[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)

[nfs480]

Is there a number you can call for clarification?

FAR 93
AUD 89
REG 81
BEC 87
Ethics 100

Becker 2012 Self-Study

[jeff]

Easy button: just comply and get back to studying…nips the drama in the bud.

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[Anonymous]

That is really odd. At the same time, I'm not sure why you have “CPA candidate” on your LinkedIn. Anyone who has an accounting major can pretty much be a CPA candidate. It's one thing to put that you've passed all of your CPA exams and are just getting your experience to be certified. It's another to put that you're a “CPA Candidate”. Maybe the Texas board doesn't like you putting that on your profile? I can see it being misleading. One could potentially read “CPA Candidate” as someone who has passed their exams and is just in the process of waiting to be certified.

[Kim4]

Not worth fighting — you are already now on their radar. I wouldn't call them or do anything other than get that off your LinkedIn.

FAR -- 90
AUD -- 95
BEC -- 82
REG -- 92

DONE!

[Whatdidyou]

Thats scary.

Maybe, CPA Exam Candidate, would be a more appropriate title? (Instead of CPA candidate)

I would take it off your linkedin first. Then search your state board website AND google for “CPA Unauthorized Use of Titles or Abbreviations” and if you want more information. I also don't think it'd be bad per say to just call them up and ask them (not fight them) if it'd be okay to put CPA Exam Candidate. – Cause I swear I've seen that several times.

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[jdj017400]

@Whatdidyou – Yea it's really strange, considering there are a ton of other people on LinkedIn that have it…but the “exam” portion is a good point.

It's worth a call for clarification but I don't have the time to fight it and it's not a big deal to remove it until I'm finished.

I'll post the explanation the board gives me.

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)

[jamesjohnson11]

I also am not sure why you put that on your linkedin. Personally I won't put anything on my linkedin about the CPA exam until i pass them all. Some of my friends have already passed them all so i would be embarrassed putting that i am not done.

CFA candidates put CFA level 1 candidate all the time so I find it funny they would have a problem with this.

What you wrote is a bit misleading. If i was you and you really wanted to have it on your linkedin i would have put “currently have necessary credits to take the cpa exam? or somehting like that. However, i agree with many people, take it down, it's kinda lame to say you are an eligible candidate. I mean big deal that doesn't really mean anything.

R PASS
A PASS
B PASS
F AUGUST

[jdj017400]

@jamesjohnson11 – Actually there are quite a few firms that specifically look for being eligible to sit for the exam as a filtering criteria for employment (especially since most states adhere to the 150 hour requirement now). Additionally, I'm in Management & Technology Consulting and not straight Accounting, so highlighting this is a diversifying skill set within my industry. Lastly, I have always put “Estimated Completion Date” on resume and/or LinkedIn, so this would show some clarification, as well as the ability to work and travel full time, while studying for the exam.

You make a good point in regards to the CFA candidates as I have also seen that numerous times.

As I said it's not a big deal to remove, but posting on here was due to my own curiosity and as a generic heads up to those that frequent the forums.

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)

[higher_flyer]

Well since you can freakin join the AICPA as a “CPA Exam Candidate” member (which I already did), and since there is an actual LinkedIn group called “CPA Exam Candidate” it seems ridiculous to get this notice. However, I guess there is something to be said about including “Exam” in the text.

And yes, tons of people put this on their resumes and profiles. As jdj017400 said above, it is a valid qualification that many employers would find meaningful.

REG 95 Aug '12
FAR 95 Dec '12
AUD 99 Apr '13
BEC 94 Jul '13
CA PETH 94 Oct '13

[Anonymous]

Personally, I wouldn't put it on my LinkedIn/Resume for fear of coming off as misleading. It's like listing Spanish as a foreign language when you just took a few classes in high school / college. If you really do want to establish that you have enough credits to pass the test, just write how many credits you have / you are eligible to take the CPA exam. At the same time, unless you're just out of college, it may raise more questions such as “why the f isn't he/she finished yet?”.

[Anonymous]

Depending on the state, each state's laws are different.

If TX says what you are doing is illegal, it is illegal, so game over.

Generally speaking you're not supposed to use the letters CPA if you don't have one.

So take 60 seconds to remove that from your linkedin profile, send them an e-mail saying this is done, and move on.

Don't worry you'll be able to use those 3 letters in the future.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like it is easier to just remove it and move on. I personally wouldn't have anything in the profile from that point forward with the letters CPA. On a side note I had the same thing on my profile on my linkedin profile too, but decided it may be misleading and took it down. Hopefully I don't get any letters. Although not very many people look at my profile.

On my resume I do have a section listed with title CPA Progress. It shows the exams I have passed, shows I meet the new 150 hr requirement for california, and shows I am an exam candidate in my state.

Anyone want to give me an opinion if it is ok to use the CPA letters in that function?

[higher_flyer]

dbltrbl, I would say again, if the AICPA itself offers memberships as “CPA Exam Candidate” and CalCPA offers memberships as “CPA Candidate” then both are perfectly legit. As for state board laws, I suppose those could certainly say different.

And unless you're applying to accounting firms, listing things on your resume such as semester hours completed, sections passed, approval to sit, or whatever… is totally meaningless to most potential employers in Business. Whereas “CPA Exam Candidate” is exactly what you are and is completely clear and understandable to non-accounting folks.

Take a few minutes to join either/both. The CalCPA membership is free and I think the AICPA membership is like $50 or $75. Then you can list those memberships on your resume without any worries of misrepresentation.

REG 95 Aug '12
FAR 95 Dec '12
AUD 99 Apr '13
BEC 94 Jul '13
CA PETH 94 Oct '13

[Anonymous]

higher_flyer, using your logic, If “semester hours completed” or “approval to sit for the CPA” is totally meaningless to potential employers in Business, why would these same employers care if you have “CPA Exam Candidate” on your resume? The answer is, they would only care if they were mislead to believe that you actually are a CPA.

But, I agree CPA Exam Candidate is far less misleading than just putting CPA candidate.

[Hurshid]

On my profile I have listed what sections of the test I've passed so far.

dbltrbl, you've got the point when you said that it gives you some edge in job searching.

..and done!
Good luck and keep moving!

[Author]

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