Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a professional who specializes in providing financial and accounting services, including tax preparation and auditing, to individuals and businesses, helping ensure financial records are accurate and in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
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Last Updated: December 22, 2025
A certified public accountant (CPA) is a professional who has met state licensing requirements for CPA designation. This designation pertains to accounting and finance.
This business professional can perform many advanced duties pertaining to finances. A CPA is a trusted advisor who assists businesses, individuals, and organizations strategize and reach their financial goals.
All CPAs are accountants, but not all accountants are CPAs. Certified public accountants are educated as accountants, then advance their training by preparing for the CPA exam.
Once an accountant has passed the certification exam they will need to complete a certain number of continuing education hours each year to ensure that they remain current with all new advancements in the accounting profession.
Each state has different requirements for CPA certification. Most require individuals to obtain a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field prior to sitting for the Universal CPA exam. Most states also require an additional year of accounting-focused education to become licensed. This is referred to as the “150-Hour Rule,” which means the individual needs 150 credit hours (roughly five years) of full-time equivalent study. Some states may also have a residency or citizenship requirement.
Each state or jurisdiction has its own board of accountancy or equivalent governing body that determines eligibility and issues licenses. Completing 1 to 2 years of relevant work experience may also be necessary.
After passing the Universal CPA exam and completing all licensing requirements, certified public accountants must complete a certain number of continuing education hours each year. In many states and jurisdictions, this is approximately 40 hours annually.
Certified public accountants have more flexibility in the tasks they are able to perform because of advanced training. These may include:
Duties may vary depending on the needs of the client or business.
Business owners need to ensure that their company maintains accurate financial records. Depending on the size of the business and the complexity of its accounting needs, an entrepreneur may or may not choose to hire a certified public accountant.
A CPA can be a great asset for both startups and established legal entities like LLCs and corporations. These professionals can do much more than just file business taxes. A certified public accountant can prepare a company’s financial statements, offer bookkeeping services, and help the company set up an accounting system that suits its unique needs.
Another important certified public accountant advantage is their ability to help a company budget and forecast cash flow. This information allows a business owner to make better decisions about the direction of their business and where to invest for growth. A CPA can also handle payroll services.
There is really no disadvantage to having a trained financial professional on the company payroll. That said, some of the smallest businesses with very simple accounting needs may not need to hire a CPA just yet; these businesses might benefit from outsourcing bookkeeping and tax filing instead of keeping a CPA on the payroll.
The certified public accountant definition pertains to a professional delegation of certification in the area of accounting and finance.
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Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. For specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by ZenBusiness Editorial Team
The ZenBusiness Editorial Team has more than 20 years of combined small business publishing experience and has helped over 850,000 entrepreneurs launch and grow their companies. The team’s writers and business formation experts are dedicated to providing accurate, practical, and trustworthy guidance so business owners can make confident decisions.
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