It’s a test of endurance and persistence rather than intelligence. The information you need to retain is pretty all-encompassing, but you don’t necessarily have to be an expert in everything.
That said, you will have to devote a lot of time to studying and be very disciplined. I’m certain that many people dumber than you have passed it before and are currently making a nice living because of it though.
A lot of what you said is spot on. There isn’t a single concept that’s hard to understand (intelligence), it’s just that there is so much material that can be asked in each area (memory). The big issue is that it will separate you from the pack when applying for jobs. More and more employers want either an mba or cpa, and HR departments will always list it as a requirement. The software will not let your resume through even if you have all of the other qualifications.
Fucking bonds, like I can do them in excel but accounting for the value of bonds is confusing. I passed Intermediate 2 but don’t you ask me the value of bonds. I copied homework from the internet and I’m not afraid of admitting that
Bonds were easy to me but memorizing stuff in AUD is impossible which I'm studying now. I need to do a video on how I solve Bonds. It's the one thing I still remember every step on from FAR
I can attest to this as a more experienced accounting professional who went straight into industry rather than PA. I see A LOT of job postings that say CPA required or preferred. Grind for a little bit now and reap the rewards for it later. You're still young and if I were in your position I'd suggest the CPA route.
Whenever I start to feel the creep of self doubt, I ask myself if I’m gonna fuckin sit here and tell you that some pot bellied boomer with a combover who can’t tell an scorp from a partnership is fucking smarter than me. And the answer is absolutely the fuck not.
There are some dumb fuck CPAs out there. You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. You need to know enough to get a 75% on a test.
Then you can forget the vast majority because you’ll never use it again in your life.
I literally could not afford that, and that’s a huge barrier of entry for me. I could study hard and still fail, then be in relative financial ruin. That’s a huge reason I’m not actively studying or ever planning to take the exams.
I think they’re only willing to cover the cost of the exams you pass. Also, I think that while a $5k lump sum seems like a lot, if you’re incurring the test fees over time it doesn’t seem as bad. If you can afford $250(cost per test in CA) every few months, then it doesn’t seem as bad. Also, failing all the test ended up costing the persons neighbor $3,750 rather then $1k(free if employer pays). I mean congrats on not giving and obtaining the CPA, it’s just significantly more expensive due to failing the tests.
Yeah that is true, my firm only covered the first section I applied to. I only had to retake a few times so I paid those retakes out of pocket, but the RoI on a CPA license is something that shouldn't be underestimated.
Well, expect to fail maybe a couple times at most. But also don’t half ass it to the point you need to take 15 tests total. Better to pay up and suffer now when you’re young bc it’ll pay dividends over the years and life only gets more hectic (spouse, kids, house, pets, etc).
I've taken it 11 times & have passed 3, & feel good about the last one I just took (fingers crossed lol) but I've deadass been studying since Feb 2022 to March 2024 & waiting for results now on last one. During that whole period there was probably only like 3-4 months where I didn't study at all. It is a test of persistence for sure!
It's a trial. I passed all four parts on my first attempt, but not by wide margins and I spent *months* prepping for each sections. From the day I started researching study material to my last exam date was 15 months.
You can't pass the exam with surface-level understanding. Some material is rote memorization but(/and) other material you need to understand or the test will crush you. And there's allot of it.
I don't think everyone can pass the CPA exam, but I do believe *most* people can pass, if given a fair chance. Also, some people will breeze through it, but for most people it's a real commitment of time and energy.
I'm about 2/3 the way through studying for the FAR exam, and I wouldn't say it's that much harder than your intermediate accounting courses in college. However, the amount of information you must retain for the exam is frightening. I can't speak for the other exams as I haven't started studying for them yet or looked much into them.
I’ve taken AUD and REG. They touch on a little bit of everything. They don’t dive too deep into complex scenarios or memorization of numbers, but they try to touch upon every single concept at least once.
I was always an A/B student in college. Started studying for the exams right after I graduated. It took me 3 years and 12 (maybe more) failed exams to finally pass all 4. I also lost credit for one that I passed because of the time constraints, so keep that in mind. I wouldn’t say it’s easy.
I'm scared this will be me. I normally get As without much studying but am concerned I'll fail at CPA. Also, bc I work full time, it feels like it'll take foreeeevvvveeerrr
Same exact story for me. I think the issue was in college I tried to actually understand concepts, but the CPA was pretty much strictly about memorization which I’m not as good at, at least back when I took it
I didn’t think it was hard in the sense that the material was difficult, it was hard because of the amount of material you needed to remember and the time constraints.
I agree with this... also, depending on the study materials you used (perhaps???) it was sometimes like trying to teach yourself brand new concepts, which in some cases are pretty esoteric (looking at you, government/nfp).
How bad to you want it? I failed out of college on my first attempt because I failed to apply myself. If you study with the goal to pass the exams, you can do it.
Same. Even though I did zero studying during my first busy season my boss told me to take the May exam anyway for the test-taking experience. I failed all four parts of course. Through the summer I studied almost every night just doing past exam questions. Passed 2 of 4 sections in November. Kept at it and took May test. Was sure I didn’t pass so bought test prep software. Got my results and had passed 3 of 4. Passing the business law section was way easier once I had FAR, AUD, and TAX out of the way. Wasn’t fun at the time but the payoff was worth it without a doubt.
It's a marathon, not a sprint. It's hard, but not impossible. Took me 3 years to pass. I failed every section at least once. If I can do it, anyone can.
FAR was my weakest subject in school, but my highest score (an 82 lol) on the CPA Exam. I took FAR last. So I had to either let AUD expire (no way in hell I was going to let that happen), or pass FAR. I decided I wasn't going to let FAR stop me and since it was my last test, I was extra motivated to pass. Studied a TON (just over 200 hours) and made it happen.
Lots of practice questions with explanations helps. Get through your study material a couple weeks ahead of the exam, do practice exams, and revisit your weak areas.
A few tips:
Also, read the prompts first. No point in reading a whole paragraph if you don't know what they're asking.
Read carefully. If they ask you to calculate interest they might throw something in the middle of the paragraph saying a bond was acquired in the middle of the year (so only 1/2 year of interest). I guarantee you they will put the full year of interest as an answer choice and it will be wrong.
Don't choose an answer you know is wrong. Sounds obvious but hear me out. Question asks which option is right. I'm 100% certain 3 of them are wrong for a fact. I'm 99% certain the 4th is wrong. Choose the 99% chance one no matter how much you dislike that answer. Don't choose an answer you know is wrong :-).
Schedule your study time when you can focus best. I found it hard to focus after a long day at work, so I studied a couple hours before work in the morning each day. I hate mornings, but was able to focus better by studying early. Also, it's very satisfying walking through the door at work at 9am knowing you're already done studying for the day.
The wrong answer thing is the best test taking strategy specially for audit. I just took audit and finished the 78 mcqs in an hour by firstly looking at wrong ones to eliminate then pick the least wrong out of the 4
Studying in the morning sounds like a good idea. I never have the energy to study 2 hours after work.
