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CREDENTIALS OFFERED
ACAT offers four credentials and one certificate
Accredited Business Accountant®/Accredited Business Advisor® (ABA)
This credential is for practitioners who specialize in the needs of small-to-mid-size businesses and in financial services to individuals and families. Accredited Business Accountant (ABA) is ACAT's Æs registered designation for Accreditation in Accountancy. In states where use of the word "accountant” is not permitted, the term used is Accredited Business Advisor. You must have three years of related work experience, up to two of which may be through college credit. One year is considered a tax-season (January through April). Beyond that, there are two ways to earn your ABA credential.
 How to Earn this Credential
How to Maintain My Credentials
Accredited Tax Advisor® (ATA)
This
credential is for practitioners who handle sophisticated tax planning issues,
including ownership of closely held businesses, qualified retirement plans and
complex estates. You must have five years
of experience in tax preparation, compliance, tax planning and consulting,
of which 40% must be in tax planning and consulting. One year is considered a
tax-season (January through April). Beyond that, there are two ways to earn your
ATA credential.
How to Earn this Credential
How to Maintain My Credentials
Accredited Tax Preparer® (ATP)
This
credential is for practitioners who demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the
existing tax code and the preparation of individual, corporate, and partnership
tax returns. You must have three years of
work experience in tax preparation. One year is considered a
tax-season (January through April). Beyond that, there are five ways to earn your
ATP credential.
How to Earn this Credential
How to Maintain My Credentials
Elder Care Specialist® (ECS)
Proclaim to the world you're qualified to service clients in this fastest growing marketing niche -- elder care. This credential recognizes professionals who have a thorough knowledge of: preparing their clients for retirement; the essentials of estate and trust planning; and financial planning for the elderly and who have demonstrated their customer sensitivity and communication skills.
To become an ECS you must first qualify for the test by earning 36 CPE in elder care topics listed in the ECS blueprint.
Then you will be allowed to take an open-book test on what you have learned. You must score 70% or better on each of the three exams (one for each level). Finally complete the ECS credential application and pay the application fee. (If you don?t receive the credential, the fee is refunded.)
How to Earn this Credential
How to Apply for this Credential
International Accredited Business Accountantsm
This certificate is for accounting professionals whose practice is solely outside of
the United States, and who do not deal with United States Tax law. You must have three years of related work experience, up to two of
which may be through college credit.
How to Earn this Certificate
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