Voices

2016 ACAT Exam registration open until June 1

Registration for the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation (ACAT) exams - given to those wishing to obtain ACAT Accredited Business Accountant/Advisor (ABA), Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP), and Accredited Tax Advisor (ATA) credentials - is now open for registration, the Council announced on Friday. The Spring/Summer exam testing window for 2016 will be June 10-July 30, with a registration deadline of June 1, 2016.

The Comprehensive Examination for Accreditation in Accountancy is a two-part, 200-question exam that tests the proficiency of candidates in financial accounting, financial reporting, financial statement preparation, taxation, business consulting services, business law and ethics.

ATP and ABA are exempt from taking the Annual Federal Tax Refresher course and exam that is part of the IRS's voluntary Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) and automatically qualify for the IRS Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion. Tax and accounting professionals can also for the Exam to obtain the ATA credential this summer.

To become an ABA, candidates must pass the Comprehensive Examination for Accreditation in Accountancy and possess three years of related work experience; two of which may be satisfied through college credit. Some states (Del., Iowa, and Minn.) require achieving the ABA designation to meet state regulatory requirements to practice public accountancy.

The exams may be taken at Castle test centers across the United States. For more details, or to register, visit the Exam'ssite here.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM ACCOUNTING TODAY