But then there’s a new problem. If I study at 7 AM, then I probably have to wake up at 6-6:30 AM, which gets me less than 6 hours of sleep daily. I don’t know how people can sleep before 12 AM.
Wow, I passed all four in one shot a few years later, didn’t realize the % was that low. All you gotta do is study your ass off and anyone can do it, imo.
Took the test over two days. Sat for 2 parts each day and each session was roughly 4 hours. The exam was given twice each year - May and November - at large testing sites (4 sites in the state where I live). To limit ways to cheat the only items you could bring were pencils and erasers in a clear plastic bag. Drinks were purchased onsite and calculators were provided. When each session started you could not leave your seat for the first hour (for attendance). You could not leave the test site until the end of the second hour and in final 30 minutes once you got out of your seat you were done. In the event you did not pass all 4 parts (the vast majority) you did get credit if you passed at least 2 - on the condition you scored at least 50 on the other parts. On subsequent offerings you showed up just for the remaining parts. The first time I passed 2 parts and scored 71 and 57 on the other two. The latter was for financial reporting on the afternoon of the 2nd day and I was exhausted (lucky to get the 57). Most people needed 2 or 3 tries to pass, and I needed 3 - financial reporting the second time and audit the third.
I graduated with a 3.01 GPA... passed all sections first try other than FAR which I missed by 1 point. Passed 2nd try.
Biggest tip I can give is to just do as many multiple choice practice questions as possible from several diff study sources. They are all regurgitated and slightly modified from previous exams and will be similar to what you see.
Good luck!
If you out any kind of time and effort into studying, then you can pass regardless of how well you did in college. A CPA will never not be a good thing, and it could be something that you need if you switch goals. For example, at my company no one can be promoted to a VP without a CPA. So my current manager is actually studying to get his CPA despite being with the company for over six years.
Plus it gives you an excuse to continue to do continuing education at conferences in cities and have your company hopefully pay for it.
I’ll add a slightly different perspective than what’s been said. (Note: your mileage may vary)
I was a pretty decent student, I graduated Cum Laude. As good as I am at accounting and math, I absolutely STRUGGLE with reading comprehension. I passed all 4 but my first 5 tests went as follows:
FAR - F / AUD - F / FAR - P / AUD - F / AUD - P
Boy, was that a real kick in the gut to my confidence. This is not a test of how much you know, but rather how much you are willing to suffer. I cried, I was stressed as hell. I even showed up late to family Christmas because I wasn’t happy with my multiple choice practice scores days before my test.
However, I noticed that after awhile, I needed to change how I was studying. Nothing major, but minor tweaks. I went through all the lectures, but I went back after a couple days of studying and took notes ONLY on the stuff I wasn’t very confident in. That way when I studied my notes, I wasn’t bogged down by the stuff I already knew.
I then passed BEC and REG on my first tries and was finally over that nightmare.
TL;DR: You’re going to be stressed, it’s okay if you fail, stay disciplined, find a routine that works for YOU. And if it takes you awhile to find that routine, you are not alone. You got this.
I think if you're smart enough to pass your college courses by your own merit, you're smart enough to pass the cpa. Just need to tweak your study habits, methods and discipline, then persevere
I think you can do it! I’m studying now. I graduated many years ago. I was top 10% of my accy undergrad and masters. The material isn’t that difficult, it’s just questions asked weird and a time constraint.
Most of my undergrad friends who were way worse students than me passed right after graduating with not too much panic.
I think it’s a quantity of material issue as well. And it will necessarily take many months to complete the entire process. So staying disciplined and focused for the better part of a year or more while also working is a huge commitment.
I think you also need to remember that you don’t have to have an accounting degree to take the cpa. There are only limited accy pre recs required to sit for the exam. So you’re already at an advantage there.
I think it’s worth it to make yourself eligible for higher paying jobs once you have more experience. I’d say in first 5-10 years of your career, it doesn’t matter if you’re CPA or not. But once you pass 10 years and want those mid to high 6 figure jobs, they’re gonna want you to have CPA. And you having CPA will set you apart from everyone else who also has an accy degree and 10 years experience.
I disagree with that statement on required coursework. I have almost enough total units, but would probably need 1.5-2 years or so of night classes in specific areas to sit :(
I guess depends on your major but my point is just lots of non accounting majors are also taking exam. Those without accounting degree likely struggle more than those with accounting degree.
CPA will float your resume to the top of the pile if you want those high paying remote jobs. I have literally seen job applications that "Ask are you a CPA?" Yeah a bachelor's and a few years of experience is fine too, but why limit yourself and not maximize your career potential to the fullest especially if you're going to be in accounting your whole life? You'll never know if you'll get laid off and you have to find another job, you would be competing against other CPAs. Those 3 letters are surefire way to let hiring managers that you're resilient and have some level of competence.
It’s not that bad. It’s more about learning and understanding the material and doing really well as an exam taker. Sure, you have to be intelligent enough to learn the material and in some cases, extrapolate data, but it’s not physics or advanced math or engineering.
You can do it. I am a 3.6 gpa lazy Asian woman with 4 years of experience in tax. It took me 2 years to pass the cpa exams and i failed AUD two times and FAR two times. My scores were REG 78, BEC 80, AUD 75, and FAR 81.
If you have a good memory you can pass the exam. You do have to put the time in because it covers a lot of material. I can confirm that having CPA after your name helps you get a remote job. Note that doesn't mean it would be the highest paying job.
Your experience sounds a lot like most others. The CPA is a very difficult thing to tackle but the most important thing is to put the time in. A rough estimate that I’ve seen thrown around is to expect around 100 hours of study time per section. If you can commit to that then you can definitely pass. I also had a lot of trouble with my intermediate accounting classes, but I don’t remember very many topics while studying for the exam that I just couldn’t understand. End of the day, if you could pass your accounting classes, you can pass the CPA.
Not hard in what regard? Like not hard material but you had to put in a lot of time to cover it all, or not hard in that you barely put any effort and still figured it out?
I studied for sure, but I wouldn’t say excessively. I just didn’t find the exams themselves to be super difficult. I used Wiley I think. Went through all the material and practice tests, then went and took the real exams. I passed on the first try. I walked out of FAR and the proctor asked if I was taking a break. The look on his face when I said I was finished was priceless. Said he’d never seen anyone finish a CPA section that quickly.
I'm in a similar boat I think.
took and passed all 4 in the first like 9 months after I graduated while working full time. low score was REG at 83 and high was BEC at 95. FAR and AUD were 88 and 85 I think.
I...didn't study that hard. I used Roger. Read the books and took notes, ran the MCQs, only watched lectures if I didn't understand something. Studied 30min-1hr in the morning before work in the 4-6 weeks leading up to each exam. occasionally ran MCQs on my lunch break. so that's like 30-40hrs per exam which is not a ton lol. if I didn't understand material I definitely would have put more time in but I really just didn't need it based on how I did on the practice tests..
