| Are you working in accounting and finance in New | | | | institutions (online or offline) to get qualified. |
| York? If so, become a CPA is a great investment you | | | | There is one exception to this rule: if you have more |
| will appreciate for the rest of your career. In this article | | | | than 15 years of experience in public accounting (and |
| I am going to give you a summary on the 3 steps in | | | | that you are able to verify it), then this educational |
| becoming a CPA in New York. | | | | requirement can be waived. |
| How To Become A CPA: An Overview | | | | 2. CPA Licensing Step 2: Exam |
| First of all, you may be interested to know that the | | | | This is probably the toughest of the 3Es. Unlike the |
| CPA qualification is granted by State Boards of | | | | CPA exam requirements, the CPA Exam is |
| Accountancy and not a centralized agency at the | | | | standardized throughout the US -- in fact, you can take |
| federal level. The implication is that every state has a | | | | it anywhere in the country even if you are registered |
| slightly different CPA exam requirements and as an | | | | through New York state. |
| aspiring CPA candidate you'll have to be careful in | | | | This exam is divided into 4 parts, covering everything a |
| checking with the requirements in your state. | | | | CPA needs to know: financial accounting, cost |
| Having said that, because of the continuing effort to | | | | accounting, auditing, taxation, business ethics, business |
| standardize the CPA exam requirements across the | | | | law, information system... you name it, they have it! |
| country, many states have now become "substantially | | | | The exam is 100% computerized and you can expect |
| equivalent states" which means that the CPA licensee | | | | to get 70% from multiple choice questions and the rest |
| of this state can work as a CPA across the country | | | | from what is known as the "simulations" which is |
| without the extra registration and paperwork. | | | | essentially condensed case studies to test your |
| The good thing to know is that New York is | | | | indepth knowledge on selected subjects. There is also |
| considered one of these substantially equivalent states. | | | | 2 pieces of written communications you need to tackle |
| The 3 Requirements For CPA Licensing | | | | in which you are asked to write a business memo or a |
| In general, a candidate needs to fulfill the "3Es" in order | | | | letter to the client. |
| to obtain a CPA license: | | | | Now, don't let me scare you away -- there are many |
| - Education | | | | CPA exam review courses out there that can |
| - Exam | | | | substantially increase your chance of passing success. |
| - Experience | | | | Please take the time to pick the one most suitable for |
| And I am going to go through the 3 steps one by one. | | | | you after your CPA exam application. |
| 1. CPA Licensing Step 1: Education | | | | 3. CPA Licensing Step 3: Experience |
| In New York, CPA candidates have to obtain a | | | | In New York, after passing the CPA exam you are |
| bachelor degree or above in order to sit for the CPA | | | | expected to work for 1 year in accounting. This |
| exam. Also, they need to fulfill 150 semester hours with | | | | experience has to be verified by an active CPA |
| 33 hours of accounting classes and 36 hours of | | | | licensee and that at least 75% of your experience |
| business classes. The curriculum must also include the | | | | should be in auditing. |
| study of business / accounting communications, ethics | | | | You may learn that some states required the taking of |
| and accounting research. | | | | a "CPA Ethics Exam" after passing the CPA exam. |
| If you are not an accounting major, you can take extra | | | | This note that this is not required in New York. |
| accounting courses in any accredited educational | | | | |