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New Format Will Emphasize Research and Communication Skills
NEW YORK (February 5, 2003) – Today, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA); the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA); and Prometric, a part of The Thomson Corp. (NYSE: TOC, TSX: TOC), announced that the Uniform CPA Examination will be delivered in a computer-based format beginning April 5, 2004. The final paper-based version of the CPA examination will be given on November 5 and 6, 2003.
As of April 5, 2004, the computer-based CPA Examination will be offered up to six days a week, during two out of every three months throughout the year, affording CPA examination candidates more flexibility. Currently, the Uniform CPA Examination is offered only twice a year, in May and November, by the 54 U.S. boards of accountancy in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Log on to www.nasba.org for links to the boards and www.cpa-exam.org for general examination information.)
The computer-based test will broaden the scope of the audit and attest areas and incorporate the assessment of critical skills, such as research and communication. The CPA examination will also increase emphasis on general business knowledge and information technology.
The AICPA will continue to create and grade the computerized CPA Examination and NASBA, and the state boards of accountancy will remain responsible for the overall administration of the exam to the more than 100,000 candidates each year. Prometric, the world's leading technology-based testing company, will deliver the examination to candidates through more than 300 testing centers in the United States and U.S. territories.
"We are pleased to announce this important new phase in the long history of the CPA Examination," said Barry C. Melancon, AICPA President and CEO. "All three parties have worked diligently to bring this initiative to fruition. The computerized CPA exam will better assess the skills that new CPAs must possess in order to carry out their essential charge: protection of the public interest."
David Costello, President and CEO of NASBA, agreed. "The state boards of accountancy are the only regulatory entities that can issue a license to practice public accounting in the United States – and they take that responsibility seriously," he said. "At the request of the state boards, a computer-based Uniform CPA Examination is being developed that will provide the states with a tool to ensure that new licensees possess the abilities our economy demands."
Michael Brannick, Prometric President and CEO, said, "The collaborative approach being used by our three organizations will serve as a model for the testing industry. We're pleased that the AICPA and NASBA are able to leverage Prometric's technology and delivery channel to deliver this innovative exam."
About the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is the national, professional organization of CPAs, with more than 330,000 members in business and industry, public practice, government and education. It sets U.S. auditing and professional ethics standards and, with the Financial Accounting Standards Board, U.S. accounting standards. The AICPA is the first national, professional association to be ISO 9001-certified, in recognition of its quality management and assurance practices.
About the National Association of State Boards
The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy serves as a forum for its 54 member boards of accountancy in the U.S. and jurisdictions of Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands and Washington D.C. Over a half million CPAs are currently licensed or certified by the boards. NASBA sponsors a variety of programs and services designed to enhance the effectiveness of its member boards.
About The Thomson Corporation and Prometric
The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com), with 2001 revenues of $7.2 billion, is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers. Thomson provides value-added information, software applications and tools to more than 20 million users in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, higher education, reference information, corporate training and assessment, scientific research and healthcare.
As part of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC, TSX: TOC), Prometric (www.prometric.com) is the global leader in technology-enabled testing and assessment services for information technology certification, academic admissions, and professional licensure and certifications. Prometric delivers standardized tests for more than 200 clients, in more than 25 languages, over the Web or through a global network of testing centers in more than 140 countries.
