Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) are like the guarantors of financial integrity and expertise for an organization. They’ve earned this certification by demonstrating an above-and-beyond commitment to ethics, professionalism, and competence in the accounting world. Organizations of all kinds rely on CPAs to communicate and mediate their financial health reports and help them interact with regulatory authorities.
Read on to find out how to secure the coveted CPA certification for yourself in the state of Texas.
Texas CPA Requirements
The process of becoming a CPA in Texas begins with a resolution to commit to the process. It’s a challenging career path, but you’re making it because you understand the many advantages involved — and you probably already have a knack for professional accounting. So be aware that Texas will require you to go through a detailed process of:
- Educational requirements
- Professional qualifications
- Ethical qualifications
Each of these has its own challenges for you to consider. There’s a voluminous amount of coursework for you to complete before you can even sit for the CPA exam, and you’ll have to pass at least four sections of the exam to be considered for certification.
In terms of the professional requirement, it involves supervised work under a licensed CPA for a period of 12 months at 40 hours per week. If you work as a part-time accountant, the requirement can be extended to 2 years to accommodate you.
In terms of the ethical requirement, it means taking an oath of office to preserve the laws of the United States and the state of Texas before becoming a CPA. You’ll have to pass an exam on the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct as well, and this examination is held apart from your actual CPA exam.
Although these can seem like a lot of hoops, it’s necessary for maintaining the seriousness and integrity of the CPA certification.
How to Become a CPA In Texas
Becoming a CPA in Texas is actually somewhat of a long process. It requires a total of 150-hours of degree work from an accredited university, as well as passing the Uniform CPA Examination. There are also professional work experience requirements for you to be aware of and fulfill.
The basic process runs like this:
- Sit for and pass the Uniform CPA Exam. This is a detailed overview of almost everything you need to know for working as a CPA in Texas. It covers the regulatory landscape CPAs work under, the process of auditing and attestation, how to create financial reports, and a lot more.
- Apply to be issued a CPA certification by the state licensing board.
- Provide confirmation of your good moral character to the state licensing board. This will include completing 3 hours of coursework on ethics for CPAs, which will go over the responsibilities and obligations integral to the profession.
- Work for at least one year as a general accountant under the supervision of a licensed CPA.
- Sit for a second examination, this time concerning ethical procedures and conduct for CPAs.
- Pay your licensing and certification fees.
- Get to work.
The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy (TXBPA) is the supervising authority for this process from start to finish. The TXBPA will validate your educational, professional, and moral qualities before issuing its CPA certification. It upholds a strict set of requirements for CPAs, requiring them to have completed:
- 2 semester hours of taxation analysis.
- 21 semester hours of advanced accounting topics.
- 24 semester hours of general accounting.
- 24 semester hours of advanced business topics.
Although this is the standard educational requirement, it isn’t necessarily absolute. The TSBPA may, at its own discretion, accept an equivalent level of education in lieu of these semester hours. However, this is the baseline educational requirement for you to be aware of before pursuing your CPA certification.
CPA Jobs
Accountants and auditors can expect steady career growth between now and 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. CPAs have a highly sought-after skill set for the global economy, particularly their unique combination of mathematical and communication skills. Their profound knowledge of finances and business accounting makes them a valuable asset for any organization looking to get ahead in the international marketplace.
What’s more, CPAs enjoy significant opportunities for career advancement. They can further specialize their skills into realms such as management accounting or internal auditing, allowing them to charge a higher price and work for more exclusive organizations. Even if some aspect of a CPA’s job becomes less relevant due to changing technologies, they can apply themselves to another specialty and continue to find employment.
CPAs can expect to spend their days doing:
- Preparing financial reports, budget reports, and more for their clients, especially for the purpose of record keeping and forecasting.
- Calculating and filing tax returns for their clients.
- Analyzing an organization’s financial health to measure their risk of an audit, a cash shortfall, or some other financial hazard.
- Offering expert-level financial advice to management about their ongoing commercial operations.
The base salary of a CPA stands at around $69,980 per year. However, this can vary significantly depending on their experience level, specialization, and the industry in which they do their work.
Remote CPA jobs
Intuit’s very own Intuit Academy provides training and actual career opportunities for those looking for remote jobs as a CPA. Work of this kind comes with a host of benefits for you, including:
- Comprehensive health insurance plans.
- Paid Sick Time
- Annual Bonuses
Remote work offers the opportunity to enhance your work-life balance by seeing your own schedules and working from the location that you prefer. Instead of coming into the office daily and enduring a tough morning commute, you can work from the comfort of your own home or a neighborhood coffee shop if you prefer.
Completing Intuit Academy’s courses opens the doors to working at Intuit and receiving these benefits. Intuit has been recognized as one of the best places to work by Fortune magazine, and they offer a host of part-time work options if you’re not ready for a full-time position yet. See below for current openings.
Tax Associate (Remote/Seasonal)
- Minimum 2 seasons of paid Tax Preparation experience, with a minimum of 30 tax returns per tax year required
- Must be willing and available to work a minimum of 20 hours per week
- Excellent customer service skills are a must, and there is an expectation to interact with customers through video and audio tools in a professional, friendly, and confident manner
- Passionate about helping clients navigate the complexities of taxation
- PTIN required
Credentialed Tax Expert (Remote/Seasonal)
- Minimum 2 seasons of paid Tax Preparation experience, with a minimum of 30 tax returns per tax year required
- Must possess an active, unrestricted credential: EA, CPA, or Practicing Attorney with strong tax preparation experience and extensive knowledge of tax laws
- Must be willing and available to work a minimum of 20 hours per week
- Excellent customer service skills required for professional and friendly interaction with customers through video and audio tools
- Active PTIN required
Business Tax Associate (Remote/Seasonal)
- Minimum 3 or more years of experience preparing federal and state business tax returns (1065 and/or 1120-S) for at least 20 clients/customers per season for compensation
- Must possess or be able to obtain any related State licenses, certificates, permits or bonds
- Commit to a minimum schedule of at least 20 hours/week (minimum 4 hour shift increments) throughout the tax season
- Strong customer service skills for interacting with customers through video and audio tools
- Active PTIN required
Business Tax Expert (Remote/Seasonal)
- Minimum 3 or more years of experience preparing federal and state business tax returns (1065 and/or 1120-S) for at least 20 clients/customers per season for compensation
- Must possess an active, unrestricted credential: EA, CPA, or Practicing Attorney with strong business tax preparation experience and extensive knowledge of tax laws
- Commit to a minimum schedule of at least 20 hours/week (minimum 4 hour shift increments) throughout the tax season
- Strong customer service skills for professional interaction with customers through video and audio tools
- Active PTIN required
QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping Expert (Remote/Year Round)
- 3+ years of bookkeeping and/or accounting experience
- 3+ years of QuickBooks Online experience
- Required Credentials/Certifications: QuickBooks Online Certification (QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor)
- Experience supporting Payroll, Sales Tax, or Tax Preparation is a plus
- Strong customer service skills for professional, friendly interaction through video and audio tools
QuickBooks Live Sr. Associate (Remote/Year Round)
- 1-3 years of bookkeeping and/or accounting experience
- Minimum 1 year of QuickBooks Online experience
- Required Credentials/Certifications: QuickBooks Online Certification (QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor)
- Strong customer service skills are essential for interacting through video and audio tools in a reassuring manner