The gold standard in accounting. Issued by AICPA (aicpa-cima.com) — required to sign audit opinions in the US. 4-part exam covering Auditing, Accounting, Regulation, and Business.
CPA – Certified Public Accountant is a senior-level credential best pursued once you already have hands-on experience in this field — it validates depth employers screen for at senior and lead levels, with typical compensation in the $70K–$130K range.
The gold standard in accounting. Issued by AICPA (aicpa-cima.com) — required to sign audit opinions in the US. 4-part exam covering Auditing, Accounting, Regulation, and Business.
Key topics covered: Auditing & Attestation (AUD), Business Analysis & Reporting (BAR), Tax Compliance & Planning (TCP), Information Systems & Controls (ISC), Financial Accounting & Reporting, Regulation & Ethics.
Best suited for: Accounting graduates and professionals targeting audit, tax, or financial advisory careers.
Common career paths: Certified Public Accountant, Audit Manager, Tax Director, CFO.
Accounting graduates and professionals targeting audit, tax, or financial advisory careers.
Full step-by-step roadmap coming soon. See the roadmap page for updates.
Certified Public AccountantAudit ManagerTax DirectorCFO
The gold standard in accounting. Issued by AICPA (aicpa-cima.com) — required to sign audit opinions in the US. 4-part exam covering Auditing, Accounting, Regulation, and Business. offered by AICPA / NASBA, focused on Finance & Accounting.
CPA – Certified Public Accountant is issued by AICPA / NASBA.
CPA – Certified Public Accountant is classified as Advanced-level. It generally assumes several years of hands-on professional experience.
The CPA – Certified Public Accountant exam costs $1,000–$2,000. Always confirm current pricing on the official AICPA / NASBA certification page, as fees change periodically.
Professionals holding CPA – Certified Public Accountant commonly report compensation in the $70K–$130K range, though actual pay varies by employer, geography, and total experience.
CPA – Certified Public Accountant is categorized under Finance & Accounting on CertPlanet, alongside other related certifications you can compare directly.
That depends on your current experience level and goals — as an Advanced-level credential, it's a significant time investment best suited to professionals who already have hands-on experience and want formal recognition for it.
See the dedicated comparison page for CPA – Certified Public Accountant to view it side-by-side against alternative certifications in Finance & Accounting.
Registration happens directly through AICPA / NASBA's official certification portal, linked from this page.
A structured, step-by-step study roadmap for CPA – Certified Public Accountant is available on this site, built around the exam's actual focus areas rather than a generic study checklist.