Build your skills and your credibility by earning any of these professional certifications available in tax and accounting

1. 34 Professional Certifications
You Can Get in Accounting, Tax,
Audit, and More
Sandi Smith Leyva, CPA

2. About the Author
Sandi Leyva, CPA
• Runs marketing agency for accounting firms
https://AcceleratorWebsites.com/
https://AcceleratorNewsletters.com/
https://AcceleratorVideos.com/
• Provides marketing training for DIYers
https://AccountantsAccelerator.com/

3. Accounting and Tax Certifications
• Certifications help to assure clients of a
level of expertise achieved in a certain
area. They build credibility, some more
than others of course. They also
provide accountants with a structure
approach to building expertise in a
particular area.

4. #1 - Certified Public Accountant
We simply have to start with the CPA. The CPA is not only a certification with a grueling exam, college hours,
experience, ethics, and a stringent application process, it’s in effect a state license too. Each state in the US has
rules on how a CPA can maintain their license to practice with the state’s governing body.
Outside the U.S., there are equivalent designations. For example, in Canada, CPA stands for Chartered
Professional Accountant, and in the UK and Australia, it’s CA: Chartered Accountant.

5. #2 - Certified Management Accountant
The CMA is a certification most often earned by professional working in industry or
government. It’s administered by the Institute of Management Accountants, who has more than
100,000 members worldwide.
https://www.imanet.org/cma-certification

6. #3 - Chartered Global Management Accountant
CGMA is a management accounting designation with more than 150,000 designees worldwide.
It can be earned through the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
(AICPA) or the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
https://www.cgma.org/becomeacgma.html

7. #4 - Certified Bookkeeper
CB is offered by the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers. It’s a really great way to
distinguish yourself from other bookkeepers.
https://aipb.org/certification-program/

8. #5 - Certified Internal Auditor (and #6-11)
The Institute of Internal Auditors is well known for its Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
certification, but it also has several other certifications for auditors to earn:
#6 - CGAP – Certified Government Auditing Professional
#7 - CFSA – Certified Financial Services Auditor
#8 - CCSA – Certification in Control Self-Assessment
#9 - CRMA – Certification in Risk Management Assurance
#10 - QIAL – Qualification in Internal Audit Leadership
#11 - BEAC – Certifications for Environmental, Health, and Safety Auditors
https://na.theiia.org/certification/CIA-Certification/Pages/CIA-Certification.aspx

9. #12 - Enrolled Agent
The EA is a great designation for serious US tax professionals. It’s administered by the IRS.
https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/enrolled-agents/become-an-enrolled-agent

10. #13 - Certified Financial Planner
CFPs have knowledge in budgeting, planning for retirement, saving for education, managing
taxes and insurance coverage, and investing.
https://www.cfp.net/get-certified

11. #14 - Personal Financial Specialist
The AICPA offers a personal financial planning credential which demonstrates your expertise
and financial planning insight to prospective clients and employers.
https://www.aicpa.org/membership/join/credentials.html?tab-1=3#tab-2

12. #15 - Chartered Financial Analyst
The CFA credential is held by over 150,000 professionals around the world. The charter gives a
strong understanding of advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management
skills.
https://www.cfainstitute.org/

13. #16 - Certified Fraud Examiner
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, with nearly 850,000 members, offers the CFE, a
credential that demonstrates expertise in fraud prevention, detection and deterrence.
http://www.acfe.com/cfe-credential.aspx

14. #17 - Certified in Financial Forensics
The AICPA offers the CFF which measures forensic accounting skills in bankruptcy, insolvency
and reorganization; computer forensic analysis; economic damages calculations; fraud
prevention; and valuations.
https://www.aicpa.org/membership/join/credentials.html?tab-1=2#tab-2

15. #18 - Accredited Senior Appraiser
The ASA credential demonstrates expertise in valuation and is offered by the American Society
of Appraisers.
http://www.appraisers.org/credentials/am-asa

16. #19 - Accredited in Business Valuation
The AICPA offers the ABV designation for business valuation professionals.
https://www.aicpa.org/membership/join/credentials.html

17. #20 - Certified in Entity and Intangible
Valuations™
The CEIV is offered by the AICPA for professionals involved in fair value measurements.
https://www.aicpa.org/membership/join/credentials.html?tab-1=5#tab-5

18. #21 - Certified Valuation Analyst and Accredited
Valuation Analyst
The CVA and AVA credentials are offered by the National Association of Valuation Analysts.
https://www.nacva.com/certifications

19. #22 - Certified Information Technology Professional
The CITP is offered by the AICPA to information technology consultants and experts.
https://www.aicpa.org/membership/join/credentials.html?tab-1=4#tab-4

20. #23 - Certified Information Systems Auditor (and
#24-27)
ISACA (which now only goes by the acronym that previously stood for Information Systems
Audit and Control Association) offers the CISA as well as several other certifications:
#24 - Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
#25 - Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
#26 - Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT)
#27 - Cybersecurity Nexus – CSX Certificate and CSXP Certification
http://www.isaca.org/CERTIFICATION/Pages/default.aspx

21. #28 - Certified in Strategy and Competitive Analysis
Once you’re a CMA, you can reach for the specialty designation, CSCA, Certified in Strategy and
Competitive Analysis.
https://www.imanet.org/csca-credential

22. #29 - Registered Social Security Analyst
The RSSA is offered by the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts for
professionals who help clients optimize their social security benefits and retirement cash flow.
https://www.narssa.org/

23. #30 - Certified Business Profit Consultant
The CBPC is offered by my company (Sandra L. Leyva, Inc.). It provides basic training and tools
in four advisory areas: revenue growth, cash flow, profitability, and pricing, and it’s designed for
the small firm owner who wants to take the first step to adding a service line beyond
compliance work to their business.
https://acceleratesmallbiz.com/

24. #31 - Certified Profit First Professional
The Profit First Professionals organization offers the CPFC. It’s training and a methodology that
you license to use with your clients.
https://www.profitfirstprofessionals.com/is-profit-first-professionals-right-for-you/

25. #32 - Certified Tax Coach
Certified Tax Coach, LLC, a non-profit organization, provides training and certification to become
a CTC. There is a a licensing requirement which includes active licensure as a CPA, EA, or
attorney in good standing.
Two more certifications you can get after CTC include Certified Tax Planner (3 years active
practice as a planner and tax planning experience requirement) and Certified Tax Strategist (3
years active practice as a planner and tax planning experience requirement).
https://certifiedtaxcoach.org/get-certified/

26. #33 - Fundamental Payroll Certification
The American Payroll Association offers the FPC for payroll beginners and service and support
professionals in positions requiring payroll knowledge.
https://www.americanpayroll.org/education-certification/certification/overview

27. #34 - Certified Payroll Professional
The American Payroll Association also offers the CPP, which requires payroll experience, an
exam, and a rigorous application process.
https://www.americanpayroll.org/education-certification/certification/certified-payroll-
professional-(cpp)

28. About the Author
Sandi Leyva, CPA
• Runs marketing agency for accounting firms
https://AcceleratorWebsites.com/
https://AcceleratorNewsletters.com/
https://AcceleratorVideos.com/
• Provides marketing training for DIYers
https://AccountantsAccelerator.com/