Wisconsin Institutes of Certified Public Accountants

What Wisconsin Institutes of Certified Public Accountants does

WICPA is a private, nonprofit professional membership association headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin, serving CPAs, accounting professionals, educators, and students throughout the state. The organization reports a community of 7,000+ members and operates as the recognized state-level affiliate aligned with the AICPA, providing continuing professional education (CPE), advocacy representation, peer review services, career resources, and member publications including On Balance Magazine and CPA2b Magazine. Its core products span a CPE & Events Catalog, Membership Services, the public Find a CPA Directory, Student and Educator Resources (including grants up to $2,500), Advocacy Services, a Career Center job board, Peer Review services for AICPA membership compliance, the Excellence Awards program, and the Discounts & Partners affinity program with 13+ vendors spanning banking, insurance, payments, legal, IT, and apparel.

The underlying technology is a standard web-based association platform enabling online membership enrollment and auto-renewal, CPE tracking, event registration, member portal access (WICPA Connect), and public-facing directories. WICPA does not operate a mobile app, does not expose public APIs or SDKs, and has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. Distribution occurs through self-serve website enrollment, in-person CPE courses and conferences across Wisconsin locations, and affinity partner channels. The organization also maintains the WICPA Educational Foundation as an affiliated nonprofit entity that funds accounting career awareness grants.

WICPA's revenue model rests on three streams: annual membership dues with auto-renewal (subject to Board approval each membership year running May 1 to April 30), transactional fees from CPE course registrations, conferences, and special events, and sponsorship/advertising revenue from affinity partnerships. Pricing is tiered across standard professional, educator (50% conference discount), and student memberships, with educator grants up to $2,500 paid out from the Educational Foundation. The organization has no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and operates as an independent nonprofit governed by a Board of Directors.

Name

Wisconsin Institutes of Certified Public Accountants

Legal name

Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Website

https://wicpa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WICPA is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit professional membership association serving 7,000+ CPAs, accounting professionals, educators, and students through continuing education, advocacy, peer review, career resources, publications, and an affinity partner discount ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB), Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)

Keywords

• Professional membership association
• Continuing professional education
• Legislative advocacy services
• Accounting career awareness
• Peer review services

Headquarters

HQ city

Waukesha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues with auto-renewal, subject to Board approval each year. Membership year runs from May 1 to April 30.
2. CPE Courses and Events: Continuing professional education courses, conferences, and special events including the annual Golf Outing. Revenue from course registrations and event fees.
3. Sponsorships and Advertising: Sponsorship opportunities for events and affinity partnerships with vendors offering member discounts.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WICPA is a professional membership association serving Wisconsin CPAs, accounting professionals, educators, and students. Its core offerings include continuing professional education (CPE) courses and conferences, legislative advocacy before Wisconsin state agencies, an online community (WICPA Connect), publications (On Balance and CPA2b magazines), a Find a CPA public directory, peer review services, educator grants, student scholarships, and affinity partner discounts. The organization also maintains the WICPA Educational Foundation for grant programs.

