kj_nyc, I would neither be working in Unites States nor going for any auditing/attestation job and one of the requirements to apply for licensure is that I have to be a citizen/permanent resident of United States which is not possible currently. In my home country, being a CPA has more better job prospects, thus, it should be useful.

So, do you have any idea between certificate and licensure?

The only state that you are required to be a citizen is Alabama. But that's because they are racist, so who would want to work there anyway?

Why don't you get a work visa like everyone else? Don't they have a separate chartered accountant license and exam in your home country? Why would you take the American CPA exam to work in a foreign country? Plus, if you've gone this far, you might as well apply for a license in America, even if you aren't going to use it because it will be proof of being a CPA. I think some states you lose credit for your Exam if you don't apply for licensure within a certain amount of years, depending on the state you apply in.

I'm in Maryland, not New York. But I halfs teh internets!

Let's take a vote: Who thinks Divya should apply for licensure anyway?

I say he should apply.

Divya, I think the states that require ethics exam require it only for licensure, so if you are not applying for licensure, you won't have to take it.

But I agree with CharliePapaAlfa, you should apply for licensure!  Even here in the US, you also have much better job prospects if you are a CPA (that's why I have given up so much $$ and over 3 years of my life so far - I had to go back to school for 2 1/2 years just to qualify for this exam).  You are not a CPA if you don't have a CPA license, and here, you get the advantage only if you have the CPA license, not if you merely pass the exam, don't know if it's different India.  I also have some friends from school who are from India and not US citizens or residents and who are applying for licensure.

This website from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India specifically mentions Colorado state. I'm guessing that's why you chose Colorado of all places. http://www.icai.org/resource_file/97791273.pdf