SPECIAL LETTERS SECTION SPEAK OUT!

The AICPA Council met April 29-May 2 and was scheduled to vote on whether or not the AICPA should create an affiliate organization to supervise development of its proposed global credential, and whether or not to authorize a full membership vote on the credential.

California CPA went to press before these votes. However, in February, CalCPA members were invited to Speak Out! to their AICPA California Council members on the AICPA's proposed global credential. This is what some had to say:

ANOTHER SOLUTION

Is there a constituency that will be better served with a global credential? If you doubt there is, there is no need for a global credential. However, I do support global issues being brought forth in CPE. Perhaps the better solution is a CPE requirement being met on about the same frequency as ethics.

WENDELL COTTLE, CPA

V. Sattui Winery

IT'S A POSITIVE STEP

As a member in industry, I strongly endorse the concept of a global credential. While there are many issues to consider, I believe this is a positive step in addressing our changing business environment and provides qualified CPAs with the opportunity to establish themselves as professionals that bring "value-added" skills to business. This takes our profession to the next level.

TOM GREER, CPA

Irvine

DON'T TAKE THE BARRIER DOWN

One of the most important rules of economics is that you can t make money in an industry unless there are barriers to entry. The work involved in obtaining a CPA is that barrier. Let's not be fools and take the barrier down.

TIM GOOD, CPA

Torrance

IT'S FLAWED AT THE CORE

I believe the concept of a global credential is flawed at its core. The whole idea behind a credential is to certify that the holder has mastered some body of knowledge. My understanding of the XYZ/Cognitor credential is that it covers a multitude of knowledge sets and would not require an examination to prove mastery of knowledge. Therefore I fail to see what purpose it serves.

MARY BETH ARMSTRONG, CPA

CalPoly, San Luis Obispo

FACE IT: MDPs ARE HAPPENING

The AICPA proposal for a global credential is a good idea. If the argument for the 150 hour requirement and eliminating audit experience, is that most CPAs don't do audits anymore then maybe we do need subspecialty designations CPA-Tax, CPA-Audit, etc. with a global credential to cover "other." Let's face it, none of us can possibly be a specialist in all these fields anymore with 130+ FASB Statements plus SOPs, SABs, EITFs, etc. and tax laws that get more complicated every year. We now have in our firm one non-CPA valuation specialist who is a principal and have just added another senior non-CPA consultant whose specialty is performance...