Certification or Licensing
Tax accountants that file tax reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission must be CPAs (Certified Public Accountants). Other accountants get certified voluntarily to secure better jobs and advance their careers. Accountants must be certified in the state in which they practice accounting. To apply for the CPA exam, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree with a total of 150 semester hours of classwork, which is 30 hours more than the normal four years of college. Some schools offer five-year degree programs to meet this 150-hour requirement. In some states, practical work experience is allowed to substitute for the extra 30 hours of courses. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants administers the Uniform CPA Examination for all states. The AICPA and state accounting associations provide details on CPA exam requirements.
Tax accountants may also receive the Enrolled Agent credential from the Internal Revenue Service, which empowers them to represent taxpayers of all types before the IRS. To receive the EA designation, accountants must pass a three-part test.
- Accountants
- Audit and Assurance Accountants
- Auditors
- Bank Examiners
- Billing Clerks
- Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks
- Budget Analysts
- Chief Financial Officers
- Chief Restructuring Officers
- Credit Analysts
- Economists
- Financial Analysts
- Financial Consultants
- Financial Institution Officers and Managers
- Financial Institution Tellers, Clerks, and Related Workers
- Financial Planners
- Financial Services Brokers
- Forensic Accountants and Auditors
- Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists
- Statisticians
- Tax Managers
- Tax Preparers