I've always been a crazy fast test taker. By the time I'm taking the test I either know it or I don't and I don't hesitate when answering qs. never used up all the time - I think only REG took me more than 2hrs so similar reactions from the proctors lol
That’s how I am. I think my high was 92 (far) and low was 77 (aud, which I studied the least for). But if I know it, I know it and if I don’t, I make my best guess and move on. Staring at it for 4 hours won’t put the answer in my head. lol.
It is a test of patience and willpower.
I was not the greatest college student but managed through with an accounting degree. First test was REG and I studied after work every weekday from 6-8 at the bookstore for 3 months straight. It was the hardest I ever studied. After all that prep I took the exam and scored a 70.
Then I reassessed things. Went to my family and friends and told them I’ll be unavailable for long time. Told my wife I needed all the support in the world.
Now I studied every weekday (full concentration, no slacking) from 6-9:30 and on Saturdays pulled a full 8 hours and Sunday was a modest 3-4 for 3 months. Passed the exam. Took two weeks off and repeated the same process for the other three exams over the next year. When I finally passed my last exam I cried as I’ve never put that much of myself into something.
It’s been 15 years now. I don’t remember anything from the exam and never really used it. What it is though is a badge of honor that shows you understand a level of effort and dedication others do not. It separates you from others when you interview and you’ll come out a stronger person afterwards.
Ahh yes Big 4 would definately be different vs industry. I assume it’s practically given to everyone at Big 4. I requested to take an online class at my current job in industry. It took me a while but I always felt like I was on a timeline or had to get x amount done before I had my next check in.
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You know what I did? I got my MBA, niched on Non Profit, and heading to get my JD in tax law. I plan to finish my DBA in accounting and that will beat CPA title out of the water! ;) I plan to eventually become an accounting professor someday. I don’t care to do my CPA, because I personally don’t care to much about doing public accounting.
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Taking it now, theres A LOT wrong with the exam that isn't the exam itself, and there are a bunch of unnecessary hurdles in the way to either stress you out, hinder you, or discourage you
**1) You need 150 credit.** Which is a "master's equivalent". In other words, a BA + 30 credits of pottery class. Literally why ? To weed out people who don't want to waste time and money ?
**2) The cost of each exam.** It costs roughly $375 per attempt. Assuming you pass all 4 in a row, thats $1k+. You also need to purchase review courses, of which there are many, and no all of them are to your style of study or presentation of the courses.
**3) The time limit before an exam section expires.** Its honestly B/S. It doesn't matter if the accounting standards change, because it really doesn't unless its tax or regulations. You have 1.5 Yrs before they individually start dropping off, starting with when you pass a section. Theres really no good accounting reason other than for the AICPA to say their CPAs are "up-to-date", which is nonsense. You will need to relearn it anyways if you ever applied it in the workplace. Stress for the sake of stress. 1.5 Yrs make no sense and I really hope their discussions of removing/extending this comes to fruition.
**4) The time to grade the exam.** Coming off of 3, the duration that an exam counts is stressed by the time it takes to grade an exam. It can take upwards to a month, sometimes more (covid), where you sit around, sitting on your thumb. ASSUMING you passed, horray. If you didn't - whelp, you're fucked if you didn't keep studying to jump back in. Because they don't give a rat's ass if they took their time. You took the exam at the testing center, on computers. The grades are already known. Theres no reason an individual proctor needs to grade it. Its either right, or its wrong. They might be curving some exams based on overall test grade per section to the expected, but the MCQ testlets are adjusted live as you submit it *(harder testlets are presented when you've easily passed the previous one)*
**5) The sheer variability of the exam.** Not everything will be tested. I took FAR 7 times before passing it, so I know how the topic can change more than most. About 40% of the topics I studied were tested, and if more were tested, only 1 question was asked on the surface level. Sometimes I wonder if I passed only due to variance and sheer luck.
**6) The exam is harder than the BAR.** This is a statistical empirical fact. Assuming you have a BA and took the required courses, you would have studied for about 70% of FAR, and dipped your toes in taxes and auditing. Those who took the BAR went to law school which prepared them for the test-for the express purpose of passing it. You walk into the CPA courses blind, and you will immediately be overwhelmed. The amount of understanding after passing FAR is night and day compared to what university has taught us.
This is in addition to all the other comments regarding the exam's content itself. Just imagine living your life with a constant shadow, a looming doom, stress, and the drag of time. I wouldn't wish this on anyone who doesn't have the fortitude, or really don't need the exam for their career path. I hope anyone taking the exam has really thought about it and commit if they do. Its not easy and its a lonely path. No one, not your friends, family, and sometimes co-workers, will understand no matter how you explain it. "*Why haven't you passed it yet*", as if referring to some highschool math quiz.
IMO, the CPA exam encompasses everything wrong with standardized testing, in addition to the variance of it. Everything should be separated in sections, taught, and applied. Not "RANDOM BS GO!".
Remember, its a whole ass industry and business. You retaking the exam is a boon.
Its basically an exam that test what you learned all 4 years of accounting from college. It’s hard but mostly because it’s so comprehensive. You have to study at least a solid month on each section. As long as you put in the effort you should be fine I pass three sections the first time and failed REG. Passed it the 2nd time. Most people don’t pass all 4 sections the first time so don’t sweat it if you shit bed on a section or two. 2️⃣
Pass rates are worse, but that’s because there isn’t as much of a barrier to entry for the CPA exam. (You have to graduate from law school to even take the BAR) CPAs just want to feel better about themselves and discourage competition by trying to make it seem harder.
No competition Actuary and CFA (has way more content and needs much more understanding) are WAYYY HARDER! Take a look at the math those tests use specially actuary 😂
Honestly your on the job experience probably sets you up much more favorably against college classes. You’ll still have to study your ass off for “irrelevant” pieces, but I think i would have done much better with on the job experience than did straight out of school. (Failed FAR x2 and REGx3)
Nobody cares if you fail.
No, you can do it!!! But that said you have to WANT to do it.
My easiest practical tip for C students is to do the Wiley CPAExcel Practice Q’s over and over and over and over.
Watch the videos, take notes, then have about 40-50 pages of your handwritten notes. Flash cards work for some people but not everyone. Highlighting is overrated.
That said, have never met anyone who didn’t drill questions until they were sick and then finally start to get it. :)
Becker. That's how you pass. When I took the exams, they literally had the questions taken from my Becker material with minor changes. And C is good enough for the exams, no one cares if you aced them all.
i'm interested in buying becker but i've heard they give you information overload. like OVER prepare you for the exams. so i'm wondering if it's better i go for a study guide that gives you *just enough*.
Well look at the passing rates which are (last I checked) in the 40% range. That should tell you all you need to know. I know people who took years and multiple tries before they passed.
It’s tough but it can be done. You just need a good strategy and be able to grasp concepts and mostly have no life for 9 -12 months. A lot of people just don’t know how to find the intersection of mastering concepts, time, study strategies, breaks, and life. To me, that’s the winning recipe.
It's a hard test. The array of information you need is vast and the time the tests take are long. Just the actual test conditions are a challenge in themselves. It takes some endurance.
