AICPA Code of Professional Conduct (Course Id 2711)

• Who is this course for?
  This course is intended for anyone needing Continuing Professional Education (CPE), particularly CPAs seeking to understand or maintain compliance with ethical standards.

• What is this course about or what problem does this course solve?
  This course addresses the need for CPAs to understand and apply the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct, ensuring they act ethically and professionally in their responsibilities.

• How can the knowledge from this course be used?
  Participants can use this knowledge to identify ethical dilemmas, apply ethical reasoning, comply with AICPA standards, and avoid violations that could result in disciplinary action or license loss.

• Why is this course important to a CPA or Accountant?
  Understanding the AICPA Code is essential because adherence is both a legal requirement and a professional obligation critical to maintaining public trust and professional integrity.

• When is this course relevant or timely?
  The course is especially relevant upon its release in 2025 and as a refresher when CPAs need to reaffirm their knowledge of current ethical standards and updates in the Code.

• How is a course like this consumed or used?
  It is delivered as a self-study text course that participants complete independently, including review questions and a final exam for CPE credit.

CPAs have a considerable responsibility to the public, their profession, the organizations they serve, and themselves.  To protect the public interest and maintain the profession's reputation, CPAs must act with integrity, honesty, and fairness. The AICPA Code of Professional Conduct (Code) consists of foundational principles, enforceable rules, and interpretations to set ethical and professional guidelines for the CPA profession. The vast majority of state boards of accountancy have adopted the Code in their own regulations or have created their own equivalent codes. Adhering to the Code is a professional obligation and a legal requirement, as violations can result in disciplinary actions and the potential loss of one's CPA license regulated by state boards of accountancy.

This course is designed to help you maintain knowledge of current AICPA ethical requirements. It begins with a presentation of individual ethical responsibility, including the concepts of ethics and morals, the process of ethical reasoning, and the importance of ethical codes. It demonstrates how to apply the two most commonly used ethical theories for resolving ethical dilemmas. The impact of corporate culture and leadership on individual behavior is also explained. The second part of the course covers the AICPA's core principles, which provide a structured framework of standards that dictate expected professional behavior. It addresses specific rules that govern the performance of CPAs’ professional responsibilities, along with the conceptual framework approach to coping with ethical dilemmas. Numerous examples are included to help you apply fundamental ethical concepts and comply with the relevant provisions of the Code.

NASBA QAS - Text - NASBA Registry - 2711

Course Learning Objectives

1. Recognize ethical reasoning used by accountants
2. Recognize the core principles within the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
3. Identify the steps within the conceptual framework approach
4. Recognize the indicators of impairment of independence
5. Identify ethical standards and violations

Chapter 1:   Ethics and Ethical Behavior

Individual Ethical Responsibility

Dilemmas and Reasoning

Roles of Ethical Codes

Ethical Business Practices

Corporate Culture and Leadership

Corporate Social Responsibility

Chapter 1 Review Questions

Chapter 2:   AICPA Code of Professional Conduct

Overview of the AICPA Code

AICPA Code and State Board Rules

Structure of the Code

Recent Updates

Fundamental Principles

Ethical Decision-Making Framework

Conceptual Framework Approach

Conceptual Framework Toolkit

Ethical Conflicts

Rules for Members in Public Practice

Integrity and Objectivity Rule

Conflicts of Interest

Gifts and Entertainment

Preparing and Reporting Information

Client Advocacy

Use of a Third-Party Service Provider

Responding to Noncompliance with Laws and Regulations

Chapter 2 Review Questions - Section 1

Independence

Application of Independence Rule

Network and Network Firms

Fees

Financial Interests

Loans and Leases

Business Relationships

Family Relationships

Simultaneous Employment or Association with an Attest Client

Former Employment or Association with Attest Client

Considering Employment or Association with an Attest Client

Actual or Threatened Litigation

Nonattest Services

Breach of an Independence Interpretation

Chapter 2 Review Questions - Section 2

General Standards

Compliance with Standards

Accounting Principle

Acts Discreditable

Contingent Fees

Commissions and Referral Fees

Advertising and Other Forms of Solicitation

False, Misleading, or Deceptive Act

Use of AICPA-Awarded Designation

Use of the CPA Credential

Confidential Information

General Rules

Disclosing Information from Previous Engagements

Disclosing Information to Clients

Disclosing Information to a Third-Party Service Provider

Form of Organization and Name Rule

General Rules

Partner Designation

Firm Name

Rules for Members in Business

Chapter 2 Review Questions - Section 3

Appendix A: Conflicts of Interest

Appendix B: Conceptual Framework Worksheet Illustration

Appendix C: Management Responsibilities

Glossary