CPA Journal Online

1996 MARKS 100 YEARS AS A LICENSED PROFESSION

On April 17, 1896, the New York State legislature took the momentous step of enacting the first CPA licensing law in the United States. The new law was passed after much haggling and bickering over who would qualify for the credential and how the profession would be regulated. The first certificates were issued in December 1896, the same month the first CPA examination was ad-ministered.

The CPA Journal is very pleased this month to mark the 100th anniversary of these events with an article by accounting historian Paul Miranti that tells the full story of those early years. It is a fascinating tale, with names that have historic significance. The leaders of that day also were involved in establishing the first school of accountancy at New York University. We encourage you to spend a few minutes learning about the past--it will help give meaning to and a sense of perspective of where we find our- selves today.

You also will want to read the sidebar about Joseph Hardcastle, the first person to pass the CPA exam. He was a remarkable person--a real credit to the profession in those early years.

In commemoration of the first CPA law, the Northeast region of the American Accounting Association, the school of commerce at New York University, and the New York State Society of CPAs are sponsoring a luncheon on April 19, 1996, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Chancellor Carl Hayden of the New York Board of Regents and Keith Woodley, president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales are the featured speakers. The goal is to have 100 CPAs join the representatives of the other organizations to celebrate the event. For more information or to reserve a spot at the luncheon, call (212) 719-8300 and ask for Xio Fox or e-mail editorial assistant Michael Rosencrantz at mrosencrantz@luca.com. *

The CPA Journal is broadly recognized as an outstanding, technical-refereed publication aimed at public practitioners, management, educators, and other accounting professionals. It is edited by CPAs for CPAs. Our goal is to provide CPAs and other accounting professionals with the information and news to enable them to be successful accountants, managers, and executives in today's practice environments.