Certification directory

Credential rankings

Authority Index scorecards across cloud, finance, compliance, accounting, and security. Compare AWS, Azure, and GCP side-by-side; drill into any program for bucket-level detail and metrics we are still collecting.

Sign in for recommendations tailored to your career goals and time budget. Filter by vendor (AWS, Azure, GCP) and credential level to compare role tracks side-by-side.

For you →

Level

Vendor

Deep analysisMin signal0

Showing 3 programs · Accounting & tax

Rank			Domain
01	Uniform CPA Examination ACCOUNTINGPREMIUMTOP SIGNAL	AICPA	Accounting & tax	PROFESSIONAL	80	$1,000–1,500	73% match · est.
02	Enrolled Agent (EA) ACCOUNTINGPREMIUMTOP SIGNAL	IRS	Accounting & tax	PROFESSIONAL	78	$600–800	90% match · est.
03	Certified Management Accountant (CMA) ACCOUNTING	IMA	Accounting & tax	PROFESSIONAL	77	$1,000–1,400	75% match · est.

Click a program for exam logistics, pros/cons, and full scorecard drill-down

How to read these metrics

Rankings columns

Authority Index: Structural bucket scores (identity, logistics, difficulty, curriculum, market signal, outcomes) plus a small sentiment layer from verified holders. Hard filters (e.g., unproctored, dormant issuer) cap the maximum score.
Structural score: Editorial assessment of registry presence, proctoring, pass-rate difficulty, curriculum fit, employer signal, and stated ROI — independent of community reviews.
Market signal: Higher values indicate stronger hiring-market and job-posting signal for this credential. Used inside the structural score, not a standalone hiring guarantee.
Exam vs reality gap: When verified holder reviews exist, gap reflects blueprint match, surprise narratives, and study-hour deltas. Without reviews we show an editorial estimate (~) from official pass rates and study load — not holder-verified.
Holder reviews: Only reviews from credential holders who completed verification are counted. Sentiment aggregates and verified gap scores unlock at n≥5 published reviews.
Exam cost: Ranges reflect list exam fees; training bundles, retakes, and membership dues may add materially — especially for multi-part finance and compliance programs.
Prep duration: Editorial planning estimate for working professionals (~8–12 hrs/week). Your timeline varies with prior experience and retakes.
Difficulty: Combines issuer-reported pass rates (when available) with typical study hours. Low pass rates and long prep windows indicate rigorous filters.

Gap values marked Est. are editorial estimates from pass rates and study load until verified holder reviews publish. Review counts show published holder narratives only.