WORKING WITH YOUR CPA · 6 MIN READ
How Do I Know if My CPA Is Qualified to Do the Work I Need?
By Hevia & Hevia CPA Firm · Published
Reviewed by Alexander Hevia, CPA, J.D., LL.M. (Taxation) —
Look for professional licensing, relevant education and continuing education, and experience handling the specific work you need. These qualifications matter particularly when your needs involve a business, real estate investments, or international taxation.
The right CPA should have both the professional qualifications to practice and experience handling the issues you face. Here is how to evaluate those qualifications.
What education and qualifications does a CPA need?
A Certified Public Accountant is a licensed professional who has satisfied education, examination, and experience requirements established by a state board of accountancy.
The educational foundation generally includes a bachelor’s degree and specified accounting and business coursework. Candidates must also pass the Uniform CPA Examination and satisfy the applicable experience and licensing requirements.
For example, Florida’s standard initial licensing requirements currently include 150 semester hours of college education, a bachelor’s degree or higher, required accounting and business coursework, and one year of qualifying experience. Other licensing routes and exceptions may apply, and requirements vary by state. Florida CPA licensing requirements
Does every CPA need a master’s degree?
No. A master’s degree is not universally required to become a CPA.
Some candidates complete a master’s degree in accounting or taxation to satisfy educational requirements and develop additional knowledge. Others meet the required coursework and credit hours without earning a separate graduate degree.
A master’s degree can add valuable depth, but its relevance depends on the subject studied and how the professional applies that education in practice. A graduate degree focused on taxation may be particularly useful for a CPA whose work centers on tax compliance and planning.
How do CPAs keep their knowledge current?
Initial qualifications establish a foundation. Continuing professional education helps CPAs maintain and update that knowledge throughout their careers.
Florida generally requires active CPAs to complete 80 hours of continuing professional education during each two-year reporting period, including at least eight hours in accounting and auditing and four hours of Florida Board-approved ethics. Florida continuing education requirements
For clients, the subject matter matters as well as the number of hours. If your circumstances involve foreign income, business ownership, or rental properties, ask how the CPA stays current in those areas.
Useful questions include:
- What recent education relates to my tax situation?
- How do you evaluate changes in tax law that affect your clients?
- When an unfamiliar issue arises, how do you research it or involve another specialist?
What additional expertise does a J.D. provide?
A Juris Doctor, or J.D., is a professional law degree. It develops training in legal research, interpretation of statutes and court decisions, and analysis of how legal rules apply to particular facts.
For a CPA working in taxation, that training can complement accounting knowledge. Tax questions often require understanding both the financial transaction and the legal rules governing its treatment.
That perspective can be useful when evaluating business structures, ownership arrangements, transactions, and complex tax positions.
What does an LL.M. in Taxation add?
An LL.M. in Taxation is a Master of Laws degree focused on tax law, generally pursued after a J.D. or an equivalent law degree.
It provides advanced study beyond the broader legal education of a J.D. Depending on the program and courses selected, subjects may include corporate and partnership taxation, international taxation, property transactions, trusts and estates, and tax research.
For example, the University of Miami’s tax LL.M. curriculum includes corporate taxation, partnership taxation, inbound and outbound international taxation, property transactions, and wealth transfer taxation. University of Miami LL.M. in Taxation
A professional who combines a CPA license with a J.D. and an LL.M. in Taxation brings complementary accounting and legal training to tax work. That combination can be particularly valuable when financial reporting, business decisions, and complex tax rules intersect.
These credentials support professional judgment; they should be considered alongside relevant experience and the services included in your engagement.
Does my CPA have experience with situations like mine?
A CPA license does not mean that every CPA regularly handles every type of accounting or tax matter.
For example, preparing an individual return with wage income differs substantially from advising a partnership, a foreign investor holding U.S. real estate, or a business owner with operations in multiple countries.
Ask whether the professional regularly works with your type of client and your particular issues. Relevant experience might include:
- LLCs, S corporations, corporations, and partnerships.
- Physicians, attorneys, and other service professionals.
- Real estate investors and rental property owners.
- Individuals and businesses with domestic and international tax obligations.
A qualified professional should also recognize when a matter requires another specialist and explain how that coordination will work.
What should I ask before hiring a CPA?
Start with these practical questions:
- Is your CPA license active? Verify licensing through the appropriate state licensing authority.
- Have you handled situations similar to mine? Ask about relevant experience without requesting confidential client information.
- Who will prepare and review my work? Understand who is responsible and whom you will contact.
- What does the engagement include? Clarify whether the fee covers preparation, planning, bookkeeping, notices, or other services.
- How will we communicate about deadlines and decisions? Establish expectations before work begins.
Look for clear explanations, thoughtful questions, and a willingness to identify the limits of an engagement.
Choosing a CPA for your business and family
At Hevia & Hevia CPA Firm, our multigenerational team combines accounting experience with advanced tax education. Director Alexander Hevia is a Florida CPA who earned his J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation at the University of Miami, with professional and educational concentrations in business and international taxation.
We serve businesses and the families behind them across South Florida, including Miami, Brickell, and Coral Gables, as well as clients with international tax considerations.
Contact our team to discuss your circumstances and the experience your work requires.
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