles level. The course work must include auditing, cost/ managerial accounting, financial accounting accounts information system and taxation although, these again vary to some extent across the states.

2.The Eligibility for CPA License 

The first criterion to acquire eligibility to obtain the license is to pass the US CPA exam. The license is required to practice public accounting as a CPA. Apart from this, the eligibility for licensure procedure require the following parameters to be fulfilled  followed by majority of the state boards. To be eligible to obtain a CPA license,

a)  One must complete the university education with 150 credit hours.

b)  One required to have 2000 hours of work experience in taxation, auditing, accounting and the management consultancy, although, it varies across the states.

c)   One has to pass the Ethics exam.

Points to Ponder for International Students:

1)  Indian CAs are no longer acceptable as eligible for US CPA in the states like Colorado, Michigan, New Hampshire etc.

2)  States malleable to some extent are California, Illinois etc.

3)  States that provide flexibility are Virginia, Guam, Alaska, Washington, Montana etc.

4) If you do not complete your graduation in commerce or accounts, you must do it in other streams. Similarly, non accounting graduates must take a diploma for a year or two in public accounting to get the required credits. To get the rest of the credits you may also apply for a master’s degree or a professional course like CA/ICWA etc.

Conclusion

Based on the above information, it can be concluded that checking the eligibility criteria beforehand is the foremost vital step towards the CPA US course journey. For an international candidate, if the jurisdiction is not an issue, then there are certain US states having favorable US CPA exam eligibility based on the educational and working experiences. 

Keep in mind that no specific degree/s is mandate to be eligible for the US CPA Exam if you have the required credit points and accounting hours in your previous academic syllabus and the CPA eligibility criteria vary a lot from one state to another. So even if you do not possess a traditional BCom or MCom degree, you still have chances to explore.  

However, one has to remember that rules and regulations regarding the eligibility are continuously changing. To be sure with the eligibility for US CPA, it is therefore advisable to double check the eligibility criteria with the respective state boards before proceeding with the CPA US exam application process or ask an expert in this field.

Finally, once your eligibility checking done, start studying as soon as possible. The earlier you start, the sooner you will be able to tag yourself as a CPA and boost your career in fast track.

About the top US CPA training institute in India, Africa, and Middle East – Uplift Pro

Uplift Pro is one of the top training institutes for the US CIA, US CMA, CPA US in India, Africa, and Middle East. Our team consists of seasoned professionals and entrepreneurs from IIEST, IITs, London Business School, and ULCA who have decided to provide a strong backup to young ambitious students and professionals to reach their desired career destinations in an organized way.

Uplift Pro, is an authorized partner of Gleim in India, provides you with authentic Gleim materials, updates and Live Online Interactive Classes for CPA US by internationally experienced veteran mentors. All at an Indian Cost. 

Some of our exclusive features include –

A. Affordable US CPA course fees

B. CPA certified veteran TEAM of faculties

C. Live online classes ensuring that the regular office working hours is least impacted. Also, provides class recordings to students.

D. 1:1 personal support from our 30 plus years of experienced CPA certified faculties ensuring that all our students pass the US CPA course

E. “Till you pass” guarantee assuring that you may attend our live online classes at no extra cost until you pass

F. Premium study materials with practice questions bank enabling students to pass the US CPA exam in India and rest of the world

G. Administrative guidance on US CPA evaluation procedure

H. Placement assistance

The unified US CPA exam conducted by AICPA is the gateway to achieve the hallmark in public accounting in a global perspective. What it ratiocinate is that a CPA certification makes one to be qualified exceeding all others in the career path in accounting and finance fields. Considering the importance of the US CPA exam, one can chalk out an effective study plan to clear the CPA exam.

Strategic steps to pass the US CPA exam

1. To Know the Exam Format

The US CPA exam is divided into following 4 sections which are designed to make the candidate knowledgeable and equipped to handle the responsibility of an accountant.

a. Financial Accounting and Reporting(FAR)

It is the most elaborate part of the US CPA exam having focus on general accounting like filling various cost and account transfers. This section demands specific knowledge in general concepts related to finance. The duration of exam for this section is 4 hours with a 15 min allowable break exclusive of the stipulated 4 hours. Equal weightage is  given to both MCQs and task based simulation questions where 12 MCQs and 1 simulation is considered pretested and not been counted in gradation.

b. Regulation(REG)

This is the second largest section and covers different facets of taxes and business law in encyclopedic attribute. The exam duration is similar to FAR where a 50:50 pattern is used to allocate grades based on MCQs and simulations respectively.

c. Auditing and Attestation(AUD)

In comparison to the above sections, this part is relatively shorter but considered to be most difficult by a majority of CPA US course aspirants. It comprises of different aspects of auditing and attestation in all-inclusive manner. The duration and gradation of this section is identical to the above mentioned sections.

d. Business Environment and Concepts(BEC)

This is the shortest section in the US CPA exam that covers general business concepts other than general accounting areas. Along with  the MCQs and simulations, this section also contain essay questions. Having similar exam duration, the weightage given here is MCQs (50%), simulations(35%) and essay questions(15%) respectively.

2. US CPA exam preparation

To crack the US CPA exam, one has to give full mental dedications with an all-out study mode. It is being advisable to have a study plan of 300-400 credit hours approximately. Considering the regular work plan and commitments, this can be divisible in to something like 3-4 months for each section resulting in a total study time of around 1 year to clear the US CPA exam.

3. Knowing the State wise requirements for US CPA exam

Since some variations exist in the basic requirements to be eligible for US CPA exam, a prior knowledge about this and selection of appropriate state to enroll for helps the study process accordingly.

4. CPA exam Processing

This include submission of application, arrangement and forwarding of transcripts, payment of exam fees and obtaining a Notice to Schedule(NTS). Based on above, finally to schedule the exam in the nearest prometric centers.

5. Knowing to Schedule the Exam

Being a complex exam having diverse variables, one should be cautious when scheduling the CPA exam. Instead of an exact grade, CPA exam score functions more as a percentile. So the question is will you take all 4 sections in one go?. The expert advice  is not to sign up for all 4 sections in a row irrespective of your confidence level. It is always advantageous to sign up for 2 sections at a time to effectively tackle the CPA exam.

Last but not the least, for US CPA exam, one should take advantage of a quality review/study material. This can be further supplemented by taking coaching from a premier CPA training institute.

About the top US CPA training institute in India, Africa, and Middle East – Uplift Pro

Uplift Pro is one of the top training institutes for the US CIA, US CMA, CPA US in India, Africa, and Middle East. Our team consists of seasoned professionals and entrepreneurs from IIEST, IITs, London Business School, and ULCA who have decided to provide a strong backup to young ambitious students and professionals to reach their desired career destinations in an organized way.

Uplift Pro, is an authorized partner of Gleim in India, provides you with authentic Gleim materials, updates and Live Online Interactive Classes for CPA US by internationally experienced veteran mentors. All at an Indian Cost. 

Some of our exclusive features include –

A. Affordable US CPA course fees

B. CPA certified veteran TEAM of faculties

C. Live online classes ensuring that the regular office working hours is least impacted. Also, provides class recordings to students.

D. 1:1 personal support from our 30 plus years of experienced CPA certified faculties ensuring that all our students pass the US CPA course

E. “Till you pass” guarantee assuring that you may attend our live online classes at no extra cost until you pass

F. Premium study materials with practice questions bank enabling students to pass the US CPA exam in India and rest of the world

G. Administrative guidance on US CPA evaluation procedure

H. Placement assistance

Request for Live Demo class / contact at +91-8787088850 to book your seats now.