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Steps to Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

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Title: Steps to Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)


1
Steps to Becoming a Certified Public Accountant
(CPA)
  • Patricia HartmanDirector of Examination
    OperationsNASBA

2
The Credential - CPA
  • CPA is a credential conferred by a state or
    similar governmental jurisdiction that authorized
    the holder to practice as a a CPA in that
    jurisdiction.
  • Licensing of CPAs helps to protect the public
    because only those individuals who have met the
    requirements are permitted to hold themselves out
    to the public as CPAs.

3
The Credential - CPA
  • There are three basic requirements that must be
    met in any state or jurisdiction to qualify for a
    CPA license Education, Examination,
    Experience
  • The education experience requirements vary for
    each state or jurisdiction.
  • The successful completion of the Uniform CPA
    Examination is a requirement in all 55
    jurisdictions.

4
The Organizations
  • The Nebraska State Board of Public Accountancy
  • CPA Examination Services (CPAES)
  • The National Association of State Boards of
    Accountancy (NASBA)
  • The American Institute of Certified Public
    Accounts (AICPA)
  • Thompson Prometric

5
The Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy
  • The Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy is an
    administrative an administrative branch of the
    Nebraska government.
  • The Board has enacted accountancy laws governing
    the licensing of professional accountants.
  • The Board issues licenses to practice, promulgate
    rules of professional conduct, investigate
    complaints, and takes disciplinary action.

6
CPA Examination Services (CPAES)
  • CPAES is a division of NASBA that does
    application processing, credential evaluation,
    examination administration and score reporting
    for several of the Boards of Accountancy.
  • The Nebraska Board has designated CPAES as its
    agent for examination processing.
  • CPAES does not regulate or issue licenses to
    practice public accountancy.

7
The National Association of State Boards of
Accountancy (NASBA)
  • NASBA serves as a forum for its 55 member boards
    of accountancy in the U.S. and its
    jurisdictions.
  • NASBA operates the National Candidate Database
    (NCD.)
  • NASBA does not regulate or govern the boards of
    accountancy.

8
The American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants (AICPA)
  • The AICPA is a national, professional
    organization of CPAs.
  • The Board of Examiners is an executive committee
    of the AICPA with the overall responsibility of
    preparing and scoring the Uniform CPA Examination

9
Thomson Prometric
  • Thomson Prometric, a part of the Thomson
    corporation, is a global leader in computer-based
    testing.
  • Thomson Prometric is responsible for the actual
    delivery of the examination via computer at
    established test centers nationwide.

10
The Uniform CPA ExaminationThe Uniform
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Examination is
designed to assess the knowledge and skills
entry-level CPAs need to practice public
accountancy. It is a 14- hour computer-based
tests comprised of four sections
  • Auditing Attestation (AUD)
  • Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)
  • Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
  • Regulation (REG)

11
The First Steps
  • Decide where you want to be licensed.
  • Review the specific requirements of that
    jurisdiction. Nebraskas requirements are
    available at http//www.nbpa.ne.gov/cpa.html
  • Review the Uniform CPA Candidate Bulletin.
  • Visit www.cpa-exam.org and take the tutorial and
    sample tests.

12
The First Steps
  • Obtain application materials from www.nasba.org.
  • Complete and submit forms, transcripts and pay
    fees to CPAES.
  • Allow 4-6 weeks for your eligibility to be
    determined.

13
Next Steps
  • If there are any discrepancies in your
    application materials, CPAES will notify you via
    email, telephone or U. S. mail.
  • Once you are deemed eligible to take the
    examination, CPAES will transmit an Authorization
    to Test (ATT) to NASBAs National Candidate
    Database.

14
Next Steps
  • The information in the ATT will be cross
    referenced against all candidate records in the
    nation to ensure that candidates are not applying
    in multiple jurisdictions.
  • Once the ATT is processed, the NCD generates your
    Notice To Schedule (NTS.)
  • Your NTS will be sent to you via the means you
    selected on your application. Be sure to check
    all information on the NTS closely.

15
Scheduling Your Examination
  • Once you receive your NTS, you will contact
    Thomson Prometric to schedule your test
    appointment at your convenience.
  • You can schedule via internet or telephone and
    will be given a confirmation number for your
    appointment.
  • CPAES recommends that you double check your
    appointment date and time on the internet.
  • Your appointment time will be 30 minutes longer
    than your examination. This time is allotted for
    the sign-in procedures and exit survey.

16
At the Test Center
  • Bring your NTS to the Test Center you will not
    be admitted without it.
  • Bring two approved forms of identification as
    explained on the NTS.
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your
    appointment time.
  • Write your Examination Section ID on the scratch
    paper.

17
Beginning the Examination
  • Once you are seated at a workstation, you will
    have a limited amount of time to enter your
    examination password.
  • Once the examination is launched, you will have a
    limited amount of time to read through the
    introductory screens.
  • Do not use this time to write notes or reminders
    on your scratch paper.
  • If you exceed the time allowed to log in and read
    the introductory screens, the examination will
    terminate and cannot be restarted. You will
    forfeit your appointment and all fees paid.

