| an accountant certified by a state examining board as having fulfilled the requirements of state law to be a public accountant. Abbreviation: C.P.A. |
| certified public accountant n. Abbr. CPA A public accountant who has been certified by a state examining board as having met the state's legal requirements. |
Certified Public Accountant - CPA
A designation by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for those who pass an exam and meet work-experience requirements.
Investopedia Commentary
For the most part the accounting industry is self-regulated. The CPA is a designation designed to help ensure professional standards for the industry are enforced.
Other countries have certifications equivalent to the CPA for their region. For example, in Canada, accountants similar to the CPA are called Chartered Accountants (CA).
See also: Accountant, Accounting, Audit, Cook The Books, GAAP, International Accounting Standards (IAS)
Also spelled: CPA