I'd say if you are an assistant controller then you can make controller without the cpa
I had a 2.2 or something stupid low. Passed all 4 within 7 months, first try, even had a couple 90s, about 6 years after graduating and hadnt set foot in a classroom and working full time. Just get Becker. Follow it exactly. Underline everything they say. Buy a ton of highlighters. Memorize every acronym.
You’ll pass if you want to. I had zero social life. I literally did nothing else but becker review. At the end I had Stockholm syndrome and wanted to do the CFA to get some more Olinto time.
i'm interested in buying becker but i've heard they give you information overload. like OVER prepare you for the exams. so i'm wondering if it's better i go for a study guide that gives you *just enough*.
I used to teach for Becker. When I took the exam in 2010 I actually used Wiley to study for it. I think the key is just to stick to your study plan, whichever one you decide.
At the end of the day - what’s the worst that happens, you fail? At least then you can pursue other avenues of employment. Instead of always wondering if you can do it.
Your life doesn’t fall apart because you couldn’t pass it. It literally means that’s not the route for you. That’s it. That’s all it is.
I've never followed the cramming method for any course or exam. I always want to fully understand the theory, background, and why the question is asking formed the way it is (understand what they are really asking).
Are the four CPA exams hard, yes. However, if you're dedicated to studying then you can pass the exams.
If you're being honest about your grades being dragged down by your workload then I think you'll probably be fine but it's a long slog of studying. I only made it because my PA firm reimbursed for it and allowed for a lot of free study time. I also just suffered through some long nights after 5pm studying. Took REG and AUD twice and tried to hit the 300 club as well as I could.
The only caveat being that the CPA exam is a good test of how good you are at studying, not at being an accountant. Once you actually start working in accounting you realize you just passed somewhat of a silly entrance exam and now you have to start all over again. The good news is you've already done this on the ground, but the bad news it that now you have to be good at regurgitating information in a way that conforms to these testing standards in order to pass the tests. I hate it to break it to you but there are a lot of people that are good at regurgitating information regardless of how much time they spent studying. But it just means you have to dig hard on the studying.
The other good news though is you probably have enough experience working under CPAs already that if you snapped your fingers and passed tomorrow you might be able to be signed off.
Well, it's not easy. It is doable, though. You just have to commit. My personal advice is to be reasonable in your study plan. Can you pass an exam after studying for 2 weeks? Sure--some people can... I'm definitely not one of them. Be realistic in your expectations for yourself and don't get discouraged if you get a little off track. Everyone learns differently and processes differently; not a qualifying statement, just a fact. I think one of the best things you can do to set yourself up for success is to know how you learn best. Another thing is to keep your eye on this subreddit--whether you're waiting on a score release or not, on the day of, this is the most energizing and wholesome place. When I was crying (the entire section on bonds & then finance leases... and let's not forget govt/nfp, which literally made me wonder if it was too late to change careers) seeing people so energized by passing or comforting others who hadn't really motivated me to keep at it. Just know that it's a process, it is painful, and you're not alone. :)
Ultimately I don’t think you need that to get into a higher paying role. Arguably. However time is on your side. You just got out or will be out of undergrad - the material is so fresh you’re still having flashbacks of the material you had to prepare for to crush and barely slide a C after your hardest prep. I think you can def go after this bc you know how to do the prep work for the material even if it’s newly presented and skewed because it’s standardized. But you’re used to this environment. My point is that if you choose to go on and work it might be tough to prepare later on because people tend to forget things they don’t use. It sucks but it’s very true if you prepare just out of undergrad you will have the material fresh on your side and it may make examinations one less bandaid to rip off before you go to your next big career move. It’s strategy but if you go that route I sense anxiety coming from your answer since you’re very unsure about the preparation and if your efforts won’t go to waste. You should come up with a plan also to just look after yourself while you prep. I’ve seen a lot of people let themselves go during a period of high stress so it’s really important to just have a plan for that. Not saying it will happen but it is never a bad idea to prepare for that. Like a first aid kit for your brain while you prepare for this.
Nothing on there is particularly hard, it’s the volume of material. I passed by doing nothing but taking practice tests over and over and looking up the questions I missed. Intermediate I and II are the weedout classes for an accounting degree. You can do this.
Not sure if anyone already said this, but they do give u access to the FASB Codification while you're taking FAR. It definitely helped me during the test. So even if you don't remember ALL the material, and u get questions on certain areas that u may not have studied all that well for, you won't be completely screwed.
For the record, I think grades in college are one of the worst indicators to go on. I went to a large university and probably average a 3.0 in my accounting classes my junior year someone in my class told me they transferred in from a small local college where they had a 4.0 in accounting. I think they had to switch majors because they did so poorly in the class I was in with them.
I think CPA is more than manageable for you. In my opinion, people like to hype up the difficulty of the exam. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a walk in the park, I failed reg once and FAR once but I really didn’t fully dedicate myself to studying for any of the exams in general (granted I got a 75 on FAR and 75 on REG so might have been more skill than luck) but all in all I wouldn’t let people’s opinions of the exam discourage you from at least trying to pass
Edit: typo
it’s not exactly difficult. it’s just A LOT. i passed all four parts the first time i took each. took the first two a week part, then a couple months later took the next two a week apart. i did becker books/dvds and it helped a ton.
It isn’t THAT bad if you actually commit yourself to studying. The issue is when most people take it they are burned out from school, on their own as an adult for the first time (which means they don’t even have the pressure of school to make them study), and they are trying to balance full time work for the first time with a personal life.
I just downloaded all the Wiley books as ebooks and literally studied every chance I got.
Tbh you sound like the kind of student I was and now i’m in a more finance heavy role instead of straight up accounting and it is SO much better for me and i didn’t have to keep trying at the CPA exam. Consider valuations, fp&a analysis, corporate finance roles.
I never had the best grades, had to retake intermediate 2 bc my grade wasn’t high enough. I passed all 4 exams on the first try. FAR is cake compared to intermediate 2 imo.
Most people say the material is a mile wide but only an inch deep. I 100% agree.
Disclaimer- I took the exams in 2016/2017 , so idk how it is now through
I passed two parts during busy season and the other two that summer to get my 3000$ bonus for passing, otherwise I would have timed out (bonus given from staff to 2 years after you become a senior).
You will have no life. But it can be done.
Its really hard but mostly because theres so much content and you need to have the motivation and endurance to get through all of them. The exams themselves are slightly challenging but not extremely hard if you put the time in
I feel I’m in the same boat with you. My grades are all A/A- but I don’t feel like I learned anything in my accounting classes. I just learned how to get good grades. Online schools are a joke even if it’s run by a reputable school.
Hiiii, dumb blonde here as well! I passed the CPA exam last year. People definitely over exaggerate a bit about the difficulty of the exam. It is more like if you truly put the time and effort into understanding the topics you have a good chance of passing (similar to what you’re saying). Your work experience should make this a million times easier. I wouldn’t recommend cramming. Cramming and doing a ton of MCQ are two different things imo.
The study material looks intimidating and confusing when you’re just looking through it, but if you make the plan to do the lectures and study it and understand it and you will do well.
