Steps to Becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

1
Steps to Becoming a Certified Public Accountant
(CPA)

• Patricia HartmanDirector of Examination
  OperationsNASBA

2
The Credential - CPA

• CPA is a credential conferred by a state or
  similar governmental jurisdiction that authorized
  the holder to practice as a a CPA in that
  jurisdiction.
• Licensing of CPAs helps to protect the public
  because only those individuals who have met the
  requirements are permitted to hold themselves out
  to the public as CPAs.

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The Credential - CPA

• There are three basic requirements that must be
  met in any state or jurisdiction to qualify for a
  CPA license Education, Examination,
  Experience
• The education experience requirements vary for
  each state or jurisdiction.
• The successful completion of the Uniform CPA
  Examination is a requirement in all 55
  jurisdictions.

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The Organizations

• The Nebraska State Board of Public Accountancy
• CPA Examination Services (CPAES)
• The National Association of State Boards of
  Accountancy (NASBA)
• The American Institute of Certified Public
  Accounts (AICPA)
• Thompson Prometric

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The Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy

• The Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy is an
  administrative an administrative branch of the
  Nebraska government.
• The Board has enacted accountancy laws governing
  the licensing of professional accountants.
• The Board issues licenses to practice, promulgate
  rules of professional conduct, investigate
  complaints, and takes disciplinary action.

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CPA Examination Services (CPAES)

• CPAES is a division of NASBA that does
  application processing, credential evaluation,
  examination administration and score reporting
  for several of the Boards of Accountancy.
• The Nebraska Board has designated CPAES as its
  agent for examination processing.
• CPAES does not regulate or issue licenses to
  practice public accountancy.

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The National Association of State Boards of
Accountancy (NASBA)

• NASBA serves as a forum for its 55 member boards
  of accountancy in the U.S. and its
  jurisdictions.
• NASBA operates the National Candidate Database
  (NCD.)
• NASBA does not regulate or govern the boards of
  accountancy.

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The American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants (AICPA)

• The AICPA is a national, professional
  organization of CPAs.
• The Board of Examiners is an executive committee
  of the AICPA with the overall responsibility of
  preparing and scoring the Uniform CPA Examination

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Thomson Prometric

• Thomson Prometric, a part of the Thomson
  corporation, is a global leader in computer-based
  testing.
• Thomson Prometric is responsible for the actual
  delivery of the examination via computer at
  established test centers nationwide.

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The Uniform CPA ExaminationThe Uniform
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Examination is
designed to assess the knowledge and skills
entry-level CPAs need to practice public
accountancy. It is a 14- hour computer-based
tests comprised of four sections

• Auditing Attestation (AUD)
• Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)
• Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
• Regulation (REG)

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The First Steps

• Decide where you want to be licensed.
• Review the specific requirements of that
  jurisdiction. Nebraskas requirements are
  available at http//www.nbpa.ne.gov/cpa.html
• Review the Uniform CPA Candidate Bulletin.
• Visit www.cpa-exam.org and take the tutorial and
  sample tests.

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The First Steps

• Obtain application materials from www.nasba.org.
• Complete and submit forms, transcripts and pay
  fees to CPAES.
• Allow 4-6 weeks for your eligibility to be
  determined.

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Next Steps

• If there are any discrepancies in your
  application materials, CPAES will notify you via
  email, telephone or U. S. mail.
• Once you are deemed eligible to take the
  examination, CPAES will transmit an Authorization
  to Test (ATT) to NASBAs National Candidate
  Database.

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Next Steps

• The information in the ATT will be cross
  referenced against all candidate records in the
  nation to ensure that candidates are not applying
  in multiple jurisdictions.
• Once the ATT is processed, the NCD generates your
  Notice To Schedule (NTS.)
• Your NTS will be sent to you via the means you
  selected on your application. Be sure to check
  all information on the NTS closely.

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Scheduling Your Examination

• Once you receive your NTS, you will contact
  Thomson Prometric to schedule your test
  appointment at your convenience.
• You can schedule via internet or telephone and
  will be given a confirmation number for your
  appointment.
• CPAES recommends that you double check your
  appointment date and time on the internet.
• Your appointment time will be 30 minutes longer
  than your examination. This time is allotted for
  the sign-in procedures and exit survey.

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At the Test Center

• Bring your NTS to the Test Center you will not
  be admitted without it.
• Bring two approved forms of identification as
  explained on the NTS.
• Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your
  appointment time.
• Write your Examination Section ID on the scratch
  paper.

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Beginning the Examination

• Once you are seated at a workstation, you will
  have a limited amount of time to enter your
  examination password.
• Once the examination is launched, you will have a
  limited amount of time to read through the
  introductory screens.
• Do not use this time to write notes or reminders
  on your scratch paper.
• If you exceed the time allowed to log in and read
  the introductory screens, the examination will
  terminate and cannot be restarted. You will
  forfeit your appointment and all fees paid.

