caper wrote: As a CPA who is living in Canada, I completely concur with your friend that CPA is much easier than a CA.

I seriously question your comments about the difficulty level of CA over CPA.

1. Perhaps, Canadian CA requirements are more structured, but comes down to same process. Did you get your CPA license without meeting experience requirement? US doesn't require you to be attached with a CPA firm, but that doesn't make US CPA easier.

2. Have you looked at the educational requirement, before applying for the CPA exam? content of the exam?

I am sure if US CPA was easier, employers would not hire candidates with  a substandard professional designation and Canadian CA's would have preference over US CPA's in the job market.

Imagine the following scenario; to be able to sit for the exam in New York you must to be employed with one to the 43 CPA firms that are approved by the NY board of accountancy.

These 43 CPA firms have on average 2500 yearly openings.

Any student who wants to be a CPA is competing for one of the openings. It doesn't matter if there are 1000 accounting grads or 1 million, there are only 2500 available spots.

No job = no CPA exam = bye bye to your dream of becoming a CPA

The other weakness of the US Certified Public Accountant is that many States accept industry experience. Might as well change the name to Certified Practising Accountant like in Australia.

Also, one year experience is not enough.

late bloomer wrote: 2. Have you looked at the educational requirement, before applying for the CPA exam? content of the exam?

Most States require 24 credit units in accounting, 24 credit units in business subjects and the frivolous 150 credit hour rule.

Its way more beneficial for a CPA to have an extra year of public accounting experience than taking the extra 30 credit hours.

late bloomer wrote: I am sure if US CPA was easier, employers would not hire candidates with  a substandard professional designation and Canadian CA's would have preference over US CPA's in the job market.