Members' views on proposed global credential initiative summarized.

• Position: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants - Brief Article

At its spring meeting, Council authorized a membership vote on a bylaw change to allow the AICPA to establish a separate entity that would issue a new global business credential in the United States. Council's resolution also required that a comprehensive and balanced information and response campaign take place prior to the balloting period this fall so the membership would be consistently informed and aware of all the issues.

Consistent with this timeframe, the July/Aug. issue of The CPA Letter invited members to send the AICPA letters expressing their views on the proposed global credential in order to share those opinions with the membership prior to voting. Common themes appeared in both the proponent and opponent arguments presented in the more than 40 letters received. The following is a summary of those views.

Of those in favor of the global credential, some members simply expressed whole-hearted support. Among the specific reasons cited for voting to establish the credential were.

* The ability to use the credential as a tool and resource to help CPAs realize the CPA Vision, in that it is designed to capture and claim new market space that would help move CPAs higher up the value chain.

* The power of its combination with the CPA to attract students to the accounting profession.

* It addresses the need to demonstrate a broad spectrum of skills in today's business world, adding to a CPA's existing skill set.

* A small firm practitioner offered that the credential would validate the breadth of business advisory services that CPAs now offer, and that it will prove, in the minds of clients, a smaller firm's competence in non-financial advisory services.

* Its international advantages from a business development and employment perspective, since the credential would be recognized consistently around the world.

* For those working in foreign lands, the credential would obviate the need to possess more than one credential (i.e., the CPA and the other country's equivalent) to be professionally recognized in both countries.

* Taking the initiative early on to develop a global credential would ensure the long-term vitality of the CPA profession.

Among members opposed to the credential, reasons offered include:

* The sentiment that the CPA designation should become the globally recognized credential and that this new credential is unnecessary.

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