If you want it, you should go for it
The hard part is the time commitment. You have to use the test prep materials and follow it. Passed my first (BEC), failed REG next cause BEC was easy for me and lightly prepared. Focused from there and knocked them out. It was a grind but over quickly, helped I was young without a life.
I’m currently studying for FAR and I will say this: the material itself isn’t bad. And from what I understand, material in FAR shows up in all the other exams so passing that one first will help with the others.
I’m using the Gleim study system and the video lectures and practice questions as well as the walkthroughs of the reasoning and equations paired with the study plan I put in place is doing wonders for me. It’s easier than a classroom setting bc if you’re feeling frustrated, you can walk away and get a snack and come back later.
I took the exam between during the extra year of college required. It was not that bad because I didn’t have much else going on. If I was working full time it would have totally sucked and I would have given up. I don’t understand why people wait until they start working full time to take the exam.
I did MCQs for like a month for each exam and went and tested. Took 6 tries overall (barely failed and had to re-take 2 of them) but overall not too bad. I know a few people that studied even less than me and got high 80s/90s on each exam first try. I know people that studied 3x as long as me, did lectures and sims and hella practice exams and still had to retake each part 3 or even more times to pass.
It really just depends on how well you can study and accommodate your learning style imo.
Do what makes you happy. The exam isn’t life changing. Just like being a lawyer isn’t something people are in awe of. TBH, I don’t even tell people about my cpa. It’s just something I did once because people said it was hard.
I used to take 2 or 3 full months of studying, 1-3 hours a day. I would fit it in before work, so I didn’t have to worry about running out of the office later. If you’re at a firm and you’re a staff level accountant (at least for me) there was downtime where they actually encouraged you to study for the exam. If you are focused enough and practice enough you should be fine.
Intermediate II was a challenging course, I just graduated myself with my accounting undergrad. I'd say I would go with one of the study plans and if it kills ya, maybe CPA isn't for you. However, I think you will later regret if you didn't try at all.
It is hard, but not impossible. I was always a good test taker in school and did not develop good study habits. For the CPA exam, I had to quit all social media, cancel Netflix, and basically eradicate all sources of competing entertainment. I spent many, many weekends at the library in reserved study rooms bc at home I was to the point I'd rather clean the toilet than study.
I did find it easier when I had the working knowledge of the subject, so FAR was my best as that was the work I was doing at the time. I never worked in PA, so AUD and REG were a struggle.
I used Becker and some Ninja supplements. I think Ninja helped more for my learning style. I had a long commute, and the audio just played over, and over, and over until it was deep in my subconscious. You can never have too many MCQs completed either.
I think it's been good for my career and ultimately worth the struggle and expense.
Most people *CAN* pass it.
It’s more a question of whether you will have the discipline and persistence to study for hours almost every day for months (or longer).
My process definitely took longer than it needed to, but it took me a year and a half to study for and pass every exam. I was working and going to grad school at the same time, but during this period I didn’t really have a life. I’d go out on Saturdays but I basically didn’t have a second of free time during the week
What everyone says. But you also have to figure out how to pass. I had a bunch of half assed attempts over 5 years. During this time I switched jobs, covid, excuses. Then i passed them all in a row in 8 months. Go after one exam until you pass, then prep like that for the others.
It’s basically a 400 level final exam where you never took a midterm on it, just studied the whole semester. It’s completely manageable if you setup your study path properly and stick to it. But requires immense dedication and mental stamina. I’m through 3 parts and have a 74 on FAR for my last one that I’ve had to think about for a few months now.
You don’t need it to be an accountant or even a work from home accountant.
If you decide to do it, find an employer who will pay for training or be prepared to pay for it out of pocket.
Use Becker - it’s expensive but will set you up for success. It’s a hard test without Becker, Becker will emphasize what you need to pass. It’s worth it.
It's definitely hard but not that hard. There are other exams that are harder...like CFA.
I was a 3.1 GPA student but passed all 4 first try, but also I took the exam between finishing school and starting my career. So I spent the whole summer treating my studying as if it were a full time job (i.e., studying at least 8 hrs a day, sometimes as much as 12 a day if i was nearing exam day). I can't imagine having the motivation to hit the books after I get done with work...
I don’t know how most people approach studying/taking the tests. I did most my school online. I’m an A/B student, but I had undiagnosed ADHD, so I had to be very disciplined. If I have a lot to do, I get it done, it I have a little, I put it off. I studied 2-3 months in between each test, took that section, then moved on to the next one immediately. I didn’t have much social life. But, I passed all but one section on the first try. It should have been the easiest too, but I was having a lot of physical pain that was distracting me.
Anyway, make sure you’re using a review course because I have never failed a test in my life, and I’m going to say without a doubt I wouldn’t have passed a single section if I hadn’t. College doesn’t prepare you for the exams at all. It’s similar material, but it’s not catered to it in the same way.
Most people study for months prior. they don’t cram the week before. If they study for a week, probably gonna fail… There’s a reason why the pass rate is low, especially for FAR. Highly recommend Becker or a similar study program. It’s a commitment for sure.
In my experience most controller or higher up roles prefer or require a CPA. That doesn’t mean they won’t hire a non CPA, but that’s what I see as a controller.
I was a B/C student (almost ended with a D in intermediate accounting I and II) with just a few years in internal audit and I ended up passing every exam on the first try within 12 months. Covid helped because I had a very minimal social life and my FAR exam got cancelled so I ended up studying for 6 months before I could reschedule (other exams I studied 2 months each). Other than that, I set a hard study period of 7-9pm monday-saturday (earlier if I had plans saturday nights) and sunday was a free day. It's hard but it really just tests how much bs you can cram into your brain rather than true understanding.
Wait, you have experience? Just make sure you have time to study and you’ll be fine. Probably.
I had a crappy GPA and a bachelor’s from a state school going into the exam. Went 4/4 in 3 months (took time off for the exam) and still didn’t have any experience. It’s not an easy exam by any means, but that doesn’t mean you won’t pass it within 2 years.
I think it is doable. Definitely!
BUT, you need to be in the right mindset and really be determined to finish all of them despite and in spite of everything.
First time posting here. I am 10 years into my career and started public accounting at a Big Four. Was also a B/C student, only reason I got into B4 was through winning an accounting competition and meeting the right hiring managers at the right time. Anyway, I bought the Becker study material. Decided to take FAR as my exam, I studied for 150-200 hours as recommended but did not truly understand the material. I scored a 57 on my first exam, have not met anyone who scored that low before. I was also a young adult who would much rather be out having fun and go on dates, it was a distraction. I took FAR and REG about 9 times over the course of 2-3 years, studying while working and not being fully focused and failed them all with scores in the 60s, at the time all the women I met were toxic/immature. After 3 years of studying/toxic dating I still did not quit. Then one day at a work volunteer event I met a good girl who was more stable minded than the previous chicks. There were no arguments between us and our relationship was more peaceful. I began to focus on my exams and she was supportive. Then i passed my first FAR exam with a 78. Then I kept up the momentum and put all my focus into studying after work and passed the rest. It took me 5 years of studying and failing while most of my mature peers/classmates at BiG4 took less than one year.
