Certified Public Accountant vs. Accountant
What is the difference between a Certified Public
Accountant (CPA) and an accountant?
Your doctor is certified. You lawyer is certified. Shouldn’t your accountant be certified?
Most people use the terms "accountant" and "CPA" interchangeably, but there is a big difference. While all CPAs are accountants, not all accountants are CPAs. The CPA credential carries enormous weight in business and financial circles. CPAs are considered some of the business world's most trusted advisers.
This trust is not surprising considering the strict requirements to enter and stay in the profession. Achieving CPA status takes intelligence, ethics, integrity, and lifelong commitment.
The rigorous process to become a CPA is referred to as the three Es:
- Education: a minimum of 150 hours of college education
- Examination: the Uniform CPA Exam, one of the most challenging exams of all professions. This is a series of four consecutive tests which must be passed within one year of each other
- Ethics: taught in accounting courses and a component of one of the CPA exams.
In addition, every year a CPA must complete 40 hours of continuing professional education to keep up with the new rules and regulations in the financial, accounting, and business world.
When you partner with fk
advisors, you will work with well-qualified CPAs who have met all the aforementioned requirements. Our CPAs are fully equipped to meet the unique needs of your business and to chart the pathway for continued success. Furthermore, they help create new financial opportunities, help diversify investments, and find other outlets through which to magnify your wealth.
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