Directory

New Accountants Guide to Certifications

By James G Swearingen, Ph.D., CPA, Professor of Accounting at Weber State University, Ronald M. Mano, Ph.D., CPA, CFE,
Professor of Accounting and former Department Chair at Weber State University and Sandra Swearingen, CPA, Assistant
Professor at Weber State University
In 1997, the authors conducted a study
driven by curiosity and a desire to provide
information for students to see how many
professional certifications were available to
accounting majors. At that time, fifteen certifications were identified.
Four years later, in 2001, the prior study
was replicated and at that time, 32 certifications were identified.
The current study, conducted in 2009

Certificate

again replicates the prior two studies. In this

study, 74 certifications are identified. Below
is a summary of the certification, the sponsoring organization and the website.
Certifications in the area of information
technology are specifically excluded since
to include them would have increased the
number well into the hundreds. Hopefully this
study will help accounting professionals and
students as they consider possible certifica-

tions. It should also be helpful for professors

as they advise students as well as assisting
those already in practice as they contemplate
additional certification options.

The full study documenting the education requirements, experience, examination and
continuing professional education (CPE) requirements may be found on the New Accountant
website, www.NewAccountantUSA.com, please
click on White Paper tab.

Sponsoring Organization

Web Site

AAMS

Accredited Asset Management Specialist

College for Financial Planning

www.cffp.edu

ABA

Accredited Business Accountant

Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation

www.acatcredentials.org

ABV

Accredited in Business Valuation

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

www.aicpa.org

ACP

Associate Computing Professional

Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals

www.iccp.org

AEP

Accredited Estate Planner

National Association of Estate Planners and Councils

www.naepc.org

AES

Automated Examination Specialist

Society of Financial Examiners

www.sofe.org

AFE

Accredited Financial Examiner

Society of Financial Examiners

www.sofe.org

AIC

Associate in Claims

American Institute for CPCU and Insurance Institute of America

www.aicpcu.org

ARM

Associate in Risk Management

American Institute for CPCU and Insurance Institute of America

www.aicpcu.org

ARM-P

Associate in Risk Management for Public Entities

American Institute for CPCU and Insurance Institute of America

www.aicpcu.org

ASA

Accredited Senior Appraiser

American Society of Appraisers

www.appraisers.org

ATA

Accredited Tax Advisor

Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation

www.acatcredentials.org

ATP

Accredited Tax Preparer

Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation

www.acatcredentials.org

AVA

Accredited Valuation Analyst

National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts

www.nacva.com

CAE

Certified Association Executive

American Society of Association Executives

www.asaecenter.org

CASL

Chartered Advisor for Senior Living

The American College

www.theamericancollege.edu

CB

Certified Bookkeeper

American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers

www.aipb.org

CBA

Certified Bank Auditor

Bank Administration Institute

www.bai.org

CBM

Certified Business Manager

Association of Professionals in Business Management

www.apbm.org

CCE/A

Certified Cost Estimator/Analyst

Society of Cost Estimating and Analysis

www.sceaonline.net

CCP

Certified Computing Professional

Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals

www.iccp.org

CCSA

Certified in Control Self-Assessment

Institute of Internal Auditors

www.theiia.org

CCTS

Certified Corporate Trust Specialist

American Bankers Association, Institute of Certified Bankers

www.aba.com/ICBCertifications

CDFA

Certified Divorce Financial Analyst

Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts

www.institutedfa.com

CDFM

Certified Defense Financial Manager

American Society of Military Comptrollers

www.asmccertification.com

CEA

Certified Estate Advisor

National Association of Financial and Estate Planning

www.nafep.com

CEBS

Certified Employment Benefits Specialist

International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plans

www.ifebp.org

CEP

Certified Environmental Professional

The Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals

www.abcep.org

CFA

Chartered Financial Analyst

Chartered Financial Analyst Institute

www.aimr.com

20 New Accountant

Certificate

Sponsoring Organization

