11-08-2010, 02:37 AM
Dear
Every country has its own accounting qualifications. Generally speaking there are two kind of jobs i.e. Audit and Non-Audit. Audit jobs require a license of that country or State such as to work in audit job in any state you need public accounting license of that state which is in your case NC.
For non-audit jobs you don't need license but employers of that country or state know more about qualification of that country or state, so as a job requirement they need that qualification like CPA from NC in your example. Therefore, employers in any State would need CPA to work in that State, and NO OTHER QUALIFICATION. Moreover, employers in States know nothing about qualifications of other countries.
Similarly, if you wanna work in UK, you need any of ICAEW, ACCA, or CIMA from UK. Pakistan's case is little different. You must need CA of ICAP to work in audit jobs, but for non-audit jobs generally Pakistani employers accept foreign qualifications too as these have foreign tags. It is more better if a person has foreign experience too like you (would be in future) if you wanna move back to Pakistan with CPA and some US experience.
You may transfer from one qualification to another like CPA to ICAEW or CA (ICAP) etc. Check ICAEW's website. They are giving ICAEW's CA to CPAs with minimal requirements.
Going from CPA to any onther qualification is more easy than vice versa (except for Canadian CA, Australian CA, and Ireland's CA with which CPA has mutual recognition agreement).
You would have hard time with any other accounting qualification of any other country if you wanna work in USA. You must need CPA to work in USA. However, if you move out of USA, you may fulfill other country's CA institute's requirements and get that CA.
CA and CPA are just two different names of very similar qualification. Just like you say MD doctor in States and MBBS doctor in Pakistan, though both do same.
So, all depends on you, where do you wanna live in future. If you wanna be in States then do CPA. If you wanna go to UK then do any of ICAEW, ACCA, or CIMA.
I would suggest you to complete 4 years accounting degree from any US university or college. After that get a job in CPA firm as you also need some accounting experience too to complete CPA, and then do CPA. After that decide about your future. If you would want to go to any other country at that time, then move there and get your CPA transfered into that country's qualification.
Your first goal should be accounting degree at this time. You would have enough time to decide during university years and you would understand more.
I hope it helps.
Note NC striked my memory as couple of years back I got a chance to see smoky mountains (Pigeon Forge) and then crossed over till Cherokee, NC. I think its not far from Charlotte.[)]
Regards
Every country has its own accounting qualifications. Generally speaking there are two kind of jobs i.e. Audit and Non-Audit. Audit jobs require a license of that country or State such as to work in audit job in any state you need public accounting license of that state which is in your case NC.
For non-audit jobs you don't need license but employers of that country or state know more about qualification of that country or state, so as a job requirement they need that qualification like CPA from NC in your example. Therefore, employers in any State would need CPA to work in that State, and NO OTHER QUALIFICATION. Moreover, employers in States know nothing about qualifications of other countries.
Similarly, if you wanna work in UK, you need any of ICAEW, ACCA, or CIMA from UK. Pakistan's case is little different. You must need CA of ICAP to work in audit jobs, but for non-audit jobs generally Pakistani employers accept foreign qualifications too as these have foreign tags. It is more better if a person has foreign experience too like you (would be in future) if you wanna move back to Pakistan with CPA and some US experience.
You may transfer from one qualification to another like CPA to ICAEW or CA (ICAP) etc. Check ICAEW's website. They are giving ICAEW's CA to CPAs with minimal requirements.
Going from CPA to any onther qualification is more easy than vice versa (except for Canadian CA, Australian CA, and Ireland's CA with which CPA has mutual recognition agreement).
You would have hard time with any other accounting qualification of any other country if you wanna work in USA. You must need CPA to work in USA. However, if you move out of USA, you may fulfill other country's CA institute's requirements and get that CA.
CA and CPA are just two different names of very similar qualification. Just like you say MD doctor in States and MBBS doctor in Pakistan, though both do same.
So, all depends on you, where do you wanna live in future. If you wanna be in States then do CPA. If you wanna go to UK then do any of ICAEW, ACCA, or CIMA.
I would suggest you to complete 4 years accounting degree from any US university or college. After that get a job in CPA firm as you also need some accounting experience too to complete CPA, and then do CPA. After that decide about your future. If you would want to go to any other country at that time, then move there and get your CPA transfered into that country's qualification.
Your first goal should be accounting degree at this time. You would have enough time to decide during university years and you would understand more.
I hope it helps.
Note NC striked my memory as couple of years back I got a chance to see smoky mountains (Pigeon Forge) and then crossed over till Cherokee, NC. I think its not far from Charlotte.[)]
Regards