How to become a Brazilian CPA
Becoming a CPA is a path many Brazilian students choose. It takes years of education, but it is absolutely a rewarding experience. Only CPAs can sign Financial Statements and some tax reports in Brazil.
This article will guide you on the steps to becoming a Brazilian Certified Public Accountant.
Bachelor’s in Accounting
A degree program in accounting, which is a 4-year bachelor’s degree program, is mandatory for anyone who wants to become a Brazilian CPA. Fulfilling this first educational requirement is essential. Several universities offer this program.
The main classes are basic, intermediate and advanced accounting, math, auditing, business law, tax, analysis of corporate financial statements, economics and others.
Get a Review Course and Start Studying (optional)
After the bachelor’s degree or during the last year of it, some students enroll in a review course. Several universities offer these review courses in the last year of the program.
Some students feel comfortable with their knowledge based on what they learned in class or working, so they do not enroll in these courses.
CPA (CRC) exam
To become a Brazilian Chartered Certificated Accountant in Brazil you must first pass the exam which is administered by the CFC, short for Conselho Federal de Contabilidade in Portuguese.
The CFC is the Brazilian Federal Council of Accounting which guides, regulates and supervises the exercise of the accounting profession in Brazil. When the accountant passes the exam they receive the CRC license (CPA).
The CPA (CRC) exam has been required since 2011.
Annual Membership Dues
The CPA designation is granted by the CRC, short for Conselho Regional de Contabilidade in Portuguese, the State Council of Accounting. After you have successfully passed the exam you will need to pay your CRC license fees to your State Council of Accounting.
CPE – Continuing Professional Education
Continuing Professional Education is also required, but only for some accountants, such as those who work directly in the preparation of financial statements, CPA firm partners, accountants who have management jobs, work in audit firms, and other situations.
Advanced courses
It is very common for the accountant to enter a graduate program, so he or she can choose to focus on a specific area, such as controlling or tax management.
Accountants who are passionate about the subject and about teaching find themselves pursuing master’s degrees in Accounting to take courses that are completely focused on accounting. After that, some accountants that want to continue this path go on to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in order to cover very high-level courses.
Some Brazilian accountants also try an International Certification to become a CPA (US) or ACCA (UK). The accountant who has one of these additional certifications can leverage their career.
How to become an excellent Brazilian CPA
An excellent CPA is always working on continuing education. Skills and qualities such as communication, proficiency in IT, integrity, organization and time management are essential nowadays.
The path to becoming a great Brazilian accountant is long but it is a fulfilling and rewarding career.
Written by Thiago M. Silveira
Thiago M. Silveira is a Brazilian Chartered Certified Accountant (CRC) with more than 10 years of success in the accounting field, with insightful understanding in all aspects of accounting, financial reports preparation, local taxes and compliance in Brazil.
