Ineligible for US CPA? Even if you currently don’t meet the eligibility criteria, it’s still helpful to understand the growing demand and benefits of the course.
After the pandemic, restrictions have been lifted and professionals are once again exploring opportunities to work and earn abroad. The demand for international courses is at an all-time high. With the finance and accounting industry growing rapidly, many students interested in this field are now opting for professional courses that offer a global advantage. Among these, the US CPA course stands out as one of the most popular options. Often referred to as the “black belt” in accounting, the US CPA course is gaining immense recognition worldwide.
A course conducted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), US CPA 1 to 1.5 year-long course with four examinations on Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Regulation (REG), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC). Each paper is about 4 hours long and comes with a mix of multiple-choice questions and task-based simulations.
What is the CPA Certification?
The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification is a prestigious qualification in accounting issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). It is recognized globally and validates a professional’s expertise in areas like auditing, taxation, and financial reporting. A CPA license can open doors to high-paying roles in multinational companies.
US CPA Eligibility for Indian Graduates
Indian graduates, especially those with a B.Com or a commerce-related degree, can apply for the US CPA exam. However, since a 3-year Indian degree usually provides only 90 credits, students may need additional qualifications like an M.Com, MBA, or CA to meet the 120-credit requirement.
CPA Eligibility for Indian Students After 12th
Students who have completed 12th grade cannot directly pursue the US CPA course. They first need to complete a bachelor’s degree and accumulate 120 credit hours. Postgraduate degrees or professional courses like CA can help bridge the gap if needed.
US CPA (Education)
To become a qualified CPA, the AICPA, NASBA, and the jurisdictions of America have a criterion for three essential categories.
- Education: A bachelor’s degree or a credit score of 120 in the field of commerce.
- Exam: The board requires you to complete all 4 papers of the US CPA exam within a window of 18 months.
- Experience: Based on the jurisdiction you choose to work in, you need to have at least 1 year of relevant work experience.
Coming to the education criteria of US CPA, as per the US’s ‘120-hour credit rule’ which quantifies to 30 hours per year, most Indian students often tend to get stuck. Since the US has a 4-year bachelor’s program (4 x 30 = 120 hours) and India has a 3-year bachelor’s program (3 x 30 = 90 hours) Indian students often fall under the eligibility criteria.
Solution: If you are a B.Com student already pursuing a CA degree, you can easily qualify for the US CPA exam. Another way to fit into the criteria is to pursue a 2 years Master’s program. Taking M.Com, in that case, would prove to be a boon for you since the subjects overlap with that of US CPA.
US CPA Eligibility (Examination)
After meeting the basic education requirement, the next step is meeting the examination requirement. After completing the 120 credit hours, it’s time to find a jurisdiction where you qualify easily. Send your mark sheets and Indian transcripts to an international credit evaluation agency. Your evaluation depends on where you’ve completed your education from. For Indian-international students who’ve studied in the US, there’s no evaluation required. But for Indian students studying in India, there’s an evaluation process.
Similarly, for US students studying abroad, an evaluation for US CPA is mandatory. Make sure that you double-check all your documents before sending them for evaluation. NASBA has the contact information of each and every accounting board.
Solution: There is a basic charge that you need to pay for your professional evaluation. This could range anywhere from $100 to $400. The cost also varies on the evaluation required, the cost of a general diploma evaluation is way lesser than that of a course-by-course evaluation.
Some jurisdictions also provide pre-evaluation as a service that helps you identify which courses you are currently lacking in order to appear for your examination.
US CPA Eligibility (Experience)
The minimum experience requirement often comes off as the greatest roadblock when applying for US CPA. The work experience required for US CPA is about a year. However, when it comes to experience ‘relevance’ and ‘verification’ plays an important role. For Indian students, only if you’ve worked under US CPA for a year, will your experience be counted.
Solution: While experience is mandatory for many states in America, it doesn’t necessarily have to be public accounting experience. It could also be an experience in related domains such as taxation or academic teaching.
We hope that with this detailed explanation your doubts regarding the US CPA eligibility have been answered. However, since it can be a complicated process to get through, you’ll need a coaching institute that helps you through every step of the process, from application to placement. Apply for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) through Zell Education or simply get in touch with our experts with a click the WhatsApp icon.
CPA Exam Eligibility
Once you meet the education criteria (120 credits), you must send your academic transcripts for evaluation through an international credential evaluation agency approved by NASBA. After the evaluation, you can apply to take the US CPA exams based on the jurisdiction you qualify for.
How to Check CPA Exam Eligibility
You can check your CPA exam eligibility by sending your transcripts to an authorized evaluation agency. They will assess your credits and inform you whether you meet the requirements. Some agencies also offer pre-evaluation services to highlight the additional courses or credits you may need.
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FAQs on Ineligible For US CPA
What is the minimum eligibility for the US CPA course?
The minimum eligibility for US CPA is a graduation degree with a total of 120 credit scores.
Can a BA student pursue US CPA?
A BA student can pursue US CPA if they complement their degree with a postgraduate degree in accounting or an MBA.
How can I get the extra 30 credits for US CPA?
If you’ve cleared your B.Com in the first go from a NAAC-A accredited university, you will be awarded extra 30 credits making you eligible for the US CPA course.
Can I pursue CPA after 12th?
No, you must complete a bachelor’s degree first. CPA requires a minimum of 120 credit hours, which you can achieve through graduation and, if necessary, additional qualifications.
How do I calculate my eligibility credits?
Generally, one year of study equals 30 credits. In India, a 3-year B.Com provides 90 credits. You can add more credits through a master’s degree or professional courses like CA to reach the 120-credit mark.
