What is ACAP?

ACAP stands for Accounting Career Awareness Program. The primary objective of ACAP is to increase the understanding and awareness of accounting and business career opportunities among minority high school youths in the public and private school systems. ACAP is designed to increase the number of under-represented minorities pursuing careers in accounting and related business areas. Because a particularly small percentage of African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans are currently pursuing these career paths, the program emphasizes recruiting students from these minority backgrounds. Through ACAP's efforts, participating students receive the educational enrichment experiences and practical help they need to prepare for university level programs. Students are selected based on a variety of factors including high school counselor recommendations, student applications and personal interviews.

Development of the ACAP idea began in Seattle in 1980, when the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) became concerned about the small proportion of minorities entering the accounting field from under-represented groups.

Recognizing that preparation for a business career should begin in the early years of high school, the Seattle Chapter designed a pilot program that would encourage minority-group students to take the college preparatory courses needed to major in accounting and other fields of business. With the assistance of many Seattle area businesses and public accounting firms, the pilot program was established. To ensure that the program's goals were achieved, ACAP formed a Board of Directors composed of business executives from the private and public sectors, university professors and NABA representatives.

ACAP was established in the Los Angeles area during the winter of 1990. Our Board of Directors is comprised of local business executives, representatives from major accounting firms, university professors and representatives from NABA and the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance & Accounting. ACAP is nonprofit and tax-exempt through its NABA affiliates.

In addition to Seattle and Los Angeles, there are ACAP chapters in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Louisville, Ohio, New Jersey, San Francisco and Washington D.C.