ADELANTE
Institutional Repository

Driven by the effects of globalization and the industry's growing complexity, today's accounting profession has undertaken materialization and proliferation of accounting certifications other than the CPA designation. This study delves deeper into the employability advantages of non-CPA certifications classified into International and Local Non-CPA Certifications. It aims to bridge the gap between management accounting students' perceptions and the experience of certificate employees on the employability advantages such as marketability, salaries and incentives, and career opportunities and advancement. Using the verified survey questionnaire developed by the proponents, 117 respondents participated in the data collection. Empirical data were tabulated through mean, standard deviation, and t-tests todetermine and compare the perceptions and experiences of respondents. The findings suggest that in the context of non-CPA certifications, both respondents' perspectives differ in salaries and incentives. In particular, students downright consider certifications to significantly impact wages, while certificate employees discern certifications are not the only factor for additional compensation raise. Therefore, a knowledge gap and other uncontrollable workplace circumstances, like competition, cause the disparity between the two perspectives. These findings are informative for management accounting students interested in pursuing such designations and for professionals seeking non-CPA certification to enhance their professional arsenal.