...BECOMING A TEXAS CPA TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ………………………………………………………………......i INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………………….…...1 BECOMING A TEXAS CPA ………………………………………………………………..1 TEXAS UNIFORM CPA EXAM ………….…………………………………………….…..1 Requirements and Application to Sit ...……………….………………….……….…..1 Topics and Structure …………………………….……………………………………3 Rules, Testing Windows, and Sites ………….……………………………………….4 CPA EXAM PREPARATION ………………….……………………………………………4 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS …………….……………………………………………5 CONCLUSION ………………………………………………………………………………5 APPENDIX A ...………………………………………………………………………….…..6 BIBLIOGRAPHY ......………………………………………………………………………..7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report provides the requirements and steps to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Texas. In addition, it addresses the requirements to apply for and sit for the Texas Uniform CPA Exam, which details the topics covered and the structure of the exam. The report presents the rules, sites, and testing windows under which the exam can be taken. It also discusses the resources available in preparation for the exam. Finally, it includes the additional requirements to become a Texas CPA once a candidate passes the exam. The Texas State Boards of Accountancy determines the laws and rules for becoming a CPA in the state of Texas. The candidates who meet specific eligibility requirements will be issued certificates to practice public accountancy within the state. These requirements...
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...Certified Public Accountants Becoming a certified public accountant is not as easy as some people think. A certified public accountant achieves expertise beyond normal accountants, and also handles several different things. For example, a certified public accountant helps individuals or companies accounting taxes, planning financials, and reviewing financial information. Especially in today’s global economy, some certified public accountants are required to understand and master international trade laws. The career I decided to research is a certified public accountant. There are several reasons why I selected this field. First, CPAs are needed everywhere. Whether international companies, non-profit organizations, corporations, or governments, they all look for CPAs to fill in their advanced finance positions. CPAs have priority on both recruitment and promotion. Second, CPAs are paid better than accountants. According to a global recruiting agency report, the average annual income of CPAs is 10% more than accountants. Also, CPAs who work more than 5 years are paid $80-110K in public accounting firms....
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...advance further. Not only do others respect and admire your Accounting education, “CPAs achieve a level of expertise and proficiency beyond that of a “standard” accountant-proudly earning them the designation of CPA” (NASBA). While preparing for the CPA exam, you further your accounting knowledge with extensive studying of vigorous material. In addition to prestige and respect, by becoming a CPA, you stand out to potential employers. Earning your CPA proves you have the commitment to your career and will help your career advancements as well as job security. CPAs have a variety of talents that many businesses look for. Many prospective employers are interested in individuals who have knowledge in Auditing, International Financial Reporting, and Tax Advisory Services, which are all topics that are tested on the CPA exam. The CPA exam tests on IFRS and GAAP which will help enhance your knowledge in international accounting. The U.S. is in motion to prepare to adopt IFRS and this extensive knowledge will help you prepare for growing globalization and a move towards IFRS. Holding the title of CPA, coupled with international accounting knowledge, almost guarantees a higher salary. According to the 2009 Robert Half Salary Guide, a CPA license can mean a different of 10% between them and their non-licensed peers (NASBA). Furthermore, there are many unique privileges and opportunities that are available to CPAs like signing audit opinions, working for the FBI, financial consultancy, or providing...
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...Becoming a Certified Public Accountant Dwaine Holmes Eng 315 Professor Giewont August 23, 2011 INTRODUCTION I am writing this paper to find out the proper steps it takes to become a certified public accountant (CPA). I have just received my associate’s degree in business administration with minor in accounting. I am looking to start my career in accounting, so I wanted to know what are the qualifications and procedures that are needed to become a successful CPA. There are different ranks in accounting, with CPA being the highest. With that being said, I needed more information on whether I needed the certification. The basic job description of an accountant is make sure financial records are correct and true. They also have to make sure taxes are paid by state and federal guidelines. PROBLEM STATEMENT Becoming an accountant is a very hard job to achieve. It takes a lot of dedication and schooling to make it happen. In order to become an accountant, you have to obtain certification in the State you are trying to work in. Each state has its own requirements that are made up by a state board of accountancy. Therefore, trying to get licensed in Virginia may be different in another state. There are four main levels of accounting, which are public, management, and government accounting. Internal auditing is the fourth. They all do the same job, but you may be limited on what you can do as an accountant. This is very important to know if you are...