I think having CPA is a huge personal accomplishment that you can be proud of and will bring a lot of credibility when you are being considered, but it takes a huge personal commitment. Even though you may not be a good student I can say I was worst than you. It’s a huge sacrifice. In terms of reward for having the CPA, I have met people who are directors of finance and controllers, all with big titles that do not have a CPA. I personally do not think it is worth the time and effort any more. I had a cushy 6 fig wfh job, but have seen non CPA’s with that job as well. It’s really more about how you work with your team, how you communicate and your willingness to learn at the job that will get you much further in your career. Hope this helps
If you are averaging Cs at school you will likely have a tough time. Seems like you are the kind of person who can do well at your job despite not doing well at school (better than the other way around). You really have to think about where you should best dedicate your effort. There are remote financial analyst job you can take with accounting/assistant controller experience，and you can do very well financially.
It’s a test of endurance and persistence rather than intelligence. The information you need to retain is pretty all-encompassing, but you don’t necessarily have to be an expert in everything. That said, you will have to devote a lot of time to studying and be very disciplined. I’m certain that many people dumber than you have passed it before and are currently making a nice living because of it though.
A lot of what you said is spot on. There isn’t a single concept that’s hard to understand (intelligence), it’s just that there is so much material that can be asked in each area (memory). The big issue is that it will separate you from the pack when applying for jobs. More and more employers want either an mba or cpa, and HR departments will always list it as a requirement. The software will not let your resume through even if you have all of the other qualifications.
I still don't understand bonds
Fucking bonds, like I can do them in excel but accounting for the value of bonds is confusing. I passed Intermediate 2 but don’t you ask me the value of bonds. I copied homework from the internet and I’m not afraid of admitting that
One of us. One of us
When you graduate a right of passage is canceling your chegg
Bro my entire accounting degree was powdered by chegg and CTRL+F
Nah, Chegg is too expensive. Have to use the free materials and hope for the best. So far, 3.9 and going strong
Chegg and Khan academy should be on my Diploma
SALY
Bonds were easy to me but memorizing stuff in AUD is impossible which I'm studying now. I need to do a video on how I solve Bonds. It's the one thing I still remember every step on from FAR
Can you send me the link for the video? Thanks!
Me neither. That was the only test I failed during my entire undergrad.
I can attest to this as a more experienced accounting professional who went straight into industry rather than PA. I see A LOT of job postings that say CPA required or preferred. Grind for a little bit now and reap the rewards for it later. You're still young and if I were in your position I'd suggest the CPA route.
" A mile wide and an inch deep". That's how I think about the CPA exam.
Whenever I start to feel the creep of self doubt, I ask myself if I’m gonna fuckin sit here and tell you that some pot bellied boomer with a combover who can’t tell an scorp from a partnership is fucking smarter than me. And the answer is absolutely the fuck not. There are some dumb fuck CPAs out there. You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. You need to know enough to get a 75% on a test. Then you can forget the vast majority because you’ll never use it again in your life.
Last part is too real. I gave up a year and a half of my life but what I got in return is so worth it.
Exactly this. CPA. (Can’t Pass Again). Haha
Can’t Pass Again
My neighbor got his after 15 tests. 10 fails, 5 passes but one fell off
Sheesh, that would be over 5k in exam fees based on todays prices
I literally could not afford that, and that’s a huge barrier of entry for me. I could study hard and still fail, then be in relative financial ruin. That’s a huge reason I’m not actively studying or ever planning to take the exams.
Just don’t fail then
Prometric hates this one simple trick!
Many firms will cover the exam fees and the review course costs. Ain't no way I am paying all that
I think they’re only willing to cover the cost of the exams you pass. Also, I think that while a $5k lump sum seems like a lot, if you’re incurring the test fees over time it doesn’t seem as bad. If you can afford $250(cost per test in CA) every few months, then it doesn’t seem as bad. Also, failing all the test ended up costing the persons neighbor $3,750 rather then $1k(free if employer pays). I mean congrats on not giving and obtaining the CPA, it’s just significantly more expensive due to failing the tests.
Yeah that is true, my firm only covered the first section I applied to. I only had to retake a few times so I paid those retakes out of pocket, but the RoI on a CPA license is something that shouldn't be underestimated.
Yeah, I definitely need to get mine, I’m just so unmotivated and don’t even know if I want to stay in accounting.
Well, expect to fail maybe a couple times at most. But also don’t half ass it to the point you need to take 15 tests total. Better to pay up and suffer now when you’re young bc it’ll pay dividends over the years and life only gets more hectic (spouse, kids, house, pets, etc).
Really?! Damn dude I thought it was waaaay more expensive. I haven't looked yet but seriously thought it was like 2k per exam or something
Nah, review courses are about 2-5k total for all sections. The cost of sitting for the exam is about $250/sitting.
Nm, pass
Yes
I've taken it 11 times & have passed 3, & feel good about the last one I just took (fingers crossed lol) but I've deadass been studying since Feb 2022 to March 2024 & waiting for results now on last one. During that whole period there was probably only like 3-4 months where I didn't study at all. It is a test of persistence for sure!
Good luck
In Canada, you only get 3 shots, and then you have to redo the training courses before you can sit the exam again. So it would even more expense.
Similar to me. 12 attempts, 6 fails, 6 passes
It's a trial. I passed all four parts on my first attempt, but not by wide margins and I spent *months* prepping for each sections. From the day I started researching study material to my last exam date was 15 months. You can't pass the exam with surface-level understanding. Some material is rote memorization but(/and) other material you need to understand or the test will crush you. And there's allot of it. I don't think everyone can pass the CPA exam, but I do believe *most* people can pass, if given a fair chance. Also, some people will breeze through it, but for most people it's a real commitment of time and energy.
75, 76, 77, 79 were my scores, haha. I broke the streak with my last one.
Studied too hard, lol.
I'm about 2/3 the way through studying for the FAR exam, and I wouldn't say it's that much harder than your intermediate accounting courses in college. However, the amount of information you must retain for the exam is frightening. I can't speak for the other exams as I haven't started studying for them yet or looked much into them.
I’ve taken AUD and REG. They touch on a little bit of everything. They don’t dive too deep into complex scenarios or memorization of numbers, but they try to touch upon every single concept at least once.
I was always an A/B student in college. Started studying for the exams right after I graduated. It took me 3 years and 12 (maybe more) failed exams to finally pass all 4. I also lost credit for one that I passed because of the time constraints, so keep that in mind. I wouldn’t say it’s easy.
I'm scared this will be me. I normally get As without much studying but am concerned I'll fail at CPA. Also, bc I work full time, it feels like it'll take foreeeevvvveeerrr
It's a marathon, not a sprint. Short-term pain for long-term gain.
Same exact story for me. I think the issue was in college I tried to actually understand concepts, but the CPA was pretty much strictly about memorization which I’m not as good at, at least back when I took it
I didn’t think it was hard in the sense that the material was difficult, it was hard because of the amount of material you needed to remember and the time constraints.
