The Internet has opened new consulting opportunities for the accounting profession. The government has regulations and forms available on-line. Individual accountants have Web sites explaining the services they offer. Accounting organizations provide information to members at low cost through the Internet. 1. Go to http://www.AICPA.org and read the information displayed. (Note: Make certain the URL uses the org suffix for organizations rather than the .com suffix for companies.) What is the AICPA? How many accountants belong to this organization? What do the initials AICPA stand for? 2. In the left-hand column are links to a variety of accounting information. Click on Students and then becoming a CPA. List two characteristics of what earnings the CPA certification indicates. 3. In the left-hand column, click on Pubs and then the current issue of the "Journal of Accountancy: Scan one of the articles. List the title and author of the article and com- ment on one item of interest. 4. In the left-hand column. click on CPA Links.

a. Click on Accounting Associations. Many of these associations offer scholarships and stu- dent memberships. What is Beta Alpha Psi?

b. Go back to the CPA Links menu and click on State Boards of Accountancy. This board grants certificates and licenses to practice public accounting in that state. Click on the link to your state board of accountancy and comment on one item of interest.