18
During the Examination
  • Be sure to read and follow directions closely.
  • Report any problems to the Test Center
    Administrator (TCA).
  • Dont allow yourself to become distracted as long
    as you are able to continue testing.

19
During the Examination
  • The examination consists of several sections or
    testlets. You will be able to review questions
    in any testlet but you will not be able to go
    back to a testlet once you have exited from it.
  • You may take a break between testlets, however,
    your examination time is still running, so use
    your time wisely.

20
At the End of Your Examination
  • The examination is timed, so if you exhaust all
    available time, you will be presented with a
    warning that your time has expired.
  • You can quit the examination at any time during
    your appointment, but once you quit the
    examination, it cannot be restarted and you will
    be required to leave the testing center.

21
After the Examination
  • If you encounter any difficulties or have any
    concerns after completing your examination,
    please contact NASBAs Candidate Care Department
    via email at candidatecare_at_nasba.org.
  • If you have questions regarding the content of
    the examination, please contact the AICPA via fax
    at 201-938-3443 .

22
Scoring
  • At the end of your testing event, Prometric will
    transmit your result file to the AICPA for
    scoring.
  • The AICPA will then score your examination and
    release the advisory score to NASBA.
  • NASBA will match your score to your candidate
    record, generate a score notice and forward that
    information to CPAES.
  • CPAES will ensure that the information is
    complete and accurate, then release the score
    information to candidates at www.nasba.org and
    through the U. S. mail.

23
Reexamination Registration
  • Once your eligibility for the examination has
    been determined and you have been issued an NTS,
    you will be able to register for additional
    sections via telephone or internet.
  • As a Reexamination candidate, you will not be
    required to submit an application or transcripts.
  • You will still be required to submit a State
    Board Form, which can be obtained from CPAES.

24
Reexamination Registration
  • If you received a failing score and wish to
    retake that section or if you want to take
    additional sections of the exam, you will need to
    register as a reexamination candidate.
  • To register as a reexamination candidate, call
    1-800-CPA-EXAM or visit our website at
    www.nasba.org.

25
Completing the Examination Process
  • Once you have successfully completed the CPA
    Examination, you will be sent a letter regarding
    further steps in the process to become a CPA.
  • You will be required to complete the AICPA
    Professional Ethics for CPAs examination.

26
Examination Credit
  • The AICPA releases Advisory Scores. The Nebraska
    Board determines if you receive credit for a
    passing score.
  • Once credit is granted, it is valid for eighteen
    (18) months from the actual test date.
  • Candidates must pass all four sections of the CPA
    Examination within that eighteen (18) month
    period or the credit will expire and candidate
    will have to retake that section.

27
Completing the Examination Process
  • You will then apply for a certificate from the
    Nebraska State Board of Public Accountancy.
  • You will then be issued a permit to practice and
    will be required to complete 4,000 hours over two
    years of verified experience with a licensed CPA
    in a licensed CPA firm.
  • After meeting the experience requirement, you
    will apply for your permit and will be authorized
    to use the CPA designation.

28
Websites Email Addresses
  • www.nasba.org
  • www.cpa-exam.org
  • www.prometric.com/cpa
  • www.nol.org/home/BPA
  • Candidatecare_at_nasba.org
  • CPAES-NE_at_nasba.org
  • cpaexam_at_nasba.org

29
Important Numbers
  • 1-800-CPA-EXAM (CPAES)
  • 1-866- MY- NASBA ( NASBA)
  • 1-800-580-9648 (Prometric Scheduling)
  • 1-800-347-3781 (Prometric Security)
  • 1-800-853-6769 (Prometric Customer Care)
  • 201-938-3443 (AICPA Exam Team Fax)

30
Nebraska Requirements
  • Be a resident of Nebraska or
  • Have a place of business in Nebraska or
  • Be regularly employed in Nebraska.
  • AND
  • Meet the educational requirements as outlined at
    www.nasba.org

31
Nebraskas Educational RequirementsSuccessful
completion of at least 150 semester (225
quarter) hours of postsecondary academic credit
and earned a baccalaureate or higher degree from
a college or university to include
  • 30 semester (45 quarter) hours in accounting
    above the introductory level (subjects to be
    covered include financial accounting theory,
    cost/managerial accounting, taxation, auditing,
    accounting information systems, and
    governmental/not-for-profit accounting)AND
  • 36 semester (54 quarter) hours in general
    business subjects (subjects to be covered include
    macroeconomics, microeconomics, business law,
    marketing, management, finance, business
    communication, business ethics, quantitative
    applications in business, and principles of
    accounting).

32
Nebraskas Educational Requirements
  • Business law courses qualify only towards the 36
    semester hours in general business and may not be
    counted to fulfill the accounting requirement.
  • Credit earned at a two-year institution is
    acceptable only when transferred into a
    regionally accredited four-year university and
    the credit is applied towards the applicant's
    degree.
  • Credit earned after conferral of a baccalaureate
    degree must be completed at a four-year
    institution.
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