Quitting CA to Pursue US CPA? Things You Must Know

Prestigious certifications that improve a candidate's prospects to pursue bigger and better opportunities are often the driving force behind their academic journey. The globally recognized US Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification is one such assurance. As one of the top certifications in the business and accounting space, CPA opens diverse avenues for finance professionals. This highly revered certification is administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. Therefore, it is no wonder many students want to pursue CPA over Chartered Accountant (CA) studies. If you are contemplating quitting CA to pursue the CPA course, here's all you need to know.

 

Key Takeaways

• Quitting CA to Pursue US CPA

• Why Opt for US CPA Qualification?

• Should You Prefer a CPA Over a Chartered Accountant

• Should You Opt for an online US CPA course

Why Opt for US CPA Qualification?

While CPA and CA are similar certifications, they are not the same. Pursue CPA certification to grow to great heights in your accounting and finance career. The rewards of pursuing the CPA certification over that of a CA are incomparable. A CPA is an advantageous certification that can fetch you good career opportunities, a huge pay package, and the chance to be a part of a giant accounting firm. You must pass the rigorous US CPA examination to enjoy these benefits. 

The CPA course covers:

• Financial reporting and accounting
• Financial auditing
• Financial attestation
• Financial regulation
• Important business concepts

Students learn about accounting principles, tax laws, professional standards, and ethics in these areas. On clearing the CPA paper, certification holders can explore careers such as:

• Budget analyst
• Tax examiner
• Business systems analyst
• Staff financial accounting and reporting
• Staff internal audit
• Controller
• Compliance auditor
• Corporate accountant
• Tax accountant

Should You Prefer a CPA Over a Chartered Accountant(CA)?

Choosing between a CPA and a CA certification depends on various factors, such as how complicated the courses are, the time to complete the course, global versus domestic exposure, job opportunities after completing the course, the size of the pay package, and more. 

CPA and CA have their challenges. CPA is demanding, and how you will pull it off depends on your determination, resilience, and preparation before the examination. But the effort is worth it!

Here are some reasons that make CPA a better choice than chartered accounting:

1. Firstly, USA CPA is an internationally recognized professional course popular in the US and other English-speaking countries. Unlike the CA qualification, it is given a lot of importance worldwide. CA is an Indian certification valued mainly in India and some Middle Eastern countries.
2. Further, students can complete a CPA course in 7 to 12 months. A CA course takes 4 to 5 years to complete, even if you pursue it diligently. The time needed for CPA is also less, as you need to clear just one paper. On the other hand, courses like CA have three levels that you need to pass.
3. At least 1-year experience in finance or accounting is a must to get a license as a Certified Public Accountant. You must have at least a 3-year article under a CA firm for a CA license.
4. You can take CPA papers online, whereas CA mandates an offline exam. The CA assessment is conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in India (ICAI).
5. The overall passing percentage for the CPA exam is higher than the CA exam.

Feature	CPA	CA
Definition	Certified Public Accountant	Chartered Accountant
Recognition	Internationally recognized	Recognized majorly in India, the Middle East, and a few other countries
Offering Institutions	American Institute of Certified Public Accountants	Institute of Chartered Accountants in India
Cost	Expensive	Less costly than CPA
Salary	Generally higher than CA	Generally lower compared to CPA
Difficulty	Generally perceived as less difficult	Generally perceived as more difficult
Duration	Minimum: 12 months Maximum: 18 months	Minimum: 4-5 years
Exam Mode	Online	Offline
Articleship Requirement	Not applicable	Mandatory for a minimum of 3 years under a CA firm
Exam Structure	One-time online exam	CPT, IPCC/IPCE, Article-ship, and Final Exam
Coverage of Accounting Standards	Covers IFRS and US GAAP	Covers GAAP

Should You Opt for an online US CPA course?

You can get several benefits when you enroll in an online coaching center that offers assistance with the USA CPA exam course preparation.
Personalized Learning Experience

The best online CPA coaching centers have advanced learning management systems to help you get personalized learning experiences. They allow you to access targeted study materials customized to your individual preferences. 

Find your weak areas where you need to put in more effort and get honest feedback from your mentor. With the help of tips and suggestions from experienced instructors, you can get a tailored learning journey that lets you utilize your potential to the fullest while mastering the course syllabus.

High-Quality Learning Resources

Online coaching centers allow you to access interactive learning modules, practice question papers, video lectures, and other high-quality study materials as you pursue the CPA USA course. The expert CPA instructors curate all these resources and design these study materials in an easy-to-grasp way while covering the entire syllabus of the exam. 

You can get updated study materials and supplementary resources that improve your understanding of various complex concepts in finance and accounting.

Community Support and Networking Opportunities

Online CPA coaching is virtual, and you can benefit from a sense of community and collaboration with virtual study groups, chat rooms, and discussion forums. It is easy to interact with peers, seek support throughout your exam preparation journey, and share insights. 

Through these networking opportunities, you can improve your knowledge. The students get motivated and emotionally charged to overcome the challenging days of preparing for the examination.

Valuable mentorship 

When a student gets the best academic assistance, it helps him move toward his career goals. A true mentor teaches, motivates, and guides students. It is not only the rich knowledge-sharing process that allows students to learn quickly and deliver better, but the personalized confidence-boosting sessions matter. They can discuss things related to stress, anxiety, exam fear, and distraction. 

Flexibility and Convenience

Above all, you can get unparalleled convenience and flexibility with online coaching centers designed to help you with your CPA studies. 

You can find it easier to balance your busy life with CPA exam preparation.

Conclusion

Conferred by AICPA USA, CPA is the right course to build a career in finance and management accounting. Online US CPA coaching can be useful to get complete knowledge about the course topic and pass your CPA exam quickly. You can choose the esteemed online CPA coaching center NorthStar Academy, the #1 choice for thousands of students who intend to become top US CPA professionals, domestically or internationally. With top-grade support, guidance, and tips from M Irfat Sir, you can easily pass your CPA paper and work in the US as a Certified Public Accountant. Enrol with NorthStar Academy today!