ACCOUNTING HISTORY IN PERSPECTIVE: UNIFORM CPA EXAM TURNS 100

Professional accountancy examinations have been associated with the accounting profession for many years. They arrived with the advent of professional accounting associations. This paper provides a brief summary of the development of professional accounting examinations from their origin in Scotland and the first professional accounting association. In order to regulate entry into the accounting profession, the use of rigorous oral and written examinations were introduced. Professional accounting organizations quickly spread to England and Wales with associated examinations that evaluated the accounting knowledge and abilities of the applicant. Next, accounting associations or societies with their required examinations spread to Europe and the United States. This paper traces the evolution of professional examinations from the mid-1800's to present day. Tremendous changes in the required professional accounting exams have taken place during that period. The story begins with accountancy exams required by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), which was the first recognized professional accounting association originating in 1854. This paper concludes with changes planned in 2017 for the U.S. Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Examination on its 100th anniversary.