Obtaining Your ACAT Credentials

ACAT accreditation is an indicator of your willingness to invest in yourself. It is a statement of your commitment to maintaining your professional growth. Clients look for professionals and their staff to have the highest standards and ethics. Obtaining credentials gives you a competitive advantage.

Accredited Business Accountant® (ABA). For practitioners who specialize in the financial accounting, financial reporting, financial statement preparation, taxation, business consulting services, business law, and ethics for small to medium sized businesses and in financial services to individuals and family.

Accredited Tax Advisor® (ATA). For practitioners who can handle sophisticated tax planning issues, including planning for owners of closely held businesses, planning for the highly compensated, choosing qualified retirement plans and performing estate tax planning.

Accredited Tax Preparer® (ATP). For practitioners who handle sophisticated tax planning issues. Issues such as ownership of closely held businesses, qualified retirement plans and complex estates. For practitioners who have a thorough knowledge of the existing tax code and the preparation of individual tax returns. Their expertise covers comprehensive 1040 issues (including supporting schedules, self-employed returns) and ethics.

Elder Care Specialist™ (ECS). For practitioners who have expertise in preparing their clients for retirement; the essentials of estate and trust planning and choosing appropriate retirement plans.

Maintaining Your ACAT Credentials

STEP ONE
Abide by the Code of Ethics.

STEP TWO
Pay the appropriate annual renewal fee by June 30th each year. The current renewal rate is $60 for one credential, $100 for two credentials, $120 for three credentials, $150 for four credentials.

STEP THREE
Earn and report your required Continued Professional Education (CPE). Our profession is dynamic, with rules and concepts that change quickly. We believe professional competence can only be maintained through continuing education. Each credential requires a specific number of hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE). In some instances, CPE hours must be in specific areas.

CPE hours earned are reported to ACAT every three years. The current cycle runs July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2008. Your CPE report is due to ACAT on June 30, 2008.