CPA Vs CS

CPA and CS are entirely different courses, and their approaches are also very different. So, if we get overwhelmed about which path to choose, think what makes us fly – quantitative skills or qualitative aptitude? If we put in a better way, would it what would like better Mathematics or English? If we go for CPA, the main emphasis is on quantitative skills, whereas CS emphasizes soft and hard skills.

Choosing between CPA and CS often depends on what career goals we have for ourself. If we don’t want what to choose, we should think about what we want to be after 20 years down the line. Yes, we may have some vague idea, which we can write down. Now try to match with the courses in hand, which one we think will help us get closer? CS or CPA? We know that it’s easier said than done. But let us take some time and reflect. If we think through and do research, we will find our way out.

The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Company Secretary (CS) are two different professional designations that are meant for two different career paths and comes with separate roles and responsibilities in the corporate and financial sector. But to understand which path is suitable for an individual, it is important to understand the basic differences between them.

If we are confused between what to choose CPA vs. CS, here’s the remedy. Read the full article and decide for ourself which one suits us best. But before that, there are few things which we should consider.

Don’t decide the course based on ease and fees. We should choose because we feel the system will add more value to us. Talk to people who have already done both of them and then decide on our own.

It isn’t easy to choose often. Thus, we have articulated all the details about CPA vs. CS for our perusal. Have a close look. Look at each of the courses. And then choose the one which suits us best.

After going through the whole thing, now we may have some idea of what to pick and what to let go of. But if someone ask for advice, there won’t be a one-size-fits-all solution. If we want to make our mark as an accountant, it is better to choose CPA, or if we want to make our presence count and would like to advise the board of directors of the company, then go for CS.

Before choosing, think through it, and give ourself enough time. Talk to people who have already crossed the path and ask for advice. But finally, we should make sure whatever we do should be a product of our conclusions.

If we complete CPA Exam, we will earn an extra 15% as an accountant compared to non-CPAs. It’s statistics given by AICPA. Let’s say we join a company without being a CPA. Now once we complete a year of service to the organization, we would get a hike of 15% in our salary. What if we get a walk before joining? Then do CPA.

• CPA is a globally recognized course. Once we are able to complete the time, we would be able to advise all domains of businesses, and would be treated as an authority in the field of accounting for public enterprises. Pursing CPA will help us craft customizable solutions for all sorts of businesses and organizations.
• Only 20% of accountants join public enterprises. So, one can think that if we want to do CPA, our market is narrower than all other accountants. But the thing is all public enterprises prefer CPA over other accountants as CPA can understand public accounting much better than any other accounting professional.

For more details, we can look at this- Nuts & Bolts of the CPA Exam.

CS is one of the most challenging courses in India. If we want to know how tough it is, judge it based on two things. Firstly, the candidates need to clear 3 levels, which includes 21 papers, to become CS qualified. Secondly, the pass rates for the papers under the Professional program held during June 2019 were in the range of 8% to 17%, which is indicative of the difficulty level of the exam. Having said that, if are ready to put our heart and soul into this course, we would be able to remove it. Just know that it’s not for the faint-hearted.

• As CS has become more rigid, the value of CS has also increased drastically. Unlike other courses, CS is designed in a way that has global relevance. Once we complete CS, we would be able to present our legal findings to the board members of reputed companies, and based on our results, and they will make a decision. Think of how our contribution will directly affect the future of companies.
• Once we complete CS, we would become an expert in corporate law, practice, and drafting. And what’s most beneficial in doing CS courses is the fact that the CS curriculum will not only help a student build quantitative skills but also qualitative skills as well.

Let's understand the difference between these two streams with the help of this CPA vs. CS Infographics. This will make the differentiation process between the two concepts very clear and easy to interpret in a concise manner.

Here, we find the key differences between them based on certain criterias like exposure, focus, fees, pass percentage, toughness and opportunities. Let us try to interpret them in details so that it becomes possible to decide which course is suitable for a candidate according to their own skill and interest.

• Exposure: If we are considering between CPA and CS, of course, CPA has more global exposure than CS. CS is a certification that is professional and equips us with both quantitative and qualitative skills. Still, CPA has more demand in the market as it’s more recognized in the USA and other foreign countries, whereas CS is more beneficial in the Indian market.
• Focus: The curriculum of CPA is much easier than CS. CS is a much more comprehensive course than CPA. CPA is all about accounting for public enterprises, whereas CS is all about company laws, drafting & presentation skills.

• Fees: As CS is not as recognized as the CPA in terms of a global perspective, the costs of CS are much lesser than the CPA. The cost of the CS course varies in the range of $400 to $500, whereas the cost of the CPA course comes around $1,500. In fact, the cost of the study material (review course) can push the cost of the CPA qualification further up.
• Pass percentage: As we have already mentioned, CS is much more challenging than a CPA in the curriculum. In preparation, naturally, the pass percentage of CS is much lesser than the CPA. The pass rate of CPA exams is an average of around 50%, whereas the pass rate of CS exams is significantly lower than the CPA exams.
• Toughness: What would be easier to study? The CPA course is divided into 4 major papers, while the CS course is divided into 21 papers spread across 3 levels. If we want to pursue CS, think before we plunge in. We need to put in a lot of tenacity and hard work to get certified as CS.
• Opportunities: If we complete the CPA, we can get a job as an accountant, and can also take charge of auditing and taxation. Whereas, if we meet CS, our scope is much broader. We can work as a legal expert, corporate planner, strategic manager, chief advisor to the board of directors, and executive secretary to MD or CEO of any company.

The comparative table given below shows the differences between the two topics in a detailed manner, keeping in mind the various criterias based on which comparisons can be made.

Passing CPA is much easier than any other course in the finance domain. If we compare with other classes, we would see that the pass percentage of CPA is much higher.

• Once we complete CPA, we would be an expert in public accounting, auditing, and reporting. Thus we would be the most preferred accountant among all in public enterprises. It’s being said that only 20% of enterprises are available. By completing the CPA, our chances of getting placed in top-notch public enterprises will be higher.
• As we complete CPA, we will be able to charge fees for our accounting services. Very few global accounting courses allow us the facility to blame for our assistance.

Once we complete CS, we will be considered an expert in company law, communication, and business management. These are the chief tools required to run a business.

• As CS is a much more challenging course, we will have less competition. It’s said that there’s no crowd along the extra mile. If we have passed CS, that means we are a top-notch student.
• Once we complete our CS, we will be able to advise the board of directors directly, and will act as a secretary to the MD or CEO of companies. From this, we can understand the market value we will have and the responsibilities we need to carry through.

This has been a guide to what is CPA Vs CS. We explain it with infographics, key differences and a comparative table & why we should pursue them. You can learn more from the following articles –

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