Access to online authoritative literature
The revised CPA exam will consist of multiple-choice questions and condensed case studies called simulations. Part of the simulations will require a search of authoritative literature databases to answer questions. Therefore, it is important that future CPA examination candidates become familiar with approaches for searching databases of authoritative literature to be able to answer these types of questions. Here are some ways that educators, schools and students can get access to helpful online resources.
Site licenses for schools
This product includes the complete set of Professionals Standards, Technical Practice Aids and Audit and Accounting Guides. This is available to schools under an academic site license program, for $1,185 in the first year, with annual renewals for $885. Visit www.aicpa.org/edu/resourceinfo.html for information about the AICPA site license program.
Discounted Student/Recent Graduate member subscriptions
AICPA Student Affiliate/Recent Graduate Members (who pay annual dues of $30) can subscribe to AICPA Resource at a special price of $40 for a one-year subscription. Students or recent graduates who wish to become AICPA members should go to www.aicpa.org
Free subscriptions for educators
AICPA educator members can get a free subscription to AICPA Resource. Go to www.cpa2biz.com and register as an AICPA member to obtain access. Nonmember educators can also acquire a free subscription by sending a written request to AICPA's Member Satisfaction department on college or university letterhead. Fax letters to 800-362-5066 or mail to AICPA, Subscription Dept., P.O. Box 2208, Jersey City, NJ 07303-2208.
Financial Accounting Standards Board statements
The Financial Accounting Standards Board has made available on its Web site the full text of all FASB statements issued since 1973. Note that FASB statements are presented as originally issued, are not in a searchable format, and may not be stored on your computer in any archival system. Additionally, superceded sections of the standards are not shaded and it is difficult to identify such sections.
Other Resources
There are a number of texts that provide guidance on identifying and using electronic databases and other research sources. Two such publications are Accounting & Auditing Research: A Practical Guide (South-Western College Publishing) by Thomas R. Weirich and Alan Reinstein, and Mastery of the Financial Accounting Research System (FARS) Through Cases (June 2004, John Wiley & Sons Inc.) by Wanda A. Wallace.
Every hard copy of Mastery of the Financial Accounting Research System Through Cases includes an academic version of the FARS CD-ROM, which is updated once a year. Students gain access to the online version with the purchase of a casebook. The online version permits students to work entirely on the Internet. In addition to guidance on using FARS, the casebook includes information on other resources, such as Internet search engines and resources and special-purpose databases.
Accounting & Auditing Research: A Practical Guide is described as a "do-it-yourself, understand-it-yourself manual that serves as a primer on research methodology to assist the reader in conducting research in order to develop theoretically correct and justifiable solutions to accounting or auditing questions." It guides the reader step-by-step through the research process. Topics covered in the text include sources of authoritative literature, research via the Internet, other research tools and an introduction to tax research. The text also includes learning objectives on writing and critical thinking skills. Two CD-ROMs accompany the text.
* AICPA: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. AAA: American Accounting Association
