What is a CPA?

A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is a recognized expert in the field of accounting, with a deep understanding of accounting principles, tax laws, and financial reporting standards.

This professional designation is given to individuals who have met the educational, experience, and examination requirements for becoming a licensed accountant.

The requirements to become a CPA are:

• Education: a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field from an accredited college or university
• Examination: passing the Uniform CPA Examination
• Experience: a specified amount of professional experience in public accounting (typically one to two years of supervised work experience, depending on the state)
• Licensing: obtaining a license to practice as a CPA from the state board of accountancy

CPAs work in various fields, such as: 

• Public accounting, providing services such as auditing, tax preparation, consulting, and financial advisory
• Corporate accounting, overseeing financial reporting, budgeting, and compliance with accounting standards
• Government accounting, ensuring proper accounting and financial reporting practices in the public sector
• Tax consulting, providing tax planning and preparation services for businesses and individuals
• Forensic accounting, investigating financial crimes, fraud, and other irregularities

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a CPA and a regular accountant?

The main difference between a CPA and a regular accountant is the professional qualifications and licensing requirements.

CPAs have met rigorous educational, examination, and experience requirements to obtain a license to practice public accounting.

Regular accountants usually don’t have the same level of professional certification or licensing, and their scope of practice may be limited.

Is a CPA license required to work in accounting?

No, a CPA license is not required to work in accounting.

That said, it is generally preferred or even mandatory for certain positions, particularly in public accounting firms, corporations with strict compliance requirements, and government agencies. 

How does a CPA maintain their license?

To maintain the license, CPAs must meet ongoing continuing professional education (CPE) requirements set by the state board of accountancy.

CPE requirements typically involve completing a certain number of credit hours of relevant coursework or training annually or every two years.