Effective Communication Styles for CPAs (Course Id 1895)

• Who is this course for?
  This course is intended for CPAs—or anyone needing Continuing Professional Education (CPE)—who want to learn about different communication styles used in professional contexts and enhance their client communication skills.

• What is this course about or what problem does this course solve?
  It defines the four distinct communication styles available to CPAs and elaborates on how each style works—including intention, typical mood, nonverbal and verbal cues. This addresses the challenge of choosing the right style in different client interactions.

• How can the knowledge from this course be used?
  Learners can apply the knowledge by accurately recognizing and utilizing different communication styles—small talk, shop talk, control talk, aware talk, and search talk—in real-world professional interactions, improving clarity and rapport.

• Why is this course important to a CPA, Accountant, or IRS Enrolled Agent?
  Effective communication fosters better client relationships, ensures messages are understood, and supports professionalism—crucial for trust and successful outcomes in accounting practice.

• When is this course relevant or timely?
  Originally released in 2021, this course was last revised on June 10, 2025, ensuring its content is current and relevant for modern communication demands.

• How is a course like this consumed or used?
  Delivered as a NASBA QAS self-study text course, it consists of approximately 26 pages, six review questions, and a final exam with 10 questions. Learners complete it independently online and must score at least 70%—within one year of purchase—to earn 2.0 CPE credits.

Working with clients requires all practitioners to be able to communicate effectively. Effective Communication Styles for CPAs is a training course that will define the various communication styles that are available to CPAs. This course will define the communication process and describe the two parts to every message. This course describes four communication styles. Each communication style will be defined in the following areas: the intention of using it, typical mood when used, nonverbal cues associated with it and verbal cues associated with it. This course includes numerous exercises to apply this information. 

NASBA QAS - Text - NASBA Registry - 1895

Course Learning Objectives

• Identify the four communication styles available to CPAs
• Recognize the characteristics of the small talk and shop talk communication style
• Recognize the characteristics of the control talk communication style
• Recognize the characteristics of the aware talk communication style
• Recognize the characteristics of the search talk communication style

Chapter 1 - Effective Communication Styles for CPAs

Course Learning Objectives

Introduction

Communication Definition

Communication Styles

Communication Style Exercise

Behavior and Attitude

Caring vs Non-Caring Attitude

Content and Style

Communication Style Guide

Small Talk or Shop Talk

Small Talk

Shop Talk

Control Talk

Fight Talk

Spite Talk

Search Talk

Aware Talk

Communication Exercise

Glossary