US CPA vs Indian Chartered Accountant

Are you confused about your future route or simply curious about the essential differences between a CPA and a CA, or do the two have the same value?

Here are some important distinctions between CPA and CA:

1. The professional degree accessible to qualified accountants in India is known as Chartered Accountant or CA. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), the legal credential given to accounting professionals in the United States, is the equivalent of an Indian CA.

2. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the world's largest accounting body, governs the Uniform CPA exam, whereas the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the world's second-largest accounting body, administers the CA exam (AICPA).

3. To become a CA, a candidate must pass three phases of the examination. However, completing four test components permits someone to become a CPA.

4. The CA test is given in May and November for Levels 1 and 3, and in June and December for Levels 2 and 3. Each year, there are four examination sessions for CPA.

5. While the CPA programme may be completed in a year, the CA programme takes at least four years to complete.

6. Anyone who has completed the 10+2 exam is eligible to take the Common Proficiency Test (CPT), which is the CA admission exam. Varying states or jurisdictions have different criteria for US CPA eligibility, although for a maximum number of states, a minimum of 150 semester hours is necessary.

7. Obtaining a CPA in the United States is more expensive and time-consuming than becoming a CA.

8. However unlike US CPA, the institution provides CA candidates with study materials.

9. If you have a CA degree, you are qualified to conduct audits in any Indian city. You can also choose to work in Singapore, Dubai, Australia, the United Kingdom, or Dubai.

10. If you hold a US CPA licence, you can conduct audits at the federal and state levels. Only CPAs are allowed to provide compilation services in the United States.

Are US CPAs Like Indian CAs?

Both the US Certified Public Accountant and the Chartered Accountancy programmes are highly regarded and widely used in the accounting business. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India awards the Chartered Accountancy degree, whereas the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) awards the US CPA after passing four papers (ICAI). The best part about completing these courses is that one of them allows you to audit and sign papers in India, while the other does so in the United States.

Final Thoughts

If you're asking whether a US CPA in the United States is the same as an Indian CA, the answer is unequivocal "yes." However, the choice between the two programmes is totally up to you, based on your learning style and where you wish to reside once your degree is over. If you want to work and progress in India, being an Indian CA is the best option. If you want to work in another country, you should get a US CPA. We hope that by showing the distinctions between US CPA and CA India, you now have a better understanding of what to expect if you choose one of the two.