It’s important to note, however, that CPAs must work to maintain their licensure. Meeting ongoing continuing professional education requirements and abiding by the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct are two key commitments that they must fulfill. Which is better between the two depends on your priorities, time, and cost. If you choose CPA, you will adhere to international laws, principles, and standards. It is comparatively more difficult to pass the CPA exam than any other accountancy certification.

The program aligns with the requirements for earning CPA licensure in Pennsylvania and most other states. Students can individualize the curriculum to align with their professional goals and gain other general business skills. The answer to this question depends entirely on you and on your personal situation. If you have complicated taxes that require special forms and calculations, it’s definitely worth hiring someone to complete for return for you.

CFA: Chartered Financial Analyst

Designed for working professionals, this AACSB-accredited degree prepares learners to take the CPA exam. Applicants must complete prerequisites in accounting foundations, all available online through the college’s courses for adult undergraduates. To understand the difference between accountants and CPAs, let’s start at the basic level of generating financial statements.

CPAs must also perform continuing education on a yearly basis in order to maintain their knowledge of best-practice accounting standards. Both of these paths are viable long-term career options for aspiring accounting professionals. Let’s dive deeper into the differences so you can choose which path is right for you. In fact, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics https://www.bookstime.com/accounting-and-finance (BLS), and CPA licensure data, only about 50% of accountants in the United States are actively licensed CPAs. For professionals who want to enter the accounting field, it’s common to wonder what the difference is between an accountant and a CPA. While it may seem that people use these terms interchangeably, there are distinctions between these professionals.

What’s the difference between a CPA and an Accountant?

However, when it comes to handling the finances of large, multinational firms where the numbers require utmost precision, a CPA seems more suitable. Even though regular accountants are well-versed in preparing tax returns, they may not be experienced enough to handle the tax codes. To acquire the degree, CPAs must have an advanced master’s degree and work experience. In addition, it is essential to acquire is a cpa better than an accountant 40 hours of continuing education credentials annually before a person gets their CPA certification. If you want to work for one of the Big 4 public accounting firms—Deloitte, Ernst & Young, PwC or KPMG—you will need to earn your CPA to advance past the senior level. Meanwhile, a CPA is often the one putting together or auditing the financial statements that a CFA may use when analyzing a company.

Accountants are not required to adhere to a particular code of ethics because there is no centralized body that governs the profession. CPAs are regarded as having the legal responsibility and authority to act on behalf of and in clients’ best interests. Accountants without a CPA license are not considered fiduciaries to their clients, even though they may maintain certain ethical standards.

What is better, an MBA or a master’s in accounting?

After years of work, both accountants and CPAs develop a depth of knowledge that provides a depth of insight into the inner workings of businesses. However, accountants in the U.S. are not subject to any licensure, education, or competence requirements. They may have an accounting degree, but they may have also learned their skills through informal education. Unlike CPAs, regular accountants do not need to adhere to any professional, ethical, or fiduciary standards. Nevertheless, despite some similarities, these positions have distinct functions and many unique responsibilities. Lizzette Matos is a certified public accountant in New York state.

Accountants are legally allowed to prepare tax returns, although they may not have as much knowledge of tax codes as a CPA does. Another important distinction is that CPAs can represent clients in front of the IRS in the event of a tax audit, and they can sign tax returns, whereas non-CPA accountants cannot. For businesses, CPAs also provide expanded taxation and auditing services to businesses. In addition, they help companies manage their money, taxes and investments in a manner specified by laws and regulations.