The term "CPA" stands for Certified Public Accountant. That much you may already know. But just what does a CPA do?

CPAs are accountants who have earned at least a bachelor's degree from a university that has an accredited accounting curriculum, and who have taken a written examination that testifies to their knowledge of generally accepted accounting and auditing principles and standards. (In Florida, 23 colleges and universities offer accredited accounting programs and related degrees.

CPAs do many things for businesses and individuals. Essentially, they analyze and plan how money is used by businesses, nonprofit organizations, governments and individuals.

The AICPA Academic and Career Awareness Team has launched ThisWaytoCPA.com which provides college accounting students and CPA candidates a "virtual vault of accounting wisdom." The website provides a salary calculator, tools to help you find the best fit for you in this profession, an exam guide and more.

The AICPA has made preparing for the Uniform CPA Exam easier for candidates on the go with CPA Exam Aid, an extension of the “Prepare for the Exam” section of thiswaytocpa.com. The free app, which is available for both Apple and Android devices, syncs up with the user’s This Way To CPA account, so candidates don’t miss a beat. The app includes a customizable personal timeline, tips and a link to This Way To CPA’s online forum, so exam-related questions can be posed to a 30,000-member community.

Resources

Careers In Accounting

CPA Exam & Licensure