02-27-2010, 02:58 AM
Dear Noman
I am very pleased that you wanna study for CPA (AICPA). But, I think you would have to do some planning and ground work. Unless a candidate for CPA (AICPA) is a member of Canadian CA, Australian CA and CPA, New Zealand CA, ICAI (Ireland), and Mexican Accounting body, he/she would have to satisfy some requirements. These requirements are (1) Degree Requirement; from acceptable accredited college or university (2) 120/150 accredited credit hour (taken from accredited college or university) requirement INCLUDING specific number of business and accounting courses requirement, just to be eligible to write 4 CPA exams (3) Writing four CPA exams which are being conducted only within USA till date. So, till date a candidate MUST have to go there to appear in CPA exams (4) Acceptable Experience Requirement It depends whether a candidate needs âCertificateâ only or âLicenseâ. States which offers both are 2 tier States. Only some States are 2 tier (perhaps around 6, but I am not confirmed). Otherwise, if a State is not a 2 tier State, then most likely it would need âAcceptable Experienceâ to award a âcertificate or licenseâ. (5) Residency (in States) or Social Security Number (SSN) Requirement. (6) CPD hours requirement to maintain status of âcertificate or licenseâ later on.
All above requirements vary State to State, so one must have to find a State for which that candidate could satisfy ALL requirements. If he/she could not satisfy all requirements then he/she would not have âcertificate or licenseâ at the end, and whole exercise becomes fruitless. So, finding a State as per its requirements and candidateâs personal situation and âmatchingâ the two is a âmajor hurdleâ.
One very important point which I wanna explain here based on my experience is that, without hurting anyoneâs feelings, State Boards of Accountings and their âevaluatorsâ DO NOT accept courses directly taken from associations with which AICPA does not have MRA. I have mentioned above that till date AICPA has MRA only with few associations. Therefore, unfortunately it does not accept courses taken directly from CIMA, ICAEW, ICAP, or ICMAP etc. Till few months back ACCA was accepted to Colorado Board (for both educational and license requirements) but now Colorado Board of Accounting has changed its policy. So, evaluators for different States do not accept courses directly taken from ANY of associations with which that specific State Board of Accounting or AICPA does not have MRA.
However, AICPA accepts degrees and courses taken from accredited colleges or universities from all over the world. Thus, State evaluators would accept courses taken from Karachi University, Punjab University, Khairpur University, Baha Uddin University and other accredited colleges/universities, but unfortunately would not accept courses directly taken from ICMAP/ICAP or APA. So, APA achieved through exemptions is not an issue, because simply AICPA does not have MRA with APA or ICMAP/ICAP.
So, your BCom and its courses from Karachi University would be most likely acceptable, BUT would be SHORT in number of credit hours. So, you would have to do at-least bridging courses, even if your BCom is accepted equivalent to required degree (i.e. degree requirement above) of specific State of your choice. However, if that State (of your choice) did not accept length of your BCom degree then you would have to do another accredited âbridgingâ degree too like one or two year Master degree etc.
Some times satisfying experience requirement can also be a hurdle. Generally States want public accounting experience under licensed CPA (or under CA of association with which AICPA has MRA), however some States also accept industry experience. Now, some candidate opt a State which accepts industry experience but might not be able to satisfy residency or Social Security Number (SSN) requirement if that State requires SSN.
I am providing some important weblinks for your further search. You must need to visit following websites frequently.
http//www.cpanet.com/cpa_forum/default.asp
http//www.nasba.org/nasbaweb/NASBAWeb.nsf/WPHP?OpenForm NASBA conducts CPA exams for ALL Boards of Accounting
http//www.aicpa.org/yellow/ypsboa.htm Links to all Boards of Accounting and their requirements
http//www.becker.com/accounting/cpaexamreview/michigan/ Becker is the best but most expensive course material provider. Click on right hand top corner on âChoose a Stateâ to have a quick look at requirements of any specific State and to find State of your choice.
http//www.prometric.com/CPA/default.htm Prometric website to book CPA exams.
http//www.facsusa.com/ This is one of the 5 or 6 acceptable âevaluatorâ organization, who would evaluate degrees and marksheets as per requirements of State of your choice. Evaluator would let you know whether you are eligible to sit for exam or not.