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During the Examination

• Be sure to read and follow directions closely.
• Report any problems to the Test Center
  Administrator (TCA).
• Dont allow yourself to become distracted as long
  as you are able to continue testing.

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During the Examination

• The examination consists of several sections or
  testlets. You will be able to review questions
  in any testlet but you will not be able to go
  back to a testlet once you have exited from it.
• You may take a break between testlets, however,
  your examination time is still running, so use
  your time wisely.

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At the End of Your Examination

• The examination is timed, so if you exhaust all
  available time, you will be presented with a
  warning that your time has expired.
• You can quit the examination at any time during
  your appointment, but once you quit the
  examination, it cannot be restarted and you will
  be required to leave the testing center.

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After the Examination

• If you encounter any difficulties or have any
  concerns after completing your examination,
  please contact NASBAs Candidate Care Department
  via email at candidatecare_at_nasba.org.
• If you have questions regarding the content of
  the examination, please contact the AICPA via fax
  at 201-938-3443 .

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Scoring

• At the end of your testing event, Prometric will
  transmit your result file to the AICPA for
  scoring.
• The AICPA will then score your examination and
  release the advisory score to NASBA.
• NASBA will match your score to your candidate
  record, generate a score notice and forward that
  information to CPAES.
• CPAES will ensure that the information is
  complete and accurate, then release the score
  information to candidates at www.nasba.org and
  through the U. S. mail.

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Reexamination Registration

• Once your eligibility for the examination has
  been determined and you have been issued an NTS,
  you will be able to register for additional
  sections via telephone or internet.
• As a Reexamination candidate, you will not be
  required to submit an application or transcripts.
• You will still be required to submit a State
  Board Form, which can be obtained from CPAES.

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Reexamination Registration

• If you received a failing score and wish to
  retake that section or if you want to take
  additional sections of the exam, you will need to
  register as a reexamination candidate.
• To register as a reexamination candidate, call
  1-800-CPA-EXAM or visit our website at
  www.nasba.org.

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Completing the Examination Process

• Once you have successfully completed the CPA
  Examination, you will be sent a letter regarding
  further steps in the process to become a CPA.
• You will be required to complete the AICPA
  Professional Ethics for CPAs examination.

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Examination Credit

• The AICPA releases Advisory Scores. The Nebraska
  Board determines if you receive credit for a
  passing score.
• Once credit is granted, it is valid for eighteen
  (18) months from the actual test date.
• Candidates must pass all four sections of the CPA
  Examination within that eighteen (18) month
  period or the credit will expire and candidate
  will have to retake that section.

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Completing the Examination Process

• You will then apply for a certificate from the
  Nebraska State Board of Public Accountancy.
• You will then be issued a permit to practice and
  will be required to complete 4,000 hours over two
  years of verified experience with a licensed CPA
  in a licensed CPA firm.
• After meeting the experience requirement, you
  will apply for your permit and will be authorized
  to use the CPA designation.

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Websites Email Addresses

• www.nasba.org
• www.cpa-exam.org
• www.prometric.com/cpa
• www.nol.org/home/BPA
• Candidatecare_at_nasba.org
• CPAES-NE_at_nasba.org
• cpaexam_at_nasba.org

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Important Numbers

• 1-800-CPA-EXAM (CPAES)
• 1-866- MY- NASBA ( NASBA)
• 1-800-580-9648 (Prometric Scheduling)
• 1-800-347-3781 (Prometric Security)
• 1-800-853-6769 (Prometric Customer Care)
• 201-938-3443 (AICPA Exam Team Fax)

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Nebraska Requirements

• Be a resident of Nebraska or
• Have a place of business in Nebraska or
• Be regularly employed in Nebraska.
• AND
• Meet the educational requirements as outlined at
  www.nasba.org

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Nebraskas Educational RequirementsSuccessful
completion of at least 150 semester (225
quarter) hours of postsecondary academic credit
and earned a baccalaureate or higher degree from
a college or university to include

• 30 semester (45 quarter) hours in accounting
  above the introductory level (subjects to be
  covered include financial accounting theory,
  cost/managerial accounting, taxation, auditing,
  accounting information systems, and
  governmental/not-for-profit accounting)AND
• 36 semester (54 quarter) hours in general
  business subjects (subjects to be covered include
  macroeconomics, microeconomics, business law,
  marketing, management, finance, business
  communication, business ethics, quantitative
  applications in business, and principles of
  accounting).

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Nebraskas Educational Requirements

• Business law courses qualify only towards the 36
  semester hours in general business and may not be
  counted to fulfill the accounting requirement.
• Credit earned at a two-year institution is
  acceptable only when transferred into a
  regionally accredited four-year university and
  the credit is applied towards the applicant's
  degree.
• Credit earned after conferral of a baccalaureate
  degree must be completed at a four-year
  institution.