A profession hungry for good news on the talent front found plenty of inspiration on Oct. 24 as 60 of Maryland’s newest CPAs were sworn into the profession as part of the Maryland Association of CPAs’ annual Newly Licensed CPA Swearing-In Ceremony, sponsored by the MACPA Foundation.

Held at the Hotel at Arundel Preserve in Hanover, Md., the event brought together newly licensed professionals who became CPAs during the past year to take an oath that reaffirms their commitment to their clients, their profession, the state of Maryland, and the publics they serve. The oath reads:

I solemnly swear that I will assume the responsibilities and obligations as a certified public accountant in the state of Maryland and in the United States of America.

I will support the laws and regulations and perform my professional duties to the best of my ability in an ethical, professional, and objective manner.

As a CPA, I will uphold the honor and dignity of the accounting profession and abide by the rules of professional conduct.

While the oath is strictly ceremonial, the presence of new CPAs at the event is evidence of their dedication to the future of the profession, and the ceremony itself plays an important role in a CPA's early career in a couple of key ways:

• Not only does the ceremony give new CPAs and their families an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments, but it forces those attending to actually verbalize their commitment to serving the public. Passing the exam and earning your license is one thing. Standing in front of state and federal regulators, raising your right hand and promising to do the right thing is a much more powerful step, and one the new CPAs will remember when faced with professionally and morally difficult decisions.
• When you talk to the new CPAs, you quickly realize how much the event means to them. Previous “Swearing-In” participants have called the event “the exclamation point” on their years of studying and exam preparation, and “the most important experience” of their lives.

"In essence, the CPA oath is not just a formality; it's a solemn promise that underscores the importance of ethics, professionalism, and the vital role CPAs play in safeguarding the financial well-being of individuals, businesses, and society as a whole," said John Dove Jr., commissioner of the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing for Maryland's Department of Labor, who also administered the oath. "It solidifies your commitment to serving the public interest and upholding the highest ethical standards, making the CPA designation a mark of trust and integrity in the world of finance and accounting."

"While the grueling exam is over, this is just the beginning for these new CPAs," said MACPA Executive Director Rebekah Olson, CPA. "There are endless opportunities before them to use their knowledge and experience to improve not only their organizations, but the community and our world as well."

This year’s event included additional remarks from:

• Dr. Jan Williams, chair of Maryland's State Board of Public Accountancy.
• Christine Aspell, chair of the MACPA's Board of Directors.
• Anoop Mehta, a former MACPA and American Institute of CPAs chair and an active board member of the MACPA Foundation.

The Swearing-In Ceremony was sponsored by KatzAbosch. Champion Foundation Donors for the event were CliftonLarsonAllen, Deloitte, KPMG, and RSM.