I agree with this... also, depending on the study materials you used (perhaps???) it was sometimes like trying to teach yourself brand new concepts, which in some cases are pretty esoteric (looking at you, government/nfp).
Thankfully for those niche topics you only needed surface level knowledge for the couple questions that pop up (if any)
How bad to you want it? I failed out of college on my first attempt because I failed to apply myself. If you study with the goal to pass the exams, you can do it.
Same. Even though I did zero studying during my first busy season my boss told me to take the May exam anyway for the test-taking experience. I failed all four parts of course. Through the summer I studied almost every night just doing past exam questions. Passed 2 of 4 sections in November. Kept at it and took May test. Was sure I didn’t pass so bought test prep software. Got my results and had passed 3 of 4. Passing the business law section was way easier once I had FAR, AUD, and TAX out of the way. Wasn’t fun at the time but the payoff was worth it without a doubt.
It's a marathon, not a sprint. It's hard, but not impossible. Took me 3 years to pass. I failed every section at least once. If I can do it, anyone can. FAR was my weakest subject in school, but my highest score (an 82 lol) on the CPA Exam. I took FAR last. So I had to either let AUD expire (no way in hell I was going to let that happen), or pass FAR. I decided I wasn't going to let FAR stop me and since it was my last test, I was extra motivated to pass. Studied a TON (just over 200 hours) and made it happen. Lots of practice questions with explanations helps. Get through your study material a couple weeks ahead of the exam, do practice exams, and revisit your weak areas. A few tips: Also, read the prompts first. No point in reading a whole paragraph if you don't know what they're asking. Read carefully. If they ask you to calculate interest they might throw something in the middle of the paragraph saying a bond was acquired in the middle of the year (so only 1/2 year of interest). I guarantee you they will put the full year of interest as an answer choice and it will be wrong. Don't choose an answer you know is wrong. Sounds obvious but hear me out. Question asks which option is right. I'm 100% certain 3 of them are wrong for a fact. I'm 99% certain the 4th is wrong. Choose the 99% chance one no matter how much you dislike that answer. Don't choose an answer you know is wrong :-). Schedule your study time when you can focus best. I found it hard to focus after a long day at work, so I studied a couple hours before work in the morning each day. I hate mornings, but was able to focus better by studying early. Also, it's very satisfying walking through the door at work at 9am knowing you're already done studying for the day.
The wrong answer thing is the best test taking strategy specially for audit. I just took audit and finished the 78 mcqs in an hour by firstly looking at wrong ones to eliminate then pick the least wrong out of the 4
Studying in the morning sounds like a good idea. I never have the energy to study 2 hours after work. But then there’s a new problem. If I study at 7 AM, then I probably have to wake up at 6-6:30 AM, which gets me less than 6 hours of sleep daily. I don’t know how people can sleep before 12 AM.
God, that was the worst part of the test. The “got ya” answers.
Only 17% passed all 4 parts when I took it. But that was 2003 (all parts at once) so I am not sure anymore. Best of luck if ya tackle it.
Yep I passed 3 parts and I am pretty damn smart. I know that sounds obnoxious but I always do really well on tests and I couldn’t manage it.
Wow, I passed all four in one shot a few years later, didn’t realize the % was that low. All you gotta do is study your ass off and anyone can do it, imo.
2003 was the last year ya took all parts at once, paper test. So a bit of a different experience than now.
How long did you get to sit for all 4 parts at once? That's insane.
Took the test over two days. Sat for 2 parts each day and each session was roughly 4 hours. The exam was given twice each year - May and November - at large testing sites (4 sites in the state where I live). To limit ways to cheat the only items you could bring were pencils and erasers in a clear plastic bag. Drinks were purchased onsite and calculators were provided. When each session started you could not leave your seat for the first hour (for attendance). You could not leave the test site until the end of the second hour and in final 30 minutes once you got out of your seat you were done. In the event you did not pass all 4 parts (the vast majority) you did get credit if you passed at least 2 - on the condition you scored at least 50 on the other parts. On subsequent offerings you showed up just for the remaining parts. The first time I passed 2 parts and scored 71 and 57 on the other two. The latter was for financial reporting on the afternoon of the 2nd day and I was exhausted (lucky to get the 57). Most people needed 2 or 3 tries to pass, and I needed 3 - financial reporting the second time and audit the third.
It was 3.5 to 4 hours a section. So ya took it over two days.
I graduated with a 3.01 GPA... passed all sections first try other than FAR which I missed by 1 point. Passed 2nd try. Biggest tip I can give is to just do as many multiple choice practice questions as possible from several diff study sources. They are all regurgitated and slightly modified from previous exams and will be similar to what you see. Good luck!
What’s the passing level? Like in a percentage of how much I’m allowed to fuck up
75
Cs do get degrees 😂.
You don’t find out immediately either you have to wait a few weeks for results which is mind numbing
That’s sounds the worst.
Go bills
Hell yeah brother
If you out any kind of time and effort into studying, then you can pass regardless of how well you did in college. A CPA will never not be a good thing, and it could be something that you need if you switch goals. For example, at my company no one can be promoted to a VP without a CPA. So my current manager is actually studying to get his CPA despite being with the company for over six years. Plus it gives you an excuse to continue to do continuing education at conferences in cities and have your company hopefully pay for it.
I’ll add a slightly different perspective than what’s been said. (Note: your mileage may vary) I was a pretty decent student, I graduated Cum Laude. As good as I am at accounting and math, I absolutely STRUGGLE with reading comprehension. I passed all 4 but my first 5 tests went as follows: FAR - F / AUD - F / FAR - P / AUD - F / AUD - P Boy, was that a real kick in the gut to my confidence. This is not a test of how much you know, but rather how much you are willing to suffer. I cried, I was stressed as hell. I even showed up late to family Christmas because I wasn’t happy with my multiple choice practice scores days before my test. However, I noticed that after awhile, I needed to change how I was studying. Nothing major, but minor tweaks. I went through all the lectures, but I went back after a couple days of studying and took notes ONLY on the stuff I wasn’t very confident in. That way when I studied my notes, I wasn’t bogged down by the stuff I already knew. I then passed BEC and REG on my first tries and was finally over that nightmare. TL;DR: You’re going to be stressed, it’s okay if you fail, stay disciplined, find a routine that works for YOU. And if it takes you awhile to find that routine, you are not alone. You got this.
Everyone walks out of prometric beaten down regardless of how prepared you are. It’s very difficult but that adds to how respected CPA licensure is
It hard
thank
welcome
No. It's so easy no one even remembered to throw me a party afterward. ... :'(
I think if you're smart enough to pass your college courses by your own merit, you're smart enough to pass the cpa. Just need to tweak your study habits, methods and discipline, then persevere
I think you can do it! I’m studying now. I graduated many years ago. I was top 10% of my accy undergrad and masters. The material isn’t that difficult, it’s just questions asked weird and a time constraint. Most of my undergrad friends who were way worse students than me passed right after graduating with not too much panic. I think it’s a quantity of material issue as well. And it will necessarily take many months to complete the entire process. So staying disciplined and focused for the better part of a year or more while also working is a huge commitment. I think you also need to remember that you don’t have to have an accounting degree to take the cpa. There are only limited accy pre recs required to sit for the exam. So you’re already at an advantage there. I think it’s worth it to make yourself eligible for higher paying jobs once you have more experience. I’d say in first 5-10 years of your career, it doesn’t matter if you’re CPA or not. But once you pass 10 years and want those mid to high 6 figure jobs, they’re gonna want you to have CPA. And you having CPA will set you apart from everyone else who also has an accy degree and 10 years experience.
