Colin is a practicing CPA with over 14 years of experience in various accounting and finance roles. Manager level at a Big-4 firm, he now works as a freelance consultant while helping others pass their professional exams. Most members will be best suited in one of the “Staff” tiers, whereas the “Partner” tier is better suited for seasoned accounting professionals and aicpa meaning those looking for expanded access and practice-building resources. Regardless of which membership tier you select, you’ll get access to a range of quality CPE and discounts on various AICPA courses and other products. It carries out its mission and objectives through the volunteer work of approximately 2,000 members who serve on a governing council, board of directors, boards, committees, subcommittees, and task forces.

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In 2011, the AICPA and CIMA launched the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation to enhance management accounting expertise worldwide. The AICPA and NASBA also coordinate Mutual Recognition Agreements with overseas accounting firms to facilitate reciprocal credentialing. Agreements presently exist with Ireland, Canada, Hong Kong, Mexico, Scotland, and New Zealand. Accountants from these countries who meet certain eligibility criteria can sit for the International Qualification Examination (IQEX), rather than the standard CPA exam, to be certified to practice in the USA. The board of directors, which is the executive committee of the council, provides leadership in meeting objectives established.

It also provides resources, technical updates, and policy recommendations to ensure CPAs remain compliant with evolving accounting standards. The AICPA was founded in 1887 as the American Association of Public Accountants (AAPA). Over the years, it underwent several name changes before adopting its current title in 1957. The organization’s purpose has always been to establish and maintain high professional standards in accounting, ensuring the integrity of financial reporting and the public’s trust in CPAs. The AICPA’s influence extends across various areas, including financial reporting, auditing, taxation, business consulting, and forensic accounting. Whether you are a student considering a career in accounting, an aspiring CPA, or an experienced professional, understanding the role of the AICPA can provide valuable insights into the accounting profession and the responsibilities of CPAs.

Member firms demonstrate their commitment to quality by signing on and complying with membership requirements. There are many Certified Public Accountants who want to become a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). To accomplish this, one must have been successful in having sat the Uniform CPA examination, received a Certified Public Accountant’s license, and was successful in fulfilling all requirements of the AICPA and CPE. Candidates must have relevant work experience in the field of accounting often ranging from one to two years of supervised work experience under a licensed CPA. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.

• The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct provides a comprehensive framework guiding accountants in making decisions that uphold the profession’s integrity, addressing independence, objectivity, and confidentiality.
• Instead of paying hourly or hiring in-house staff, businesses can now access professional bookkeeping on a fixed monthly or annual subscription model.
• The AICPA prepares comment letters on technical proposals while contributing professional feedback for legislation that directly impact the accounting profession.
• It is a professional trade group that represents the interests of certified public accountants (CPAs) in the United States.
• The AICPA also conducts the CPA examination, creates training materials used for continuing professional education, sets ethical standards to be followed by CPAs, and publishes periodicals dealing with tax and accounting issues.

Auditing and Attestation (AUD)

In order to achieve CPA status, there are prerequisites including specific educational work, work requirements, and passing the CPA exam. If you work in a public accounting firm then your employer probably pays for your AICPA membership. If you’re in industry or self-employed though, you may find yourself researching which AICPA membership is right for you. The AICPA regularly monitors legislative efforts and emerging issues that could have an impact on accounting practices and standards. Moreover, state CPA societies and other organizations collaborate with AICPA to disseminate information for educating local, state, and federal policymakers about accounting issues. The AICPA was originally founded in 1887 as the American Association of Public Accountants (APAA), and today serves the largest trade organization in the world for professional accountants, with more than 430,000 members from 145 countries around the globe.

Accounting Principles Board (APB)

AICPA as an educational body attracts those individuals interested in accounts to obtain a designation of Certified Public Accountant (CPA). A person interested in becoming a member of AICPA must meet the eligibility criteria and qualify for the CPA Examination. The AICPA plays an essential role in the accounting profession, from developing the CPA Exam and setting ethical standards to providing continuing education and industry advocacy. As the largest professional accounting organization in the U.S., it ensures that CPAs maintain high levels of expertise, integrity, and professional conduct. The AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) is the US’s organization of Professional CPAs (Certified Public Accountants). Furthermore, the AICPA is a very influential body of professional accountants, and they combine the skills and expertise of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

Resources

The AICPA provides a vast library of CPE courses and conferences for members to support their ongoing training and career development. Members often receive discounts of 25% or more on various CPE courses and publications issued by AICPA. Over the course of a career, these discounts can more than easily exceed the cost of membership.

