All certified public accountants are accountants, but not all accountants are certified, public accountants.
An accountant is any person who keeps and interprets financial records. However, certified public accountants are not limited to one industry or even one job function.
In addition to maintaining and interpreting financial records, CPAs may provide additional services as a result of knowledge gained through exam preparation and continuing professional education (CPE) requirements.
According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, those who earn the CPA designation have five basic expert services.
- Advice on legal disputes
- Audit and review
- Financial planning
- Consulting services
- Tax preparation and consulting
Acquiring the Certified Public Accountant license would require proper planning, a lot of patience, and a significant amount of time.
Becoming a Certified Public Accountant also requires a commitment to continuing education even after you acquire your certification.
Certified Public Accountants are often required to complete 40 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) each year based on state government requirements.
As passing this exam and the commitment to continuing education could be tough, many in the finance and accounting fields consider this license to be one of the most popular designations available to accounting professionals.