Product overview

WICPA offers a comprehensive portfolio of professional services organized as a unified membership-based professional association. The core offerings include the CPE & Events Catalog providing continuing education, Membership Services with publications and networking, a Find a CPA Directory for public referrals, Student Resources and Educator Resources including grant programs, Advocacy Services for legislative representation, Career Center job board, Peer Review services, Excellence Awards recognition program, and member Discounts & Partners program. These products collectively support Wisconsin CPAs throughout their career lifecycle from student to seasoned professional, with the membership serving as the unifying access point for most services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Services Annual professional membership providing CPAs and accounting professionals in Wisconsin access to networking opportunities, member publications, the WICPA Connect online community, member discounts, and core program access. Membership year runs from May 1 to April 30.
• CPE & Events Catalog Continuing Professional Education catalog offering conferences, special events (including the annual Golf Outing), in-house CPE training, and the CPE Tracker tool for members to track their professional education credits.
• Find a CPA Directory Public directory service connecting individuals and businesses seeking accounting services with qualified Wisconsin CPAs.
• Student Resources Programs for aspiring accountants including student membership, scholarships, CPA exam guidance, the Digital CPA Exam Booklet, Wisconsin CPA Exam Checklist, and Wisconsin CPA Certificate & License Checklist.
• Educator Resources Programs for high school and college educators including educator membership, Accounting Career Awareness grants up to $2,500, guest speaker requests, and curriculum support materials.
• Advocacy Services Legislative advocacy representing CPA profession interests before Wisconsin legislators, the Department of Revenue, and regulatory agencies. Includes CPAC & LIF political contribution programs, an Advocacy Toolkit, and a Key Legislative Contact Program.
• Career Center Job board and career resources for accounting professionals in Wisconsin, hosted on a third-party career website platform.
• Peer Review Quality assurance program providing peer review services for CPA firms as required for AICPA membership.
• CPA Firm Regional Leadership Network Networking and leadership development program specifically designed for CPA firm regional leaders in Wisconsin.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 8am CPAChargeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffinity partnership providing CPACharge payment processing services with member discounts. Part of the Discounts & Partners program offering reduced rates on business services.
• Associated Bank Private WealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffinity partnership with Associated Bank offering private wealth management services with member discounts through the WICPA Discounts & Partners program.
• Bank-A-Count Corp.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffinity partnership providing banking services with member discounts as part of the WICPA Discounts & Partners program.
• CTaccessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffinity partnership offering document management and imaging services with member discounts through the WICPA Discounts & Partners program.
• EPSA USAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffinity partnership with EPSA USA offering services with member discounts as part of the WICPA Discounts & Partners program.
• M3 InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffinity partnership providing insurance services with member discounts through the WICPA Discounts & Partners program.
• Pearl InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffinity partnership providing insurance products including malpractice and business insurance with member discounts through the WICPA Discounts & Partners program.
• Professional Insurance ProgramsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffinity partnership providing group health insurance plans with member discounts through the WICPA Discounts & Partners program.
• Spectrum Investment AdvisorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffinity partnership offering investment advisory services with member discounts as part of the WICPA Discounts & Partners program.
• von Briesen & Roper, s.c.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffinity partnership with law firm von Briesen & Roper providing legal services with member discounts through the WICPA Discounts & Partners program.
• Waukesha State BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffinity partnership with Waukesha State Bank offering banking services with member discounts through the WICPA Discounts & Partners program.
• Business Outfitters by Lands' EndminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffinity partnership offering business apparel through Lands' End with member discounts as part of the WICPA Discounts & Partners program.
• Wisconsin Department of Public InstructioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWICPA collaborates with DPI on the Reading Makes Cents financial literacy program and educator grants. DPI and DFI launched a $300,000 competitive grant program for financial literacy education that WICPA supports.
• Wisconsin Department of Financial InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWICPA partners with DFI on financial literacy initiatives including the Reading Makes Cents program and the $300,000 grant program for financial literacy education.
• Wisconsin Department of RevenuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing advocacy relationship where WICPA represents member interests with DOR on tax matters, billing issues, and website feedback. WICPA President met with DOR to express concerns on QCD billings.
• AICPAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational professional association partnership where WICPA aligns with AICPA initiatives, participates in surveys, and advocates on national accounting standards and regulations affecting Wisconsin CPAs.
• Wisconsin DECAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support student career development through judging opportunities at Wisconsin DECA State Career Development Conference in Lake Geneva.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Illinois CPA Society: State-level CPA membership society serving Illinois professionals with CPE, advocacy, and member benefits. Highly comparable to WICPA in structure, scope, and value proposition, differing only by geography.
• Texas Society of CPAs (TXCPA): Texas state CPA society delivering CPE, advocacy, peer review, and member benefits. Directly comparable to WICPA's structure, differing by Texas-scale membership.
• California Society of CPAs (CalCPA): California state CPA society providing CPE, advocacy, and member services. Operates the same member-based professional association model as WICPA at substantially larger scale.
• Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs (PICPA): State CPA society serving Pennsylvania CPAs with CPE, advocacy, and member services. Directly comparable peer in member-based professional association model.
• Ohio Society of CPAs: Ohio-based state CPA membership association delivering CPE, advocacy, and member resources. Operates a near-identical model to WICPA at a larger scale.
• Michigan Association of CPAs: Michigan state CPA society offering CPE, advocacy, peer review, and member benefits. A like-for-like comparable to WICPA in the adjacent Midwest market.
• New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA): One of the largest U.S. state CPA societies, offering CPE, advocacy, peer review, and member benefits. Operates the same membership-association model as WICPA but at much greater scale.
• Minnesota Society of CPAs: Minnesota state CPA society providing CPE, advocacy, and member services. Closely comparable to WICPA as a neighboring Midwest state society with a similar member-base and program mix.

Broad incumbents

• IMA (Institute of Management Accountants): Global professional association focused on management accounting and CMA certification, offering CPE and advocacy. Comparable to WICPA as a peer professional membership body serving accounting professionals, though with a different specialization.
• AICPA (American Institute of CPAs): National U.S. professional association for CPAs providing CPE, credentials (CPA, CGMA), advocacy, and standards. WICPA is already an AICPA-aligned state society; AICPA represents the national incumbent with overlapping CPE and advocacy offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wiscpas
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WisCPA
• Facebookfacebook.com/53145812726
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wisconsin-institute-of-cpas
• Instagraminstagram.com/thewicpa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Institutes of Certified Public Accountants