About the Maryland Association of CPAs
(MACPA)

The Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA) is the only statewide, professional membership organization dedicated to serving the needs of Maryland Certified Public Accountants. We often say that “Public” is our middle name and our track record shows it. CPAs are in the accountability and integrity business – serving the needs of our free-market economy. Only CPAs are allowed to perform audits, which are often used by banks and other third parties for credit and borrowing purposes.

MACPA Provides:

technical assistance • business development opportunities • continuing education
general business information • professional network • advocacy for the CPA profession in Maryland • resources for legislative and regulatory bodies and the business community

With a membership of nearly 12,000, the Maryland Association of CPAs is the largest professional organization serving the exclusive needs of Maryland CPAs. This statewide, professional membership organization represents the majority of Maryland CPAs in practice, industry, government, and education. MACPA works with State regulators and legislators to protect the public interest and to enable members’ compliance with the highest standards of the CPA Profession. Seven chapters and numerous committees made up of hundreds of CPA volunteers develop programs and address issues to help all members be successful professionals.

MACPA membership is recognized by businesspeople, bankers, lawyers, legislators and others as evidence that a CPA is committed to meeting rigid professional and ethical standards. Additionally, many of the largest CPA firms in the nation are members of the MACPA. These are the firms that audit the large businesses and institutions in Maryland. Also, 3,000 sole practitioners and small CPA firms as well as thousands of Maryland’s small businesses and individuals participate in the MACPA membership. From our largest public companies and institutions to the small family-owned businesses on Main Street, MACPA members can be found working as Controllers, Staff Accountants, CFOs, internal auditors, and in all of the critical roles required to maintain accurate and reliable financial information systems. Our CPAs are also directly employed by Maryland’s businesses and government, non-profit, and educational institutions. Click here to learn more about MACPA.

Recognizing the importance of trustworthy financial information in a market-based economy, the law established requirements and state licensing for accountants who would meet certain educational, examination, and experience standards to insure the reliability of financial information. Maryland enacted the Certified Public Accounting statute in 1901 when Governor John Smith signed into law one of the first bills in the nation which recognized the public need for a “Certified Public Accountant.” The Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA) was organized in 1901, less than a year after Maryland legislation passed, and has been providing services, regulation, and certification for CPAs ever since.

In order to become licensed as a CPA, Maryland accountants must qualify for the four E’s:

1) Education (150 hours) – a Bachelor’s degree in accounting plus an additional thirty (30) hours of education; 2) Examination – passing the rigorous national Uniform CPA exam; 3) Experience – licensees must demonstrate 2,000 hours of experience; and 4) Ethics – licensees must also pass a national ethics examination. CPAs are also required to complete eighty (80) hours of continuing education every two years to stay current with the ever changing body of knowledge required in the accounting profession.

You can see why we say Maryland counts on CPAs!