• AICPA plays a major role in advancing the accounting profession and supporting the professional development of CPAs.
• Moreover, the group publishes the monthly Journal of Accountancy as well as newsletters—The Practicing CPA and The CPA Letter —for its membership.
• The components of the center are the Audit Committee Toolkits (corporate, not-for-profit, and government), Audit Committee Matching System, Audit Committee e-Alerts, and a bank of materials containing information for and about audit committees.
• From its inception in 1887 to the 1970s, the AICPA was the only organization that established generally accepted technical and professional standards for CPAs in a variety of disciplines.

In the first 10 years after reorganization, the institute grew from 1,150 to 2,064 members. A number of its members formed the American Society of Certified Public Accountants in 1921 to emphasize the importance of the CPA certificate, but this group rejoined the institute in 1936, bringing the membership to 4,890. The institute eventually stopped giving its examination for admission, accepting members on the basis of what became a uniform CPA examination. More recently, the AICPA partnered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), the agency that issues the CPA exam, to transform the CPA licensure process. The CPA Evolution Initiative created a new testing method to earn a CPA license, focusing on compliance and planning, business analysis and reporting, and information systems and controls. Beyond standard setting, the AICPA engages in advocacy on behalf of its members and the accounting profession.

Although the SEC governs publicly traded companies, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) has the responsibility for making sure privately traded companies toe the line. Someone may apply for regular membership in the AICPA if they previously held a Certified Public Accountants’ license barring that the license was not revoked because of a disciplinary action taken against them. Subsequent iterations included the Institute of Public Accountants in 1916 and the American Institute of Accountants in 1917. The American Society of Public Accountants, created in 1921, was later merged into the American Institute of Accountants in 1936, at which time, the Institute chose to restrict future membership to CPAs. The AICPA is integral to rule-making in the CPA profession and serves as an advocate for legislative bodies and public interest groups.

Despite all these developments, the AICPA and the CIMA still continue to provide all of their previous benefits to existing members. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is a non-profit professional organization representing certified public accountants (CPA) in the United States. Modern bookkeeping services go beyond basic record-keeping, offering CFO-level insights that help businesses improve cash flow, optimize expenses, and make data-driven financial decisions. Strategic bookkeepers provide real-time financial intelligence, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and ensure businesses remain audit-ready and investor-friendly. By leveraging advanced bookkeeping services, businesses can enhance profitability, improve budgeting, and navigate tax compliance with greater confidence—all without hiring a full-time CFO. From its inception in 1887 to the 1970s, the AICPA was the only organization that established generally accepted technical and professional standards for CPAs in a variety of disciplines.

AICPA sets generally accepted professional and technical standards for CPAs in multiple areas. In the 1970s, however, it transferred its responsibility for setting generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to the newly formed Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Following this, it retained its standards setting function in areas such as financial statement auditing, professional ethics, attest services, CPA firm quality control, CPA tax practice, business valuation, and financial planning practice. Before passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley law, AICPA standards in these areas were considered „generally accepted” for all CPA practitioners. It is a professional trade group that represents the interests of certified public accountants (CPAs) in the United States. The AICPA also conducts the CPA examination, creates training materials used for continuing professional education, sets ethical standards to be followed by CPAs, and publishes periodicals dealing with tax and accounting issues.

The responsibilities of approving the nominations fall to the AICPA Board of Directors. The American Association of Public Accountants resisted efforts by federal government agencies in 1907 and 1914 to introduce uniform accounting rules. At the request of the Federal Trade Commission, the AIA issued, in 1917, a memorandum on balance-sheet audits that became a model for the preparation of financial reports for commercial and industrial enterprises. Such an authoritative statement on acceptable auditing procedures had become necessary because of the growing reliance of banks on audited financial statements for credit purposes.

Assembly of Financial Statements

While the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is primarily responsible for setting Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in the U.S., the AICPA provides guidance and recommendations on accounting issues. The AICPA also works with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) to establish reporting standards for government entities. On behalf of its members, the AICPA monitors and advocates on legislative and other matters that affect the accounting profession.

How many times can a candidate retake a CPA exam?

Within the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), different areas such as consulting, education, government, and business and industry are represented by its members. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is an association that was established in 1817 with the responsibility for developing and grading the Uniform Certified Public Accountants examination. To receive certification as a Certified Public Accountant in the United States of America then one must pass the CPA exam. The examination is challenging, so not everyone who takes the exam gets to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). The association is non-profit and boasts over 418,000 members, making it the largest CPA association in the world.