If you havent read all the other answers you should. They all provide aslightly different interpretation.I think it is sound logic to agree with everyone that the accreditation is oflittle practical value. Both CPAs and EAs can do bad work.What makes for a qualified tax preparer Intelligence experience dedication.Often rare to find in a field that is subject to low pay program basedintelligence who actually files a tax return on paper with a pencil highclient turnover and little ability to differentiate yourself from the alsorans.But more letter after your name can be a distinction. While many uniformedpotential clients dont know the difference between a EA CPA or CPU it maybe enough competitively to make the u201cMore is betteru201d argument. I have fiveletter and that other person only has three or two. It works at leastoccasionally.But the entire gist of this conversation is in the wrong direction. Thequestion that matters the one that should be asked and always striven forisHow can I increase my skills knowledge and experience to better serve myclients and do it to a level that others can see is valuableThat is the important question. How do you make a real difference I believeeveryone that has posted would agree the acronym after your name cant makethat difference.