[Anonymous]

So, here is my debate. Why people are so stubborn to not understand the difference between designation vs. a degree… People are so confused putting MBA after their name (which is incorrect since this is NOT a designation) and that bothers me because we are working hard to be recognized for this designation (CPA) and thus we actually deserve to use it. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not saying MBA is not an accomplishment (it is), I am just saying that this should not be included after your name because it looks silly… I also hate the fact that in the corporation I work for, they hired a new senior accountant (with an MBA) and he puts it in the email signature (I guess he wants to feel special)… Also I would look silly if, for instance, put MAcc after my name (because I do have Master in Accounting)…

I founnd the following article interesting: https://watchyourwallet.blogspot.com/2008/06/should-i-put-mba-in-my-title-on-my.html

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FAR: PASSED

AUD: PASSED

REG: PASSED

BEC: PASSED

EXPERIENCE: Done

* My CPA journey took 1 year and 2 months but it felt like an eternity

** Applied for the license on 06/17/14

[John Tucker]

Yes, the only thing that should be put after your name are terminal degrees and licenses when they are in direct relation to the position you are working in. So if you are working in an Accounting or Finance role, and are a licensed CPA, put it behind your name. If you are waiting tables at Starbucks and have a CPA License, don't put it behind your name on your waitress name tag 😉

* State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
- BEC: Sunday, August 24th
- FAR: Saturday, November 29th
- AUD: TBA for February 2015
- REG: TBA for May 2015

[Mayo]

“difference between designation vs. a degree”

The distinction is not some kind of objective reality. It's based on the culture of the field. Think about these professions:

– Doctors use M.D.

– Lawyers use J.D.

– Professors use PhD

– Psychologists use PhD, PsyD, or EdD

– Vets use DVM

– Social workers use MSW

These are all degrees (some terminal some not) that are also used as designations for the purposes of their career. Seeing that the MBA came out back in the early 1900s, it makes sense that the designation has evolved with the field in ways that the Macc has not.

Personally, I don't see any big deal with including it in your signature. Don't see it as an issue either way.

Mayo, BBA, Macc

[Valerie_Jo]

I agree that's just ANNOYING. A past supervisor of mine and I would always make fun of this one vendor that emailed us using a signature that had MBA after her name. I have a master's in accounting, but you don't see me putting MPA after my name. We would joke about it saying that I should put “High school diplima, CPhT, BBA, and MPA” after my name just to be a jerk when emailing her back.

Sidenote: CPhT stands for Certified Pharmacy Technician….which is what makes it a little funnier because that has NOTHING to do with accounting, but just another useless set of letters to sign my name with to prove a point, lol.

FAR: 84
BEC: 88
REG: 33 (winged it, bad plan), 77
AUD: 72 ,72, 81 FINALLY DONE!!!!!!

WI Ethics Exam Passed - 92!!!!

Licensed CPA in WI

[WeWillSee]

@Mayo, I totaly agree.

I will definitely be including MBT in my signature when I get my MBT. Espcially when emailing clients, it makes them feel better about you. What does CPA really mean? It means you know how to study for and take tests, not that you are better at your job – but it is really about how people perceive it! If putting MBT in my signature gives people more confidence in my abilities, then why not?

I see the article specifies MBA – I can kind of see that side of the argument but in the grand scheme of things is it a huge deal? Also, if you read the comments it seems like they are saying people shouldn't include the CPA designation either. That just seems crazy – esp if you're in public accounting!

[Anonymous]

@mayo okay but did you read the article?

[Anonymous]

My husband and I were JUST talking about this this morning on the way to work…

Idk how I feel…I'm sort of on the fence about it. To be honest, I never gave it any thought until I read a post on here discussing how adding degrees to your name could come off as pretentious. I never even knew this was a legitimate issue. I don't necessarily see a problem with it, but if the general consensus is that doing so is pretentious, then I'd ere on the side of caution and avoid it.

[Anonymous]

Unless you are selling the fact that you are an MBA, maybe as a consultant, I would leave it on the resume where it belongs.

[koz124]

Maybe I'm interpreting it wrong, but “What does CPA really mean? It means you know how to study for and take tests”…and you think the MBT in your case means something different? I have an MBA, and to me it means I studied and took tests. I actually feel I'm learning much more studying for the CPA exams. For the record, I am on the “it looks silly in your signature” camp. Yes, it's awesome to have, but just…no.

Studying with Wiley Review, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja Audio.
Retakes with Ninja MCQ only...awesome!
Far - 1/28 72, 7/22 79
Aud - 2/28 70, 8/14 83
Bec - 4/10 80
Reg - 5/30 64, 7/2 82

[stoleway]

Is there any regulatory agency that ensures that the MBA title is not being used misused?

How about a CPA? Yes, use it and you will understand the word “scrutiny”. I second the silly camp..haha.

I have an MBA and I don't think its something to show off with. Its really proliferated and has less value these days

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[Anonymous]

Yeah I didn't like that line either koz124…nowadays you don't actually have to have any experience in order to attain a Masters. The CPA represents quite a bit more than a Master for a plethora of reasons, one being the fact that you actually have to have some experience under your belt before it is issued to you.

[WeWillSee]

@koz124 I actually wasn't saying that the MBT means something different necessarily – The point I was trying to make was that people, who are not accountants, have more respect for accountants who have their CPAs than those that don't and would more likely trust someone with a CPA over someone who without. Having a CPA doesn't necessarily mean that you are good at your job or can apply the knowledge to real world situations any better than some without a CPA. Therefore, adding CPA to your signature doesn't mean you're better at your job, adding an advanced degree to your signature doesn't mean you're better at your job – but peoples' perception may be that you are better at your job.

[Anonymous]

@wewillsee… question for you- why do you think that the AICPA/State board make accountants to take this extremely hard examination (not to mention they required experience to be certified)? the answer is to protect the public's interest… we are required to take these tests and passed to be recognized as CPA(a real designation) which is all the knowledge we need to protect the public interest… MBA is just another degree…

[stoleway]

You could clearly see from this forum that it takes some kind of discipline, motivation and organization to pass the CPA exam. Accounting is actually not a rocket science, but its just a way society separates the boys from the men.

I will learn to respect the MBA title once its regulated, until then, I will continue to question why people have it after their name.

REG -63│ 84!!
BEC- 59│70│ 71 │78!
AUD- 75!
FAR- 87!

Mass-CPA

[Anonymous]

@stoleway- Thank you for you comment… you're a reasonable person.

@Valerie_Jo- hahaha, that was really funny what you posted… I was cracking up! 😀

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FAR: PASSED

AUD: PASSED

REG: PASSED

BEC: PASSED

EXPERIENCE: Done

* My CPA journey took 1 year and 2 months but it felt like an eternity

** Applied for the license on 06/17/14

[Anonymous]

I have to say that MBA is not a designation. It's simply a degree and should not be used as such. Lawyers pass the bar exam, Doctor pass the medical boards and CPAs pass the CPA exam to earn these designations. You also need post graduate education and experience to even qualify for designation. Also continued education to maintain these designations. Yes, getting an MBA is a proud accomplishement but it is just that and not a designation.

[Author]

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