Professional Ethics: AICPA's Comprehensive Course (ethics exam to complete CPA licensing requirement)

Overview

This downloadable ethics exam is required to complete the CPA licensing requirement. Within 1-2 business days following registration, you will receive an email confirmation with instructions for accessing the course materials.

The professional ethics exam is designed to acquaint the accounting professional with the Code of Professional Conduct and the reasoning, philosophy, and application of the Code. This course provides CPAs the means to demonstrate to the regulatory authorities an understanding of both the Principles and Rules and the rationale underlying them. The ethics exam should be taken only after all sections of the CPA exam have been successfully completed.

Notes:

• The Oregon Board of Accountancy requires Uniform CPA Examination Candidates who have passed all parts of the Exam to successfully complete this ethics exam prior to licensure.
• You will receive an email confirmation within 1-2 business days from the AICPA when you register for this class. The confirmation email will include instructions for accessing the course materials.
• AICPA link expires one year from date of purchase.

Highlights

Ethical accounting is a MUST 

Understanding and applying ethical principles and independence requirements is every accounting and finance professional’s responsibility. You’ll learn the fundamentals of ethical accounting to help you adhere to professional ethics standards. Essential ethics topics include:

• Viewing and analyzing ethical matters
• Adhering to the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
• Applying the code’s conceptual framework
• Evaluating conflicts of interest and maintaining confidentiality 

Maintaining your independence

Independence rules play a key role in professional ethics as well. Vital topics you'll explore are: 

• The AICPA independence rules
• Independence rules regarding personal financial interests, loans, employment, and business relationships that relate to you and your immediate family
• Independence rules from regulators, including the SEC and PCAOB

Other ethics considerations

More topics in professional ethics you'll cover include:

• Rules that apply to government auditors and audits of employee benefit plans, federally funded charitable organizations, financial institutions, and insurance
• Rule interpretations related to gifts and entertainment
• Ethics rules related to professional tax services 

Real-world scenarios 

Case studies and realistic examples will enhance your comprehension and enable you to practice what you’ve learned.

Key Topics

• AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and its Conceptual Framework
• Ethics and independence rules from the AICPA and other regulators, including the U.S. government
• Activities that discredit the profession
• Ethics interpretations issued by PEEC
• NOCLAR
• AICPA Statements on Standards for Tax Services (SSTSs)
• U.S. Treasury Department’s Circular No. 230
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS) penalty provisions 
  

Designed For

Individuals getting their CPA license and those who want a refresher course on the AICPA code.

Objectives

This course will prepare you to:

• Recall ethical rule setters and methodologies for analyzing ethical matters.
• Recognize the interpretations of the "Integrity and Objectivity" rule.
• Identify the provisions of professional conduct.
• Recall how independence rules apply to personal matters.
• Recognize rules for a firm's independence.
• Recognize SEC and PCAOB independence rules.
• Identify ethical regulatory requirements of other regulators.
• Identify ethics rules for the tax practice.