Web Site

CFC

Chartered Financial Consultant

Institute of Financial Consultants

www.ifconsultants.org

CFE

Certified Fraud Examiner

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

www.acfe.com

CFE

Certified Financial Examiner

Society of Financial Examiners

www.sofe.org

CFFA

Certified Forensic Financial Analyst

National Ass. of Certified Valuation Analysts Financial Forensics Institute

www.nacva.com/

CFIRS

Fiduciary and Investment Risk Specialist

Cannon Financial Institute

www.cannonfinancial.com

CFM

Certified in Financial Management

Institute of Management Accountants

www.imanet.org

CFP

Certified Financial Planner

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards

www.cfp.net

CFSA

Certified Financial Services Auditor

Institute of Internal Auditors

www.theiia.org

CGAP

Certified Government Auditing Professional

Institute of Internal Auditors

www.theiia.org

CGFM

Certified Government Financial Manager

Association of Government Accountants

www.agacgfm.org

CHE

Certified Healthcare Executive

American College of Healthcare Executives

www.ache.org

ChFC

Chartered Financial Consultant

The American College

www.theamericancollege.edu

CHFP

Certified Healthcare Financial Professional

Healthcare Financial Management Association

www.hfma.org

CIA

Certified Internal Auditor

Institute of Internal Auditors

www.theiia.org

CIDA

Certified Investments and Derivatives Auditor

Investment Training and Consulting Institute

www.investci.com

CIRA

Certified Insolvency and Reorganization Accountant

Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors

www.airacira.org

CIRM

Certified in Integrated Resource Management

APICS

www.apics.org

CISA

Certified Information Systems Auditor

Information Systems Audit and Control Association

www.isaca.org

CISM

Certified Information Security Manager

Information Systems Audit and Control Association

www.isaca.org/cism

CISP

Certified IRA Services Professional

American Bankers Association, Institute of Certified Bankers

www.aba.com/ICBCertifications

CISSP

Certified Information Systems Security Professional

International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium

www.isc2.org

CITP

Certified Information Technology Professional

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

www.aicpa.org

CLF

Chartered Leadership Fellow

The American College

www.theamericancollege.edu

CLU

Chartered Life Underwriter

The American College

www.theamericancollege.edu

CMA

Certified Management Accountant

Institute of Management Accountants

www.imanet.org

CPA

Certified Public Accountant

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

www.aicpa.org

CPCU

Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter

American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Society

www.aicpcu.org

CPEA

Certified Professional Environmental Auditor

Board of Environmental, Health, & Safety Auditing Certifications

www.beac.org

CPFO

Certified Public Finance Officer

Government Finance Officers Association

www.gfoa.org

CPIM

Certified in Production and Inventory Management

APICS

www.apics.org

CPM

Certified Public Manager

Florida Center for Public Management, Florida State University

www.fcpm.fsu.edu

CPP

Certified Payroll Professional

American Payroll Association

www.americanpayroll.org

CQA

Certified Quality Auditor

American Society for Quality

www.asq.org/certification/

CRA

Certified Risk Analyst

American Academy of Financial Management

www.financialcertified.com

CrFA

Certified Forensic Accountant

American College of Forensic Examiners Institute

www.acfei.com

CRSP

Certified Retirement Services Professional

American Bankers Association, Institute of Certified Bankers

www.aba.com/ICBCertifications

CTFA

Certified Trust and Financial Advisor

American Bankers Association, Institute of Certified Bankers

www.aba.com/ICBCertifications

CTP

Certified Treasury Professional

Association for Financial Professionals

www.afponline.org

CVA

Certified Valuation Analyst

National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts

www.nacva.com

EA

Enrolled Agent

Internal Revenue Service

www.irs.gov/taxpros/agents

FCPA

Forensic CPA

Forensic CPA Society

www.FCPAS.org

GVA

Government Valuation Analyst

National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts

www.nacva.com

PFS

Personal Financial Specialist

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

www.aicpa.org

REBC

Registered Employee Benefits Consultant

The American College

www.theamericancollege.edu

RHU

Registered Health Underwriter

The American College

www.theamericancollege.edu

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