Did you believe that once you finished college with your degree in accounting you'd be done with homework forever? Or maybe you took your education further and received a post graduate degree. Surely the endless nights of studying and the ever-present stressful tests are things of the past. Aren't they?
If you have become a CPA, this is not the case. Accounting is an ever-changing industry, and in order to stay on top of it a CPA is in for a lot of studying throughout their professional careers. The industry is always evolving, and if you plan on keeping up with it, a continuing professional education (CPE) is necessary and required.
Continuing professional education is required to make sure that CPAs remain current with the developments and trends in the industry. Whenever new regulations or techniques appear (which they often do), an accountant must be aware of them and integrate them with his or her business. A CPE is the only way an accountant can keep up with the changes.
But then you say: isn't that true of any business? Isn't it simply good practice to try to stay on top of the changes in the industry? The simple answer is: yes. But there is more to it for accountants. The accounting industry is highly regulated because so many people depend on CPAs to help them with their taxes or business transactions. By requiring a certain amount of continued learning, any client can be confident their CPA is qualified to do the work.
Continuing professional education starts when you make sure the impending coursework is current with modern practices and technically accurate. It doesn't matter if you're taking the classes online or in the classroom, you should expect your instructors or providers to provide a quality learning experience to fully understand the material.
Take the time to find the program that will fill your individual needs. Many providers offer coursework in accounting, auditing, computer applications, estate planning, professional ethics, taxation, and more. Consider what you need for your continuing professional education and register for classes accordingly.
You should always expect a high standard from your chosen program. Does the provider deliver the necessary materials? Are they open and clear about their learning techniques? Will they clearly define the lesson objectives and guide you through the whole process? And do they provide you with evidence of a satisfactory completion?
When you take the time to participate in continuing professional education you will always be able to offer a quality service to your clients. You can count on word spreading about your business and new clients will continue to come to you for help.
If you have become a CPA, this is not the case. Accounting is an ever-changing industry, and in order to stay on top of it a CPA is in for a lot of studying throughout their professional careers. The industry is always evolving, and if you plan on keeping up with it, a continuing professional education (CPE) is necessary and required.
Continuing professional education is required to make sure that CPAs remain current with the developments and trends in the industry. Whenever new regulations or techniques appear (which they often do), an accountant must be aware of them and integrate them with his or her business. A CPE is the only way an accountant can keep up with the changes.
But then you say: isn't that true of any business? Isn't it simply good practice to try to stay on top of the changes in the industry? The simple answer is: yes. But there is more to it for accountants. The accounting industry is highly regulated because so many people depend on CPAs to help them with their taxes or business transactions. By requiring a certain amount of continued learning, any client can be confident their CPA is qualified to do the work.
Continuing professional education starts when you make sure the impending coursework is current with modern practices and technically accurate. It doesn't matter if you're taking the classes online or in the classroom, you should expect your instructors or providers to provide a quality learning experience to fully understand the material.
Take the time to find the program that will fill your individual needs. Many providers offer coursework in accounting, auditing, computer applications, estate planning, professional ethics, taxation, and more. Consider what you need for your continuing professional education and register for classes accordingly.
You should always expect a high standard from your chosen program. Does the provider deliver the necessary materials? Are they open and clear about their learning techniques? Will they clearly define the lesson objectives and guide you through the whole process? And do they provide you with evidence of a satisfactory completion?
When you take the time to participate in continuing professional education you will always be able to offer a quality service to your clients. You can count on word spreading about your business and new clients will continue to come to you for help.
About the Author:
Lukas Reynolds is a professional author who specializes in CPE and accounting CPE.
