What Is a Certified Public Accountant?

Abstract Any person who has served as a member of a state board of public accountancy can attest that an appalling number of people engaged in business do not distinguish any difference between a public accountant and a certified public accountant. The certified man has demonstrated through legally prescribed methods that he is properly and suitably prepared to serve the public in important accounting matters. The public accountant may be a capable person but he has not demonstrated such capability through the legally prescribed methods. In comparing the certified public accountant with the lawyer, it should be borne in mind that in nearly every state in the union, before taking the bar examination, a person must first complete a satisfactory course in law, usually carrying no less than four years of college work on a full time basis in some recognized college. With the growth of business enterprises, the public accountant makes a vital contribution in meeting the need for independent, impartial and expert opinions on the financial position and the results of operation. This is his unique contribution, a service which no one else offers or is qualified to perform.