Audit and Assurance Accountants

Certification or Licensing

Many audit and assurance accountants are certified. Certification is required of all accountants who file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many accountants become certified to improve their job prospects and to grow their business. Accountants are certified by their state's board of accountancy. State requirements for certification vary, but what is universal is that accountants must pass a national exam. To qualify, they must have completed 150 semester hours of college course work; this is more hours than most bachelor's degrees. Students may enroll in a five-year bachelor's degree program to meet the 150-hour requirement. Some states allow accounting work experience to substitute for college degree requirements. Many states also require licensure candidates to have completed 2,000 working hours that have been verified by a licensed CPA. Check with your state's board of accountancy or the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) Web site (https://www.thiswaytocpa.com) for CPA requirements for your state. In 2024, the AICPA launched a revised CPA examination. Candidates must complete three core sections: Auditing and Attestation, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Taxation and Regulation. Then they select one discipline from the following categories: Business Analysis and Reporting, Information Systems and Controls, and Tax Compliance and Planning. The AICPA says that "new content has also been added throughout the exam to test on relevant topics of emerging technology and financial planning." Visit https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/download/learn-what-it-takes-to-become-a-cpa to learn more about the examination.

In addition to the CPA credential, accountants may receive certification offered through professional associations to further their careers. For example, the Institute of Management Accountants awards the certified management accountant designation to applicants who meet experience and educational requirements, have passed a two-part exam, and who agree to meet continuing education requirements. The Institute of Internal Auditors offers the certified internal auditor credential to internal auditors who meet experience/education requirements and who pass a three-part exam.