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...CGA-Canada and CPA-Australia Renew MRA Introduction The Certified General Accounting Association of Canada (CGA- Canada) just recently renewed their Mutual recognition agreement (MRA). This agreement was first created and signed in early 2008 and now that it has been renewed it will continue until 2018. The MRA offers both countries’ members’ a significant increase in where their accounting techniques are recognized (CGA-Canada). Discussion CPA-Australia’s chief executive Alex Malley stated that “The world is becoming increasingly interconnected.” “Our strategic alliance with CGA-Canada provides an important avenue for both CPAs and CGAs to grow their career in an international capacity (CGA-Canada).” Pat Keller, chair of CGA-Canada boards of directors, agreed with statement made by Alex Malley and added that the MRA is an is an important member benefit of CGA-Canada especially for those members who work internationally (CGA-Canada). These statements tie in perfectly with some of the topics that we have recently discussed in class. I strongly agree that the world is becoming more interconnected and because of this, and many other reasons, we should start pushing more towards allowing our country’s companies to use and accept International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Like the MRA, giving our companies the choice to use IFRS or US GAAP would make it much easier for our multi-national corporations to do things like consolidate their financial statements, enter...
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...Abstract The following report summarizes the requirements for becoming a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Texas. I compiled information from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, Becker Professional Education, the Texas Society of CPAs, American Institute of CPAs and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. The results of this research will prove beneficial for Llenrav Enterprises as staff accountants will save numerous hours researching the information individually and be better prepared when submitting application information needed to begin CPA examination. CPA Requirements for the State of Texas Research indicates that CPA’s earn up to 10% more than those who are not certified (Becker). Of course location, experience, education and the employer determine the overall salary. With only one year of experience a non-CPA employee can earn approximately $61,250, while a CPA can earn $67,375 in the same position. Now that I have your attention I will guide you through the process of becoming a Certified Public Accountant in Texas. Before applying for the CPA exam you must first meet educational requirements. In Texas you are required to obtain a Baccalaureate with 150 semester hours (Becker). Of the 150 semester hours, you are required to have 30 upper level hours in accounting that are above the principle level, 24 upper level business related courses and 3 hours of ethics (TSBPA). The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy requires...
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...Certified Public Accountant Process Jenna M. Stienstra Southwest Tech Abstract A certified public accountant (CPA) is an individual who has passed the very difficult CPA Exam and been licensed by one of the 50 United States or one of five other jurisdictions. The CPA license is renewed if the individuals continue to follow the state's requirements, including professional education credits. Following the process, knowing the salary difference, and understanding what CPAs do from day-to-day are all important factors. Many changes are being made to the CPA Exam in the near future, so individuals who are planning to take the exam should be aware of the changes that will be incorporated into the upcoming versions. Keywords: CPA, process, advantages and disadvantages, exam, license, salary. CPA Process Anyone who has known a CPA has probably heard how much he/ she had to study and how difficult it was to obtain a CPA license. However, even though it takes additional college education and studying to pass the CPA Exam, it is worth the effort because of the promotions, increased pay, and more credibility that are given to individuals with a CPA license. The CPA Exam is not like any other exam, and the profession does have its pros and cons, just like any other business. What is the CPA Process? Becoming a CPA requires the individual to follow four steps in a sequence. First, the person must graduate from high school. Having a General Education Development (GED) is...
