Playing a fundamental role in accountability as it relates to various aspects of accounting, ethics is a crucial subject deemed immensely important by the board in charge of certified professional accountants. The information is provided through classes specially designed to address the most important ethical issues in accounting. With that in mind, lets take a moment to review Texas CPE ethics to see exactly what this means and what the subject material will cover.
What Does CPE Mean?
CPE stands for continuing professional education. In many careers and professions, CPE is a yearly requirement. Jobs like architecture or accounting require that the professional continue to receive education, even after they have graduated from school. This education will ensure that they remain up to date with the latest laws and requirements, ensuring that all professionals in the field are on the same page. By making CPE mandatory, clients and customers can be assured that no matter whom they choose, the quality of the service will be assured. CPEs are popular across the country in dozens of different professions and play a crucial role in maintaining standards of excellence. As a result, they are frequently put into place by organizations responsible for monitoring and licensing professionals.
What Does It Have To Do With Texas?
In Texas every person who wants to call himself or herself an accountant must become a CPA, or certified public accountant. Becoming a CPA means going to school, taking courses, gaining real world experience, and then passing a final exam. In addition to getting certified, accountants must continue their education over the course of their career, occasionally taking courses in topics required by their organization. One CPE course required by the organization that regulates certified professional accountants in Texas involve ethics. In particular, they cover the often-challenging point where ethics and accounting collide.
What Do Texas CPE Ethics Courses Teach?
Every course that offers information on CPE ethics must meet certain requirements from the board and then be certified before it can be used to teach professionals. A typical course will be 4 hours in length and can be either online or in person. It will cover ethical reasoning 15% of the time, integrity 15% of the time, objectivity 15%, independence 15%, other core values 15%, AICPA ethics rules 10%, ethical theory 10%, and other topics 5%. These topics are demonstrated through practical examples that help to provide a framework for how accountants approach problems in the future.