Certification is the process of successfully completing the Uniform CPA Examination (including a separate ethics examination component). Licensing is the process where a certified public accountant, having met certain training and experience requirements, applies to the state for a license to perform the attest function. Registration is the process where a certified public accountant, who either chooses not or needs not have a license, registers with the state in order to be able to hold him or herself out to the public as a CPA or use the CPA credential. So from my understanding, you need to get certificate first then registrate CPA before July 1, 2011. Or other meanings?