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...Evaluate 3.1 Short Paper: CPA Qualifications Tameika Bennett Evaluate 3.1 Short Paper: Critical Thinking Demonstrate your critical-thinking skills by crafting an analytical essay describing all of the qualifications necessary to becoming a CPA. Use the module resources and your own research to provide specific examples. Go beyond the surface to interpret and draw conclusions based on the facts. The decision to become a CPA could be an easy one if you have a passion for the profession. Once you decide that you want to head down that path there are several things that must be done before acquiring that prestigious title behind your name. It is not an easy journey but becoming a CPA is definitely a great way to go to further your career. The CPA certification is state issued and not issued by the federal government. With that being said, the state in which you reside will determine the steps you will need to take to become a CPA and also specify what if any additional or different requirements my state New York has. Generally, there are three requirements for a CPA licensing, the three E’s: 1. Education 2. Exam 3. Experience New York also require you to have good moral character and be 21 years of age. 1. Education According the Aicpa.org website most states require 150 semester hours of schooling, which usually means you have at least a bachelor’s degree. Out of those 150 semester hours each state also requires a certain amount of accounting...
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...one of the required courses for CPA exam. Some of you may be getting ready to take the exam or considering it as your future goals. Let's use this forum to research the educational requirements, fees, areas of examination and licensing requirements for CPA exam. A CPA is a certified public account and is licensed by the state. In California, to earn the prestige associated with the CPA license, individuals are required to demonstrate their knowledge and competence by passing the Uniform CPA Exam, meeting high educational standards and completing a specified amount of general accounting experience. Being Californian, I will be required to have a bachelor’s degree, 24 semester units in accounting related subjects, 24 semester units in business related subjects, passing the uniform CPA exam, 2 years of general accounting experience supervised by a CPA with an active license, and passing an ethics course. One of the wisest investments you can make on your path to becoming a CPA is to choose a review course that works for you. Fees depend on provider and course type; self-study courses average $1,300 and live courses average $3,000. According to dca.ca.gov, Fees to be paid to the California Board of Accountancy: Initial Application Fee- $100 (Paid by an applicant who is qualifying to sit for the CPA Exam as a California candidate for the first time.) Reapplication fee- $50 (Paid by an applicant who was previously approved to sit for the CPA Exam as a California candidate.) ...
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...HOW TO BECOME A TEXAS CPA Prepared for Dr. Michael Newman By AMANDA LEOPOLD OCTOBER 21, 2015 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY…………………………………………………………………………………….……………….1 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….2 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ………………………………………………………………………………….…………2 Education…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2 Good Moral Character……………………..………………………………………………………………….3 UNIFORM CPA EXAMINATION ………………………………………………………………………………….…….3 Application & Fees…...………………………………………………………………………………………….3 Testing Windows ……..……………………..………………………………………………………………….4 Sections………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………….4 Study Prep Material.…………………………………………………………………………………………….5 OBTAINING THE CERTIFICATE …………………………………………………………………………………….…….5 CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report provides information about the steps required to become and maintain a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license in the state of Texas. A CPA license in Texas is in great demand due to the fact Texas does not have a state income tax and many wealthy people move to Texas who require attention in estate planning and income tax. Under Texas law, an individual may not practice public accountancy unless they hold a certificate issued under Chapter 901 of the Public Accountancy Act. Included in this report are the following subjects: * The requirements and steps to become a Texas CPA. * Information regarding the...
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...5-2: ZZZZ Best 1. I think that auditors should be held liable for failing to discover fraud. There are many ways the fraud could have been discovered over the years if the auditors performed an objective audit that followed rules and regulations. It is an auditor’s obligation to perform an audit with objectivity, skepticism, independence, and objectivity. Ernst & Whinney failed to meet these criteria. The auditors did not follow professional skepticism because when Minkow asked them to sign a confidentiality agreement to not follow up with any contractors, insurance companies, or building owners. This is not something to simply accept from Minkow. Ernst clearly did not perform a thorough audit and did not perform the necessary tests for reasonableness. 2. Ernst and Whinney should have seen a red flag from the start because there was an unreasonable growth in his company and he lived an extremely extravagant lifestyle. Minkow also had problems meeting his loan debt and there were many inconsistencies in ZZZZ invoices. I think that the relationship between Ernst and ZZZZ did influence the risk assessment and the work done in the audit. Because Ernst did not want to lose ZZZZ as its biggest client, the work was not done objectively. There was a bias because Ernst wanted to keep the “wiz” of wall street as a client. It created a good reputation for the audit firm. Because of this, a lot of their audit work that had to be verified. The auditors were not being professionally...
