The AICPA is in final contract talks with the internet’s global governing body to oversee a new internet domain for CPAs.
The Institute announced on Monday that it is in the final stages of being awarded the exclusive .cpa domain, which will provide a unique and secure online identity for certified public accountants and CPA firms. The Institute is currently in the “contract execution phase” with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a critical step in the process. ICANN is the global organization responsible for managing and overseeing the internet’s naming protocols, ensuring that domain names are properly regulated and secured. This specialized .cpa domain is expected to enhance trust and credibility for professionals in the accounting industry, giving CPAs a domain that distinguishes them from other businesses on the web.
ICANN, the governing body that manages domain names, has already approved over 1,200 specialized domain extensions to supplement traditional top-level domains like .com, .edu, and .org. These new domains are designed to cater to specific industries, professions, and geographic locations, ensuring more tailored web addresses. Many prestigious organizations and businesses have already secured their own custom domain extensions, such as Amazon with .aws, Google with .app, and KPMG with .kpmg. Additionally, well-known institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (.mit) and Major League Baseball (.mlb) have their own specialized domains. Even the city of New York has claimed .nyc to represent its digital presence. The introduction of the .cpa domain aligns with this trend of customized web identities, providing the accounting profession with a dedicated and professional online space.
“By overseeing the .cpa domain in collaboration with other global CPA organizations, the AICPA can help promote CPAs’ visibility and protect their professional standing online,” Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, the president and CEO of the AICPA, said in a news release. “We also want the public to have confidence that someone using a .cpa domain address for email or a website is affiliated with the CPA profession.”
The new domain extension will be available to CPAs and their firms and will signal a clear connection to the profession, the AICPA said. For example, Firm Name LLC could have a website address of www.firmname.cpa. Jane Smith, an employee at that firm, could have an email address of jsmith@firmname.cpa.
“Today, there’s a lack of authentication and growing mistrust of online information,” Erik Asgeirsson, president and CEO of CPA.com, the AICPA’s technology subsidiary, said in the news release. “This is why many leading companies and communities, such as Amazon, KPMG, and the banking industry, are moving to restricted top-level domains. We’re looking forward to bringing this important new capability to the profession.”
More details on registering a domain name will become available later this year.