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CPA or CA ? (2 Viewers)

IronMike

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dont take my word
but according to what ive heard
CPA is what u get when u graduate with accounting major in commerce or eco degee (provided that u do all the subjects required by the CPA group)
CA is an upgrade version of CPA. After u get ur CPA, u need to gain 2 years experience in a company and then u take an major exam. if u pass this exam with satisfactory mark, u gain a CA.

hope it helps.
 

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Not quite. CPA requires external examination. They're basically the same thing, though Chartered Accountants are a little more specialised and carry a little more prestige. They're also more expensive, though a CA friend of mine said that they're just about the same so it shouldn't matter. Just pick the one that suits your own career better.
 

Rahul

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CA's are very much higher than CPA's, in terms of prestige as lexi said.

but having said that, they would be combining in the future under one name. although i cannot confirm this, my dad's work's CA told him.

check out the ICAA site. http://www.icaa.org.au/index.cfm
 

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Basically the CA organisation (can't be bothered finding out its actual name) is a LOT older. And British. :)
 

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My mother was halfway to getting CPA accreditation, but then she junked it and got her MBA. She's more of a manager than an accountant now anyway, and there is apparently more "diversity" in Operational Risk than in traditional Accounting.
 

Minai

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Yeah from what I've heard myself, CA is more prestigeous and recognised in Australia, but CPA also recognised internationally, and "gets you places"?
I'm following the CA program in my undergrad degree, then I more exams after I graduate..

its interesting should they merge...maybe in time for the harmonisation of the international accounting standards (IISB) in 2006?
 

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Hey Minai, can you tell me more about that? I'm wondering how they'll get E Asia to follow that through, especially Japan. Their accounting is nuts.
 

Minai

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Well I don't know much
our lecturers last year kept telling us "by the time you graduate, you'll all need to learn the new international accounting standards"

I'm pretty sure all the major economies of the world would shift to these standards, or risk being frowned upon in the business world. It's supposed to hopefully eliminate all those corporate collapses you hear about such as Enron, One.Tel, HIH etc due to shoddy accounting policy choice
 

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Ah, nice move World Bank!

But you can't completely prevent such things. Those collapses were the direct result of fraudulent, corrupt and undeniably BAD decisions. It's ultimately up to the guys running the show whether they want to play nice or play greed.
 

marko

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from what i know, CA's are more recognised overseas and its what you need to get into the major accounting firms (KPMG, PWC etc)
im choosing subjects which will allow me to eventually take both exams though
 

Winston

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Yeah Chartered Accountants are recognised, my sister completes her CA course in june this year.
 

Minai

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Originally posted by Winston
Yeah Chartered Accountants are recognised, my sister completes her CA course in june this year.
how many years after she graduated did she have to spend on the CA course?
 

Winston

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Originally posted by Minai
how many years after she graduated did she have to spend on the CA course?
Well soon as she finished her degree, she went into KPMG, still there, and once she worked at KPMG for a few mths, she started the CA course. Let me think, when i was in yr 11 she started to work at KPMG. so yeah...

Apparently CPA is just multiple choice based exams, and CA requires a hell of a lot more study, and i can tell judging by my sisters books, it's so much i've never seen so many books in my entire life!
 

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I disagree with the multiple choice. How are you supposed to offer internationally recognised accreditation based on what someone guessed? No, there's some significant financial analysis and study involved, though I'm not sure it's at quite the same level as CA.
 
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Kharn

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From what i've picked up from accountants they are pretty much the same as people with CPA's think CPA is better and CA's people think CA is better. I've heard an accounting lecturer say that CA is slightly better while my dad who is CPA said that CPA is much better. Basically it will be a pretty safe bet to go with either of them. For me i don't really care(as yet)
 

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