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weekend_warrior2026-05-21
cpaREGHolding OutProfessional Responsibility

What does holding out mean in CPA ethics questions?

I see the phrase "holding out" all over the AUD and REG materials but I am unsure what it specifically refers to.

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Verified ExpertVerified Expert
AcadiFi Certified Professional

Holding out means representing to the public that you are a CPA, a CPA firm, or offering CPA services. The representation can happen through a website, business card, proposal, report, profile, letterhead, or email signature.

The exam issue is not only whether the statement is literally true. A licensed person may still create a misleading impression if the context suggests that a non-CPA employer is a licensed CPA firm or that regulated services are being offered outside the proper entity.

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