Certified Accounting Paraprofessional (CAP) Overview

Accounting Paraprofessionals Earn $39,750 to $59,250 Annually

Want to Work for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Firm?

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For information on accounting paraprofessionals and CPA firms, go to Accounting Paraprofessionals and CPA Firms.

Become a Certified Accounting Paraprofessional (CAP)

The Certified Accounting Paraprofessional license is America's #1 accreditation for accounting paraprofessionals.

Accreditation

The Certified Accounting Paraprofessional license is accredited by the National Association of Certified Accounting Paraprofessionals (NACAP). The license is recognized throughout the United States and its properties.

Communicate Accounting Knowledge, Skill, Experience, and Ethics

The Certified Accounting Paraprofessional license assures CPA firm employers and their clients of your accounting knowledge, skill, experience, and ethics.

Overview

The Certified Accounting Paraprofessional license is the premier accreditation for accounting paraprofessionals working for CPA firms providing bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, and tax services to individuals and small businesses. The license allows you to place "CAP" behind your name and assures employers and clients of your accounting knowledge, skill, experience, and ethics.

The nationally recognized Certified Accounting Paraprofessional license helps you:

• Distinguish yourself,
• Build credibility,
• Validate accounting knowledge,
• Demonstrate accounting skill,
• Verify accounting experience, and
• Confirm professional ethics.

The Certified Accounting Paraprofessional license validates your knowledge, skill, and experience in:

• Accounting,
• Accounting Principles,
• Payroll,
• QuickBooks, and
• Tax.

You obtain and maintain your Certified Accounting Paraprofessional license by:

1. Passing a five-part exam,
2. Verifying bookkeeping education and experience,
3. Agreeing to abide by a professional code of conduct, and
4. Maintaining 24 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) each year.

Requirements

1. Pass the five-part Uniform Certified Accounting Paraprofessional Examination,
2. Possess an associate or bachelor's degree in accounting or complete the Education Alternative,
3. Possess one-year (2,000 hours) of bookkeeping or accounting experience,
4. Agree to abide by the Code of Professional Conduct,
5. Obtain 24 hours of CPE credit each year, and
6. Complete and submit the Application for Licensure.

Education Alternative

If you do not possess an associate or bachelor's degree in accounting, you may substitute the requirement by passing the following courses:

1. Accounting Fundamentals
2. Accounting Principles
3. Payroll Fundamentals
4. QuickBooks Fundamentals (Desktop) or QuickBooks Online Fundamentals
5. Tax Fundamentals

CAP Application for Licensure

You should not complete the CAP Application for Licensure (Application) until you have passed the Uniform Certified Accounting Paraprofessional Examination, possess an associate or bachelor's degree in accounting or completed the Education Alternative, and agree to abide by the CAP Code of Professional Conduct. The 24 hours of CPE credit annual requirement begins once you obtain your CAP license.

The Application is available as a downloadable, fillable PDF file. PDF reader software, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, is needed to view or print the document. The Reader is available as a free download from the Adobe website.

To download the Reader, click here.

To access the Application, click Certified Accounting Paraprofessional Application for Licensure.

Application Fee Payment

To pay the fee, click the Order button below.

$100

Questions?

If you have any questions or need assistance, please Contact Us.