License? There are couple of state that are 2 tiers, which means I could obtain a CPA Certificate before I get all my experience requirements to get a License. If I get a certificate I could put on my resumme I'm a CPA. And, explain that I"m not allowed to sign attest engaments .

I, open to public accounting, corporate accounting, and goverment. So for me a license is not completely necessary (unless of course I get hired by a public accounting firm).

The downside of getting a certificate (and not a license) is that

-I have indicate i have a cpa from another state.

- i have to explain that I cannot sign attest engagement. People who are not familiar with 2 tier systems may get confused.

Do you guys thing is worth to get a Certificate from another state? or should I just wait to get the work experience to comply with the experience and get my license in CA???

The unemployment is too high, so I was thinking that a CPA certificate would help me to land interviews?

Thanks a lot!

wannabe wrote: No, the states i'm looking into ask you what state you sat for the CPA exam. They want a letter from the state you took the cpa exam to verify that you passed all the sections. I guess the biggest hurdle is with the potential emplyers. Would they confused about license vs certificate? do they know the difference?

I'd like to know the answers to those questions, specifically, as well.  Which states offer this as an alternative?

It's an interesting option, because I've talked to so many people lately who once they take the exam and get some experience, let their licenses expire anyway.  Is this a big trend? So except for public accounting, do a lot of employers merely want to just see that you passed?  If you reside in one state, but are licensed in another, do you have to put that beside the CPA designation with your name? 

Sorry for all the questions, it's just that when I embarked on the CPA exam journey, I logically applied through the state where I reside.  I meet the requirements for my state to be licensed, I have over 150 hours, bachelors's degree and then some, etc. but I'm not sure about obtaining experience verification.  I'm re-entering the job market and the people I reported to in my prior positions who were CPAs are no longer with the company, and in most recent job, weren't a CPA.  Anyway, I'll have to check with my state board to see how all of that works.  But if I can't get my experience signed off on readily, I'm wondering about this option. 

Another related questions that i have is how do you put in your resume when passed all four sections of the cpa and ethics exam, and one just need to get the experience to qualify for the license ??

CPA candidate?

thanks!