[jdj017400]

I just received a letter from the TSBPA stating that they obtained information that indicates I may have unintentionally violated the Texas Public Accountancy Act.

I have “CPA Candidate” on my LinkedIn profile and the Texas Board has sent me an email saying that this is an “Unauthorized Use of Titles or Abbreviations” and I have to follow corrective measures within 30 days (provide written assurance I will not misrepresent and documentation that I have eliminated the representation).

The last page has a screenshot of my LinkedIn profile with the word “CPA” highlighted of the “CPA Candidate” shown on my profile.

How on earth can stating that I’m a Candidate for the exam be a violation?… Do you think this was computer scanned and it only picked up the “CPA” part and therefore auto-generated a violation?

Thoughts?

BEC - 80 (11/30/2010), Lost Credit - Retake 11/30/2012, 80 (FINISHED!)
AUD - 71 (05/31/2011), 79 (08/28/2011)
REG - 70 (11/30/2011), 87 (02/09/2012)
FAR - 61 (5/31/2012), 80 (08/31/2012)

[Anonymous]

Interesting. I have this on my resume and LinkedIn as well. I'll take it off for now.

[Keely]

I just want to chime in and say I don't think it seems misleading at all (to me) to use CPA candidate. That's what I've always heard people call themselves who are in the process of taking the exam. I think it's ridiculous that anyone would confuse what you've listed as billing yourself as a licensed CPA. I have a “certifications” section on my resume, that says “actively suing CPA certification” because that's what I'm doing, even though I don't have all exams passed or the work experience. No one's confused me with a licensed CPA yet.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Anonymous]

@ hurshid I figured if I listed what I have made progress towards it would help since I have a weird background. I have worked in the automotive field all my life. Honestly I think a lot people think it's an unskilled profession. I've seen smart and dumb people, and worked for a fortune 500 company, at the end of the day I still was dirty and still didn't enjoy what I was doing and felt like I went to college for nothing. I was an econ major, and took all my accounting classes while working full time after my degree. I want people who read my resume to realize I am serious about my career and show what steps I have done to get to my goals. If I could, I would list taking care of my 1 year old twin boys, in addition to studying and passing exam sections. I'm sure those with kids would understand the long hours you have to put in after everyone else goes to bed.

One thing I have noticed on the title in question are different opinions on it. Since I'm on the job search I would hate to have it upset someone who would be a potential employer.

[kgirl]

Maybe remove it to comply with their request and list “Passed 4 sections of CPA Exam” or this format for example:

Auditing & Attestaton: May 2011

BEC: August 2011

FAR: November 2011

REG: May 2012

That way it shows recruiters you completed your exam successfully but TX accountancy board shouldn't object to a similar format.

[mena je twa]

jdj…

You are in this to protect public interest and even though your title explicitly states CPA candidate, its not very obvious for a individual who sees your resume and thinks you are a CPA…

Once you pass the exam, the board willl give you a code of professional conduct exam and there in states clearly about how not to misrepresent your self as a CPA>

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[Herbieherb]

Ya just comply. Hopefully your CPA candidate status is temporary and you join the club soon 🙂

NEW YORK- DONE

[HFinn]

I personally don't think CPA candidate is misleading at all given that you have registered and are in the process of taking exams.

Regardless of how many you have passed or how much experience you have, “candidate” is NOT the same as CPA.

They both have different meanings and provide valuable information about your qualifications.

Finally, CPA Candidate or CPA Exam Candidate is a much more concise way of describing your situation than:

“Recently graduated with Masters in Accounting and registered to take the CPA exam in XX month, and have 3 parts passed”

When a manager is looking at a resume, the quick distinction always wins over a wordy description.

[jdj017400]

Just an update to all on this:

I did remove everything from my profile…no big deal. However, I did call and check with the Texas State Board and they informed me that neither “CPA Candidate”, “CPA Exam Candidate” or ANYTHING with “CPA” is legal.

She said they make an exception for use on a resume, but that they do not consider LinkedIn a resume. She was extremely nice about everything, so no complaints at all about the process.

Good luck studying everyone…

BEC - 80 (11/30/2010), Lost Credit - Retake 11/30/2012, 80 (FINISHED!)
AUD - 71 (05/31/2011), 79 (08/28/2011)
REG - 70 (11/30/2011), 87 (02/09/2012)
FAR - 61 (5/31/2012), 80 (08/31/2012)

[Hurshid]

Thanks for the update!

Another question to be asked – is the problem actual with Texas State Board only or throughout every state boards?

..and done!
Good luck and keep moving!

[CPA Dex]

I had a similar experience with Texas. I can tell you it isn't computer generated. My website advertises accounting and tax services. I actually have the word “Accounting” in my legal business name. Long story short, they mailed me an 18 page printout of my website content and highlighted every time the word “accounting” (or some form of it) appeared.

It sucks that I can't say I'm an accountant, I can't say I work in accounting, nothing in this state. It's like the state board thinks they own that word. Anyway, I just took my address down and anything that said Texas, wrote them an e-mail that says I no longer advertise in the state of Texas, and they said that is fine. My website still pops up through all the hidden website marketing tools, but they don't know how to track that.

I understand their intent is solely to protect the taxpayer, which I agree is fair.

[Author]

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