Standardized professional exams for CPAs, social workers, and real estate brokers

Professional Exams

Today's careers are very different from careers of the past. Many professional career require the candidate to take and pass a standardized test before a diploma, certification or licensure is obtained. These standardized exams are rigorous exams that test the entire knowledge of the candidate in a specific area. This paper will discuss three of these professional exams which will include the exam for certified public accountants, the exam for social workers and the exam for real estate brokers. Topics such as test requirements, content, history, passage rate and other characteristics of the specific exam will be explored.

The CPA Exam

The CPA exam is the Certified Public Accountant's exam. This exam serves to protect the public interest by assuring that only highly qualified individuals become licensed as certified public accountants. There are specific requirements needed to take this test. These requirements include: completion of 150 college semester hours of general college education and completion of one of the following: completion of a graduate degree from a college approved by the CHEA or accredited by the AACSB, Received a graduate degree in business from an institution recognized by CHEA or accredited by AACSB with 30 semester hours of specified accounting at the undergraduate level or 18 semester hours at the graduate level (accounting subjects must include financial accounting, managerial accounting, auditing, taxation, and professional ethics), or received a baccalaureate degree with 30 semester hours of specified accounting and 24 semester hours in business subjects. (Accounting subjects must include financial accounting, managerial accounting, auditing, taxation, and professional ethics. Candidates must also check with their specific jurisdiction to assure what their specific jurisdiction requires. Each has different requirements.

The CPA exam contains very specific content. The test consists of essays and multiple choice questions divided into two separate sections; the new CBT sections and the current section. The new CBT section contains test materials that cover: auditing and attestation, financial accounting and reporting, regulation, and business environment and concept. The current section of the test contains test materials that pertain to audit, financial accounting and reporting, accounting and reporting, and law and professional responsibilities.

Over the years, the CPA exam has changed a lot. Back in the early 1990s, the CPA exam was a nineteen hour test that was taken over a three day period. It consisted of four different sections and was only administered in May and November of each year. Students were not allowed to use any form of assistance, including use of a calculator. By the late 1990s, the CPA exam was changed to a two hour test that contained four different sections and students were permitted to use a calculator. Later in 2004, an electronic online version of the CPA was made available to students. This new test is now offered six days a week throughout the year. (Wikipedia)

The national passage rate for the CPA is 43%. Students are required to earn a minimum score of at least 75% to pass this test and only 43% of students who attempt the CPA pass the test. (Pustorino).

The Real State License

This license is required of individuals who are to be employed as salespersons under the supervision of a licensed broker. A license may also be obtained by a person who does not immediately intend to be employed by a broker. However, a salesperson without an employing broker may not perform acts requiring a real estate license. The license authorizes real estate activity only if the salesperson is in the employ of a licensed broker. Information on what constitutes licensed real estate activity can be found in the Real Estate Law. In the United States, real estate agents are required to have a license to buy and sale real estate. The requirements for this test are fairly easier compared to the previous two professional tests. The student should be at least 18 years of age and should complete some form of real estate class or program before signing up for this test. The courses can be completed within a traditional school, via correspondence course, or on the internet. Once the courses have been completed the student should be able take the real estate license test. Upon completion of the real estate class, students general take the real estate broker test. The passage rate for the real estate state license is 92%.

In conclusion, today's careers are very rigorous and require most of their candidates to take and pass some form of a standardized test. Most of the tests are designed around the specific career and upon successful completion of these tests; the candidates are offered licensure or certification. It is this licensure or certification that the public sees and trust. These licensures and certification state that the individual is truly qualified to perform the duties of their position. They are essential and they will continue to change as the demands of the working world change in the future.