How do I become accredited?
An ACAT designation can only be attained through successful completion of the ACAT examinations. See:
http://www.acatcredentials.org/steps/examdetails
Who is eligible to take the examination?
ACAT has developed requirements for eligibility to ensure that the application process is fair and impartial for all applicants. Each eligibility requirement has been established to ensure that individuals certified by the ACAT have an acceptable level of knowledge and proficiency of the principles, practices, and ethical standards of accounting, taxation, information technology and related financial services.
There are no educational requirements to sit for the Comprehensive Examination, however, candidates must be at least 18 years of age. The ACAT Board of Directors requires that a candidate have a minimum background of three (3) years work experience or two (2) years of college-level accounting plus one (1) year work experience to earn the ABA credential. Individuals without substantive work experience are advised to complete Principles, Intermediate, and either Cost or Managerial Accounting, as well as at least one semester in Taxation before taking the examination.
Candidates who earn an ACAT credential have demonstrated knowledge of the principles, practices, and ethical standards of accounting, taxation, information technology and related financial services in order to maintain the highest level of service to the public.
Candidates cannot earn certification without passing the certification examination.
Where and when do I take the examination?
Practitioner Exam Registration
Our exams are administered at PSI locations all across the country. Locate your testing site here Once you register for an exam, you will receive an Authorization-To-Test (ATT) letter with information on setting up your exam date and testing site. You will then contact them to schedule your test. You will have the choice of what day you will take the exam.
Candidates must bring the Authorization-To-Test (ATT) letter and a government-issued photo ID on the day on the examination. Candidates will forfeit the examination fee if they do not appear for the scheduled examination or are not admitted due to lack of proper photo/signature identification.
Capstone Exam Registration
Candidates enrolled in an authorized Capstone program may register for the ACAT’s ABA examination in a paper and pencil format at a Capstone facility. Candidates must complete and submit the ACAT Registration Form (hardcopy or electronic) and the corresponding examination fee. A $50 registration fee is required to register for all examinations.
Upon receipt of the ACAT Registration Form, and the required supporting materials and fees, applicants are notified by email of their eligibility (or ineligibility) to sit for the examination. The Authorization to Test includes detailed information regarding scheduling of the examination at the Capstone testing site.
Candidates must bring the Authorization-To-Test (ATT) letter and a government-issued photo ID on the day on the examination. Candidates will forfeit the examination fee if they do not appear for the scheduled examination or are not admitted due to lack of proper photo/signature identification.
What about Special Needs?
ACAT complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for candidates and requests that the PSI testing centers and authorized Capstone facilities provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with a disability covered by this Act. Candidates requiring special accommodations must contact the ACAT before scheduling the examination. Arrangements for special accommodations may take up to 30 days to coordinate. Requests for accommodations are reviewed by the Vice President to ensure the request can be processed without jeopardizing the integrity or security of the examination. The Vice President, or staff designee, communicate with the candidate to ensure all processes and procedures are explained and that a testing appointment is scheduled to accommodate their needs accordingly.
Candidates must indicate their special accommodations request on the ACAT Registration Form
http://www.acatcredentials.org/registrationandfees
What if I don’t have the experience?
Individuals who pass the exam but who have not met the experience requirement may market themselves as having “passed the ACAT Comprehensive Examination for Accreditation in Accountancy,” but are not entitled to use the ABA designation. After you have earned three years experience you may send this form to ACAT to become accredited.
What if there appears to be a problem?
Any examinee who sees a problem with the examination or has a difficulty before or during the test-taking session is encouraged to contact the ACAT National Office.
http://www.acatcredentials.org/about/contactus
What do I receive besides a certificate?
ACAT has many programs to benefit credential holders. They include: a bi-monthly e-newsletter with new of ACAT programs and projects, feature stories on accounting and more. Every other month, ACAT issues a tax or accounting tip that you can send to your clients in a newsletter or letter, use in a local paper or put on your website. You’ll be listed in a national credentials directory where clients can go to when they are searching for a new accountant or tax preparer. Through our partnership with the National Society of Accountants, you voice will be heard on state and national accounting and tax issues.
What happens on the day of the test?
You should report to the location when you are taking the ACAT exam 15 minutes prior to your scheduled testing time. You must bring your confirmation letter and a government -issued photo ID. You may also bring a non-printing, non-programmable calculator with you. You'll find your test center has a quiet and private area for you to take your examination. You will be instructed on how to use the computer for the exam, then left to complete the examination. If you are taking the whole ABA test, we suggest you bring your lunch as you will only have 30 minutes between practices.
What happens after I take the comprehensive exam?
You will not receive your test scores at the time you complete the examination. Each registrant’s answers are furnished to ACAT which grades them using ParScore, an examination software. A summary of the responses and statistical analyses are forwarded to ACAT’s psychometrician (a statistician who specializes in tests).
Using his analysis, the Subject Matter Expert Committee chair prepares a report for the Board of Directors. The Board determines if any questions were misleading or questionable and need to be excluded. Following its review, the exam scores are reported. You should receive your exam scores within six weeks of the end of the examination period.
How high of a score do I need to pass?
The ACAT Board of Directors has set 70 as the minimum satisfactory level for the Comprehensive Examination. Individuals must score 70 or higher on each section of the exam pass the exam.
In the case of the ABA exam, individuals who do not pass the full exam, but who score at least 70 on either Practice 1 or Practice 2 are considered to have “conditioned” that section of the Comprehensive Examination. Conditioning allows the candidate to successfully complete the exam by re-taking only the section not previously passed. Candidates have 18 months from the date of conditioning to pass (by obtaining a second score of at least 70). After that, the condition is void. You must register for the part of the exam you wish to retake and pay the exam fee.
Candidates will receive a letter notifying them whether they have passed, not passed, or conditioned, and giving them their test scores.
New credential holders will receive a hand-lettered certificate attesting to their accredited status, as well as other materials to assist them in publicizing their achievement.
Your test results are confidential and will not be released to anyone without your written permission. ACAT stores exam results indefinitely.