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What Is the AICPA?The American Institute of Certified Public AccountantsThe American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is an accounting organization dedicated to the enhancement of the accounting profession.
One prominent accounting organization is called the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The AICPA was created in 1887 and exists to help its members by providing information and guidance to them and state licensing boards. The AICPA is an organization that mainly serves certified public accountants (CPAs), but also addresses issues that affect the accounting profession as a whole. The History of the AICPAThe American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) was originally formed under the name the American Association of Public Accountants (AAPA), which was then replaced by the Institute of Public Accountants in 1916, which was then renamed the American Institute of Accountants in 1917. That name held until 1957, when it was renamed the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the name it continues to hold to this day. The AICPA can trace its roots to a very small number of members when it began in the 1800s; today the AICPA has more than 300,000 members. What Is the Purpose of the AICPA?The main purpose of the AICPA is to support and improve the accounting profession. One of the main ways it does this is by developing and grading the Uniform CPA Examination, which is the exam given to accounting professionals hoping to become certified public accountants. This exam is known as one of the most rigorous professional exams a person can take. The AICPA is also responsible for helping to set certain technical standards for CPAs. The AICPA issues Statements of Position and until the responsibility was transferred to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the AICPA was responsible for setting generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The AICPA offers several publications for members that help guide the accounting profession and enhance the member’s technical and professional abilities. The AICPA also requires continuing professional education (CPE) from its members. This requirement helps professionals to keep abreast of current accounting and business issues. MembershipThe American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) has several membership categories, depending on where a person is in his or her accounting career. They offer student membership. They also offer a CPA candidate membership for individuals preparing to take the CPA exams. The AICPA offers associate membership if a person has passed all parts of the exam but is not yet certified. They also offer a regular membership for CPAs. Alternatively, the AICPA offers memberships for international members and non-CPA professionals. Sources:
The copyright of the article What Is the AICPA? in Accounting Designations is owned by Tiffany Bradford. Permission to republish What Is the AICPA? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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