Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation is awarded in recognition of a professional who has achieved a level of expertise and proficiency beyond that of a “standard” accountant. It reflects years of academic and technical training, including successfully passing a rigorous CPA exam and being further tested with years of extensive on-the-job training. Although state licensing requirements vary, the minimum standard requirements include the passing of the exam and 150 semester units of college education. Continuing professional education (CPE) is also required to maintain licensure. CPA’s are typically members of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and their state CPA society.