What gives someone the right to call himself or herself a professional? Some people believe that it requires a certain amount of hands on experience. Other people will say that you need to reach a certain level of education and achievement before you can adopt the title. Still others will argue that you can only call yourself a professional when you have demonstrated the qualities sought after in that profession.

Making sense of all of this and defining the rules of what is and is not a professional are various organizations and states in the country. For example, consider accountants. Texas requires that people who want to call themselves a CPA pass certain ethics courses to maintain their license. Lets take a moment to examine what this means and see for ourselves the implications of ethics courses for a field of professional workers.

What Is A CPA?

A CPA is a certified public accountant. In the state of Texas, you have to be a CPA in order to call yourself an accountant. Not getting the right education and certification means that you are not a professional in the field and are subject to legal action I you are claiming something you are not educated for. Certified public accountants can provide financial assistance to individuals and business, utilizing their skill and expertise to provide a superior service that people can trust. A professional position, a CPA can do a wide range of tasks and provide myriad services dependent on the needs of the client.

Texas Board Approved Ethics Courses

So what does this have to do with ethics? Well, recently Texas board approved ethics courses for all members. What this means is that new members pursuing their CPA will have to pass an ethics course. In addition, every person with a license will have to take a mandatory 4-hour ethics course approved by the Board every other year. Texas board approved ethics courses include a lot of information regarding appropriate practices and approaches to financial interactions.

Why Are Ethics Courses Important?

The board passed the ethics course ruling due to a real and present need for ethical practices to be reviewed. It is the goal of such practices to improve the overall quality of the service offered in the state. By making such changes, clients who hire CPAs can rest assured that their finances are being handled by someone who not only knows what they are doing but can navigate the moral and ethical framework they find themselves in.