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Strong Demand, Growing Momentum Seen for U.S. CPA Exam at International Test Sites

NEW YORK and NASHVILLE, TN (August 29, 2012) –The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) this month marked a successful first year since the launch of the U.S. CPA Examination at test sites in Japan and the Middle East.

"Historically, there has been strong demand for the U.S. CPA Exam in Japan and the Middle East, which is one of the key reasons we selected these locations to debut international administration of the Exam last year," said Craig Mills, AICPA vice president of examinations and CPE. "We have been very pleased with the level of interest from candidates in the first year of international administration of the CPA Exam and hopefully that momentum will continue to build in the coming years."

International administration of the Exam is offered in English and is the same as the U.S. Exam administered by the AICPA, NASBA, and Prometric in the United States.  The Exam is available to candidates at test centers administered by Prometric.

Colleen Conrad, CPA, NASBA Executive Vice President & COO

"The positive response from international exam candidates is a direct reflection of the first year's success of the administration of the U.S. CPA Examination in international locations," said NASBA Executive Vice President & COO Colleen Conrad.  "Thousands of aspiring CPAs are now afforded the opportunity to become U.S. CPAs in the same manner as candidates who reside in the United States."

The Uniform CPA Exam was made available to candidates in Bahrain, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates in August 2011– the first time in history it has been administered outside of the United States and its jurisdictions. Previously, international candidates were required to travel to the U.S. to sit for the Exam.

"The ability to sit for the U.S. CPA Exam in their home market provides tremendous benefits to candidates in Japan, improving convenience, reducing costs and allowing candidates to dedicate their attention to their studies," said Hiroshi Miyamasu, of the Japan Society of U.S. CPAs (JUSCPA), a nationwide organization of U.S. CPAs who are principally employed or reside in Japan.

Licensure requirements for international candidates are the same as for U.S. CPA candidates. Along with passing the Uniform CPA Examination, international candidates must meet educational and experience requirements as mandated by U.S. Boards of Accountancy. International candidates who pass the exam also agree to obtain a certificate/license through a participating Board of Accountancy with the signing of the informed consent form. Once candidates pass the Exam, they have three years to obtain their U.S. CPA license.

"The U.S. CPA license is a clear sign of an individual's expertise and commitment, and with the Exam now administered in Japan we foresee further growth in demand from both candidates and employers," said Miyamasu.

In the United States, Boards of Accountancy have the legal authority to award the U.S. CPA license. Applications may be made through certain U.S. Boards of Accountancy offering eligibility for international candidates. A list of participating Boards of Accountancy and information about fees is posted on the NASBA website.

An international testing FAQ sheet is available at the AICPA Uniform CPA Examination website.

About NASBA
Celebrating 104 years as the trusted resource for regulation and professional services, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) serves as a forum for the nation's state boards of accountancy, which administer the Uniform CPA Examination, license more than 650,000 certified public accountants and regulate the practice of public accountancy in the United States. NASBA's mission is to enhance the effectiveness of state boards of accountancy in meeting their regulatory responsibilities. The Association promotes the exchange of information among the accountancy boards, serving the needs of the 55 U.S. jurisdictions.   

NASBA is headquartered in Nashville, TN, with a satellite office in New York, NY, and a Computer Testing Center and International Call Center in Guam.

About AICPA
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is the world's largest member association representing the accounting profession, with nearly 386,000 members in 128 countries and a 125-year heritage of serving the public interest.  AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education and consulting.

The AICPA sets ethical standards for the profession and U.S. auditing standards for audits of private companies, nonprofit organizations, federal, state and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination and offers specialty credentials for CPAs who concentrate on personal financial planning; fraud and forensics; business valuation; and information technology. Through a joint venture with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), it has established the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation to elevate management accounting globally.

The AICPA maintains offices in New York, Washington, DC, Durham, NC, and Ewing, NJ.

Media representatives are invited to visit the AICPA Press Center.

See Full Media Advisory
AICPA and NASBA Mark Successful First Year of International Administration of U.S. CPA Exam

Contact:

NASBA
Thomas Kenny
Office: (615) 880-4237
[email protected]
AICPA
James Schiavone
Office: (212) 596-6119
[email protected]
 

 

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