Voluntary certification of products

Courtesy: Voluntary certification of products

Advanced professional certificates are professional credentials designed to help professionals enhance their job performance and marketability in their respective fields. In many other countries, certificates are qualifications in higher education. In the United States, a certificate may be offered by an institute of higher education. These certificates usually signify that a student has reached a standard of knowledge of a certain vocational subject. Certificate programs can be completed more quickly than associate degrees and often do not have general education requirements.

An advanced professional certificate is a result of an educational process designed for individuals. Certificates are designed for both newcomers to the industry as well as seasoned professionals. Certificates are awarded by an educational program or academic institution. Completion of a certificate program indicates completion of a course or series of courses with a specific concentration that is different from an educational degree program. Course content for an advanced certificate is set forth through a variety of sources i.e. faculty, committee, instructors, and other subject matter experts in a related field. The end goal of an advanced professional certificate is so that professionals may demonstrate knowledge of course content at the end of a set period in time.

There are many professional bodies for accountants and auditors throughout the world; some of them are legally recognized in their jurisdictions. Public accountants are the accountancy and control experts that are legally certified in different jurisdictions to work in public practices, certifying accounts as statutory auditors, eventually selling advice and services to other individuals and businesses. Today, however, many work within private corporations, financial industry, and government bodies.

Accounting and external auditing

• CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant), the unified accounting designation in Canada conferred by CPA Canada.
• CA or Chartered Accountant conferred by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
• Institute of Chartered Accountants within the Commonwealth e.g. Australia and New Zealand, South Africa, Canada (before merger into CPA). With mutual recognition with each other and with the UK
• ACA, FCA or CA (Chartered Accountant) conferred by Institutes of Chartered Accountants in various territories, namely the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
• ACMA or FCMA (Associate or Fellow Chartered Management Accountant) conferred by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK)
• Associate or Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA or FCCA) conferred by Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK)
• AFA or FFA (Associate or Fellow Incorporated Financial Accountant) conferred by the Institute of Financial Accountants (UK)
• AAIA or FAIA (Associate or Fellow International Accountant) conferred by Association of International Accountants
• MIPA or FIPA (Member or Fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants who use the designation “Public Accountant”) conferred by the Institute of Public Accountants (Australia)
• CPA (Certified Public Accountant) conferred by State Accountancy Boards in the US, Hong-Kong, Canada …
• CMA (Certified Management Accountant) conferred by Institute of Certified Management Accountants (ICMA in Australia), Institute of Management Accountants (IMA in US)
• CCC (Chartered Cost Controllers) issued and conferred by the American Academy of Financial Management USA Certifying Board (AAFM)
• CFS (Certified Finance Specialist) conferred by IQN

Internal auditing and fraud combat

• cAAP (Certified Agile Auditor Professional) awarded by cRisk Academy for proficiency in Agile Auditing
• cCAE (Certified Chief Audit Executive) awarded by cRisk Academy for proficiency in starting and running an Internal Audit department
• cORCM (Certification in Objective-Centric Risk and Certainty Management) awarded by cRisk Academy
• cPIA (Certified Practitioner in Internal Audit) awarded by cRisk Academy for proficiency in Internal Auditing
• cRBIA (Certified Risk-Based Internal Auditor) awarded by cRisk Academy for proficiency in Risk-Based Internal Auditing
• CIA (Certified Internal Auditor): CCSA, Certification in Control Self Assessment; CGAP, Certified Government Auditing Professional; CRMA, Certification in Risk Management Assurance; QIAL, Qualification in Internal Audit Leadership, conferred by the internationally recognized Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida, with chapters in many countries
• CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) conferred by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) headquartered in Texas with chapters in many countries
• CFF (Certified in Financial Forensics) awarded by the American Institute of CPAs
• CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) awarded by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association headquartered in the US with chapters in many countries
• CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) offered by Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) and advanced CAMS
• CGSS (Certified Global Sanctions Specialist) conferred by Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS)
• CSA (Certified Strategic Auditor) conferred by Association of Certified Strategic Auditors (ACSA) 
• IACCP (Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional) conferred by the Investment Adviser Association (IAA) and National Regulatory Services (NRS)
• CPERM (Certified Professional in Enterprise Risk Management) conferred by the Academy of Professional Certification Company (APC) which endorsed by HKSARG

Finance

• CFS (Certified Finance Specialist) conferred by IQN
• CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) conferred by CFA Institute (CFA)
• ChFM Chartered Financial Manager  conferred by International Board of Standards
• CIIA (Certified International Investment Analyst) conferred by the Association of Certified International Investment Analysts (ACIIA)
• IACCP (Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional) conferred by the Investment Adviser Association (IAA) and National Regulatory Services (NRS)