I hope it helps.
Best Wishes
I am very pleased that you wanna study for CPA (AICPA). But, I think you would have to do some planning and ground work. Unless a candidate for CPA (AICPA) is a member of Canadian CA, Australian CA and CPA, New Zealand CA, ICAI (Ireland), and Mexican Accounting body, he/she would have to satisfy some requirements. These requirements are (1) Degree Requirement; from acceptable accredited college or university (2) 120/150 accredited credit hour (taken from accredited college or university) requirement INCLUDING specific number of business and accounting courses requirement, just to be eligible to write 4 CPA exams (3) Writing four CPA exams which are being conducted only within USA till date. So, till date a candidate MUST have to go there to appear in CPA exams (4) Acceptable Experience Requirement It depends whether a candidate needs âCertificateâ only or âLicenseâ. States which offers both are 2 tier States. Only some States are 2 tier (perhaps around 6, but I am not confirmed). Otherwise, if a State is not a 2 tier State, then most likely it would need âAcceptable Experienceâ to award a âcertificate or licenseâ. (5) Residency (in States) or Social Security Number (SSN) Requirement. (6) CPD hours requirement to maintain status of âcertificate or licenseâ later on.
All above requirements vary State to State, so one must have to find a State for which that candidate could satisfy ALL requirements. If he/she could not satisfy all requirements then he/she would not have âcertificate or licenseâ at the end, and whole exercise becomes fruitless. So, finding a State as per its requirements and candidateâs personal situation and âmatchingâ the two is a âmajor hurdleâ.
One very important point which I wanna explain here based on my experience is that, without hurting anyoneâs feelings, State Boards of Accountings and their âevaluatorsâ DO NOT accept courses directly taken from associations with which AICPA does not have MRA. I have mentioned above that till date AICPA has MRA only with few associations. Therefore, unfortunately it does not accept courses taken directly from CIMA, ICAEW, ICAP, or ICMAP etc. Till few months back ACCA was accepted to Colorado Board (for both educational and license requirements) but now Colorado Board of Accounting has changed its policy. So, evaluators for different States do not accept courses directly taken from ANY of associations with which that specific State Board of Accounting or AICPA does not have MRA.
However, AICPA accepts degrees and courses taken from accredited colleges or universities from all over the world. Thus, State evaluators would accept courses taken from Karachi University, Punjab University, Khairpur University, Baha Uddin University and other accredited colleges/universities, but unfortunately would not accept courses directly taken from ICMAP/ICAP or APA. So, APA achieved through exemptions is not an issue, because simply AICPA does not have MRA with APA or ICMAP/ICAP.
So, your BCom and its courses from Karachi University would be most likely acceptable, BUT would be SHORT in number of credit hours. So, you would have to do at-least bridging courses, even if your BCom is accepted equivalent to required degree (i.e. degree requirement above) of specific State of your choice. However, if that State (of your choice) did not accept length of your BCom degree then you would have to do another accredited âbridgingâ degree too like one or two year Master degree etc.
Some times satisfying experience requirement can also be a hurdle. Generally States want public accounting experience under licensed CPA (or under CA of association with which AICPA has MRA), however some States also accept industry experience. Now, some candidate opt a State which accepts industry experience but might not be able to satisfy residency or Social Security Number (SSN) requirement if that State requires SSN.
I am providing some important weblinks for your further search. You must need to visit following websites frequently.
http//www.cpanet.com/cpa_forum/default.asp
http//www.nasba.org/nasbaweb/NASBAWeb.nsf/WPHP?OpenForm NASBA conducts CPA exams for ALL Boards of Accounting
http//www.aicpa.org/yellow/ypsboa.htm Links to all Boards of Accounting and their requirements
http//www.becker.com/accounting/cpaexamreview/michigan/ Becker is the best but most expensive course material provider. Click on right hand top corner on âChoose a Stateâ to have a quick look at requirements of any specific State and to find State of your choice.
http//www.prometric.com/CPA/default.htm Prometric website to book CPA exams.
http//www.facsusa.com/ This is one of the 5 or 6 acceptable âevaluatorâ organization, who would evaluate degrees and marksheets as per requirements of State of your choice. Evaluator would let you know whether you are eligible to sit for exam or not.
I hope it helps.
Best Wishes
