Department Program Courses Registration Resources Careers The Ledger |
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CPA - CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT The right to practice public accounting as a CPA is governed by individual state statutes. While some rules regarding the practice of public accounting vary from state to state, all State Boards of Accountancy use the Uniform CPA Examination and AICPA advisory grading service as one of the requirements to practice public accounting. Every candidate should inquire of his/her State Board of Accountancy to determine the requirements to sit for the exam, e.g., education, filing dates, references, and fees. The various state boards may be found at the AICPA web site. Be sure to inquire of your state board for specific and current requirements. Many states have legislation in effect or in process to require 150 credit hours to be a CPA by the year 2000. Some states presently require 150 hours, e.g. Florida. A list of states that have passed this legislation and the effective dates may be obtained from the AICPA. In addition, after the year 2000, new members to the AICPA will be required to have completed 150 hours of education. Any student planning to practice public accounting as a CPA in one of these states must review the individual state education requirements and develop a plan for obtaining the necessary credit hours. Currently, an accountancy major graduating with a bachelor of science degree will have completed 118 hours of education. In states requiring 120 hours, the additional two credits can be obtained by successfully completing a sixth course, summer course or an independent study. In states requiring 150 credit hours, the additional 32 required hours can be fulfilled in a variety of ways, including successful completion of the master of business administration (MBA) program requirements at Providence College. It is your responsibility to identify and comply with individual state CPA requirements. Your academic advisor can provide you with additional information regarding the options available to you and can assist you in developing a program which will satisfy specific state requirements. It is possible for candidates to sit for the examination in another state as an out-of-state candidate. Candidates desiring to do so should contact the State Board of Accountancy in their home state. Addresses of all 54 Boards of Accountancy may be obtained at http://www.aicpa.org/states/info/index.htm. A frequent problem candidates encounter is failure to apply by the deadline. APPLY TO SIT FOR THE EXAMINATION EARLY. ALSO, YOU SHOULD USE EXTREME CARE IN FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION AND MAILING THE REQUIRED MATERIALS TO YOUR STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY. If possible, have someone review your completed application before mailing with check, photos, etc. Too many candidates are turned down for sitting for a particular CPA examination simply because of minor technical details that were overlooked (photos not signed on back, check not enclosed, question not answered on application, etc.) BECAUSE OF THE VERY HIGH VOLUME OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED IN THE MORE POPULOUS STATES, THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO CALL OR WRITE TO CORRECT MINOR DETAILS AND WILL SIMPLY REJECT YOUR APPLICATION. This can be extremely disappointing particularly after spending many hours in preparing to sit for a particular exam.
The CPA exam is generally given during the first week of May and November. This national examination consists of four parts: 1. Financial Accounting and Reporting, 2. Accounting and Reporting, 3. Auditing, and 4. Business Law. Most states also require a separate ethics exam. The CPA exam lasts two days and writing skills are graded in the scoring system.
CIA - CERTIFIED INTERNAL AUDITOR The CIA certification program is sponsored by the Institute of Internal Auditors, the international professional organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the practice of internal auditing. The examination consists of four parts, 1. Internal Audit Process, 2. Internal Audit Skills, 3. Management Control and Information Technology, and 4. The Audit Environment. The exam is given the second week of November and May. To obtain information about the program, including application and registration forms, write to the following address:
The Institute of Internal Auditors
CMA -CERTIFIED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation for management accounting and finance professionals offers an opportunity for advancement and is globally recognized. The goal of the CMA Program is to foster the development of management accountants and financial managers who have a strong technical background in accounting and finance, who can anticipate the needs of their organization, and participate in the decision-making process as an integral member of the management teams. The CMA examination contains four parts, 1. Economics, Finance and Management. 2. Financial Accounting and Reporting, 3. Management Reporting, Analysis, and Behavioral Issues, and 4. Decision Analysis and Information Systems. As of January 1998, the exam will be fully-electronic. Examinees will be schedule appointments to sit for the individual parts of the exam or the entire exam during specific weeks of each month. To obtain information about the CMA program, including application and REGISTRATION forms, write to the following address:
Institute of Management Accountants
The department chair has information on becoming a CMA. |