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...1. Discuss whether or not CPAs who provide accounting, taxation, and related services to small business have a responsibility to serve as the “moral conscience” of their clients. The accounting profession requires ethical behavior in order to maintain the public trust. Ethical problems and dilemma arise when there is a conflict in fulfilling the moral duties or obligations and self interest. Therefore the CPA and public accountants are required to act in the line with the standards and code of ethics. According to the Utilitarian theory the action is considered as ethical if it results in achieving the greatest good to the maximum number of people. The AICPA principle of professional conduct requires that members should act with responsibility, in public Interest, objectively and independently, with integrity and due care towards the professional and technical standards to deliver the quality services. A profession is considered as a group of specialized people who posses skill based upon their impenetrable knowledge and thus they are expected to act in the best interest of public. According to the IFAC code, the responsibility of the professional accountant is not to satisfy the needs of the employer or the client but to serve the public interest. Adhering to the above expectations and professional requirements, the CPAs should serve as the moral conscience of their clients. When the CPAs come across any activity of the client which is not ethical they should discuss the...
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...Profession Abstract The professional responsibilities of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to their clients were investigated. The responsibilities were determined by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Code of Professional Conduct. Specifically, Rule 102 regarding integrity and objectivity was used to determine what constituted as integrity and objectivity in the practice of a CPA acting as the moral conscience of their client. Rule 301 was used to determine whether information should be disclosed in the instance of fraud. Based on the information in the code of professional conduct, it was determined that CPAs have a responsibility for the greater public interest in determining the appropriate actions to be taken regarding potential fraud. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) providing services such as accounting, taxation, audit, attestation, and other related services have a responsibility to serve small businesses as a moral conscience. Small businesses are focused on growing their business. As a result, the small business has big dreams. Many times the owners of small businesses are good at doing the service they perform; however, they often prefer that licensed professionals oversee the accounting function. Although CPAs have a responsibility to their clients they are not to act as the moral conscience, rather, they should act as a moral conscience, CPAs should turn in clients who are knowingly violating laws, informants to the IRS are only...
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...Barry, J. S. (2015). The New Normal. CPA Journal, 85(3), 5. This informative journal’s purpose is to highlight the need for additional liability insurance for CPAs in public practice. Fast evolving technology poses a higher increase for data breaches. This technology along with people’s unrealistic expectations for what CPAs should be held accountable, is Barry’s reasoning for the additional insurance. To aide CPAs is preventative measures, Barry points out a new program that would decrease a CPAs insurance cost. In order to obtain this decrease they would need to take 20 hours of Risk Management courses. This short article would be beneficial for any CPA. This would be an eye opener for anyone not realizing the liability a poor computer system could cause. Considering the information, this new program should be mandatory opposed to optional. This source may bring to light the Risk Management CPE courses that are available for my boss. Most of his CPE courses are taken last minute and scheduled by our office manager, who may be unaware of these courses. Brown, T. (2015). A Primer on Data Security. CPA Journal, 85(5), 58. Data breaches are becoming a common occurrence. This article brings light to the different types of security breaches, common hacks and why...
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...a manager you have to conduct yourself professionally. Setting up a professional atmosphere is very important in building a personality for your company. Building a good professional personality for your company is all based on heredity and personal traits of each individual employee at the company. Traits such as persistence, efficiency, skills and setting high standards are all very important to business success (Robbins, 137). In the small business I work for I truly believe that the personality of our company has given our client a sense of loyalty and trust and in the end has been the bases of our longevity with our clients. My father, Raymond Regalado, CPA has been in business for thirty years now and has had some of the same clients since his then. Because of my fathers’ ethical oath he swore to when becoming a CPA, he has shown me some very important life lessons as well as ethical techniques. Our business personality is all based on these ethical traits my father embeds into our company lifestyle every day. My father is very trustworthy, our clients leave him with very personal and confidential information at times and it is securely put away. In our line of work we are entrusted with financial institutional information for our clients and in doing this we have viable information that our office needs to protect. Because of our companies professional personality our clients feel and believe in our trust and ethical...
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