accounting education

📊 Accounting & Bookkeeping Certifications

1. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

• Issuing Body: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• Country: United States
• Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field
• Exam Details: Uniform CPA Examination (four sections: Auditing and Attestation, Business Environment and Concepts, Financial Accounting and Reporting, Regulation)
• CPE Requirements: 120 hours every three years
• Website: WikipediaInvestopedia

2. Chartered Accountant (CA)

• Issuing Body: Various bodies globally (e.g., ICAEW in the UK, ICAS in Scotland, CA ANZ in Australia/New Zealand)
• Country: Varies by issuing body
• Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field
• Exam Details: Varies by issuing body; typically includes multiple exams covering financial reporting, auditing, taxation, and management
• CPE Requirements: Varies by issuing body
• Website: WikipediaInvestopedia+2Wikipedia+2The IIA+2

3. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

• Issuing Body: Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
• Country: United States
• Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and two years of professional experience in management accounting or financial management
• Exam Details: Two-part exam (Part 1: Financial Planning, Performance, and Analytics; Part 2: Strategic Financial Management)
• CPE Requirements: 30 hours annually, including 2 hours of ethics
• Website: WikipediaWikipedia

💼 Finance Certifications

4. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

• Issuing Body: CFA Institute
• Country: United States
• Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• Exam Details: Three levels of exams covering investment tools, portfolio management, and wealth planning
• CPE Requirements: Not specified; however, ongoing professional development is encouraged
• Website: WikipediaWikipediaThe IIA+1Wikipedia+1Investopedia

5. Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

• Issuing Body: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards
• Country: United States
• Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and completion of a CFP-board registered education program
• Exam Details: Comprehensive exam covering financial planning, insurance, retirement, estate planning, and taxes
• CPE Requirements: 30 hours every two years
• Website: Investopedia

🧾 Taxation Certifications

6. Enrolled Agent (EA)

• Issuing Body: Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• Country: United States
• Qualifications: Pass the Special Enrollment Examination (SEE) or have experience as a former IRS employee
• Exam Details: Three-part exam covering individual and business tax returns, representation, practices, and procedures
• CPE Requirements: 72 hours every three years
• Website: InvestopediaThe IIA+2Wikipedia+2Investopedia+2

🔍 Internal Audit Certifications

7. Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

• Issuing Body: The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
• Country: Global
• Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and two years of internal auditing experience
• Exam Details: Three-part exam covering internal audit basics, practice, and business knowledge
• CPE Requirements: 40 hours annually
• Website: The IIAThe IIA+2The IIA+2The IIA+2The IIA+5Investopedia+5The IIA+5

8. Internal Audit Practitioner (IAP)

• Issuing Body: The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)
• Country: Global
• Qualifications: Entry-level certification for those new to internal auditing
• Exam Details: Single-part exam covering foundational internal audit knowledge
• CPE Requirements: Varies; typically aligns with IIA standards
• Website: The IIAInvestopedia+3The IIA+3The IIA+3

🖥️ System Audit Certifications

9. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

• Issuing Body: ISACA
• Country: Global
• Qualifications: Five years of professional experience in information systems auditing, control, or security
• Exam Details: 150 multiple-choice questions covering information systems auditing, governance, and security
• CPE Requirements: 20 hours annually, totaling 120 hours every three years
• Website: InvestopediaInvestopediaInvestopedia

📍 Regional Recognized Certifications

10. Certified Practising Accountant (CPA)

• Issuing Body: CPA Australia
• Country: Australia
• Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field
• Exam Details: Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accounting program
• CPE Requirements: 120 hours every three years

📘 Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)

• Issuing Body: Association of Government Accountants (AGA)
• Country: United States
• Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field
• Exam Details: Three-part exam covering governmental environment, governmental accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, and performance and program auditing
• CPE Requirements: 80 hours every two years
• Website: InvestopediaInvestopedia

🕵️ Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

• Issuing Body: Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
• Country: United States
• Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and professional experience in fraud-related areas
• Exam Details: Four-part exam covering financial transactions and fraud schemes, law, investigation, and fraud prevention and deterrence
• CPE Requirements: 20 hours annually, with at least 10 hours in fraud-related topics and 2 hours in ethics
• Website: Accounting.comWallStreetMojoAccounting.com

💼 Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA)

• Issuing Body: National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA)
• Country: United States
• Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and professional experience in business valuation
• Exam Details: Comprehensive exam covering valuation theory, financial analysis, and valuation applications
• CPE Requirements: Varies; typically includes ongoing professional development
• Website: nacva.comInvestopedia+2Investopedia+2Infosec Institute+2

🧾 Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

• Issuing Body: ISACA
• Country: Global
• Qualifications: Minimum of three years of work experience in IT risk management and IS control
• Exam Details: 150 multiple-choice questions covering governance, IT risk assessment, risk response, and information technology and security
• CPE Requirements: 20 hours annually, totaling 120 hours every three years
• Website: ISACAInfosec Institute+1معهد علوم الهندسة للتدريب+1ISACA

Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)

(via CIMA – Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)

• Issuing Body:
  Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), in partnership with the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA)
• Country:
  United Kingdom (recognized globally)
• Qualification Requirements:
  • Typically requires a bachelor’s degree (not necessarily in accounting or finance)
  • Entry-level: CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting (CertBA)
  • Progression through: Operational, Management, and Strategic levels
  • Work experience: 3 years of relevant practical experience (Practical Experience Requirement)
• Exam Details:
  • 13 exams in total, including:
    • 4 Certificate level (CertBA)
    • 3 Operational
    • 3 Management
    • 3 Strategic
  • Each level has Objective Tests and a Case Study Exam
• Designation Earned:
  Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)
• CPE/CPD Requirements:
  • CIMA members must undertake at least 120 CPD hours over three years, with 20 hours minimum each year (including 10 hours verifiable)
• Website: https://www.cimaglobal.com