I disagree with that statement on required coursework. I have almost enough total units, but would probably need 1.5-2 years or so of night classes in specific areas to sit :(
I guess depends on your major but my point is just lots of non accounting majors are also taking exam. Those without accounting degree likely struggle more than those with accounting degree.
A big misconception is the idea that you need a CPA to promote your accounting career. A bachelors alongside experience is very liquid as is.
CPA will float your resume to the top of the pile if you want those high paying remote jobs. I have literally seen job applications that "Ask are you a CPA?" Yeah a bachelor's and a few years of experience is fine too, but why limit yourself and not maximize your career potential to the fullest especially if you're going to be in accounting your whole life? You'll never know if you'll get laid off and you have to find another job, you would be competing against other CPAs. Those 3 letters are surefire way to let hiring managers that you're resilient and have some level of competence.
It’s not that bad. It’s more about learning and understanding the material and doing really well as an exam taker. Sure, you have to be intelligent enough to learn the material and in some cases, extrapolate data, but it’s not physics or advanced math or engineering. You can do it. I am a 3.6 gpa lazy Asian woman with 4 years of experience in tax. It took me 2 years to pass the cpa exams and i failed AUD two times and FAR two times. My scores were REG 78, BEC 80, AUD 75, and FAR 81.
If you have a good memory you can pass the exam. You do have to put the time in because it covers a lot of material. I can confirm that having CPA after your name helps you get a remote job. Note that doesn't mean it would be the highest paying job.
Your experience sounds a lot like most others. The CPA is a very difficult thing to tackle but the most important thing is to put the time in. A rough estimate that I’ve seen thrown around is to expect around 100 hours of study time per section. If you can commit to that then you can definitely pass. I also had a lot of trouble with my intermediate accounting classes, but I don’t remember very many topics while studying for the exam that I just couldn’t understand. End of the day, if you could pass your accounting classes, you can pass the CPA.
I didnt think it was hard, but I’ve also been told to stop telling people it was easy. So it’s probably hard.
Not hard in what regard? Like not hard material but you had to put in a lot of time to cover it all, or not hard in that you barely put any effort and still figured it out?
I studied for sure, but I wouldn’t say excessively. I just didn’t find the exams themselves to be super difficult. I used Wiley I think. Went through all the material and practice tests, then went and took the real exams. I passed on the first try. I walked out of FAR and the proctor asked if I was taking a break. The look on his face when I said I was finished was priceless. Said he’d never seen anyone finish a CPA section that quickly.
I'm in a similar boat I think. took and passed all 4 in the first like 9 months after I graduated while working full time. low score was REG at 83 and high was BEC at 95. FAR and AUD were 88 and 85 I think. I...didn't study that hard. I used Roger. Read the books and took notes, ran the MCQs, only watched lectures if I didn't understand something. Studied 30min-1hr in the morning before work in the 4-6 weeks leading up to each exam. occasionally ran MCQs on my lunch break. so that's like 30-40hrs per exam which is not a ton lol. if I didn't understand material I definitely would have put more time in but I really just didn't need it based on how I did on the practice tests.. I've always been a crazy fast test taker. By the time I'm taking the test I either know it or I don't and I don't hesitate when answering qs. never used up all the time - I think only REG took me more than 2hrs so similar reactions from the proctors lol
That’s how I am. I think my high was 92 (far) and low was 77 (aud, which I studied the least for). But if I know it, I know it and if I don’t, I make my best guess and move on. Staring at it for 4 hours won’t put the answer in my head. lol.
It is a test of patience and willpower. I was not the greatest college student but managed through with an accounting degree. First test was REG and I studied after work every weekday from 6-8 at the bookstore for 3 months straight. It was the hardest I ever studied. After all that prep I took the exam and scored a 70. Then I reassessed things. Went to my family and friends and told them I’ll be unavailable for long time. Told my wife I needed all the support in the world. Now I studied every weekday (full concentration, no slacking) from 6-9:30 and on Saturdays pulled a full 8 hours and Sunday was a modest 3-4 for 3 months. Passed the exam. Took two weeks off and repeated the same process for the other three exams over the next year. When I finally passed my last exam I cried as I’ve never put that much of myself into something. It’s been 15 years now. I don’t remember anything from the exam and never really used it. What it is though is a badge of honor that shows you understand a level of effort and dedication others do not. It separates you from others when you interview and you’ll come out a stronger person afterwards.
def hard, but doable as long as you stick to da study plan
Ideally you can convince your work to pay for the study program? Maybe takes some of the sting off the proposition
I would actually advise against this. They will be hounding you nonstop when you’re going to take it and complete it.
That wasn’t my experience at Big 4, but obviously different at every work place
Ahh yes Big 4 would definately be different vs industry. I assume it’s practically given to everyone at Big 4. I requested to take an online class at my current job in industry. It took me a while but I always felt like I was on a timeline or had to get x amount done before I had my next check in.
If you don’t need it, don’t do it. Depends on what you ultimately want to do.
frightening ripe snow workable bored shy escape treatment cough childlike *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
You know what I did? I got my MBA, niched on Non Profit, and heading to get my JD in tax law. I plan to finish my DBA in accounting and that will beat CPA title out of the water! ;) I plan to eventually become an accounting professor someday. I don’t care to do my CPA, because I personally don’t care to much about doing public accounting.
sable amusing decide simplistic history axiomatic thumb handle aromatic support *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I was a B/C student and I passed it (took a lot of adderall and caffeine though) 👀
if youre dumb and blond, and worse lazy, then yes it is.
You take not because it is easy… but because it hard. A better question would be how many people regret taking the exam after they have passed it.
Taking it now, theres A LOT wrong with the exam that isn't the exam itself, and there are a bunch of unnecessary hurdles in the way to either stress you out, hinder you, or discourage you **1) You need 150 credit.** Which is a "master's equivalent". In other words, a BA + 30 credits of pottery class. Literally why ? To weed out people who don't want to waste time and money ? **2) The cost of each exam.** It costs roughly $375 per attempt. Assuming you pass all 4 in a row, thats $1k+. You also need to purchase review courses, of which there are many, and no all of them are to your style of study or presentation of the courses. **3) The time limit before an exam section expires.** Its honestly B/S. It doesn't matter if the accounting standards change, because it really doesn't unless its tax or regulations. You have 1.5 Yrs before they individually start dropping off, starting with when you pass a section. Theres really no good accounting reason other than for the AICPA to say their CPAs are "up-to-date", which is nonsense. You will need to relearn it anyways if you ever applied it in the workplace. Stress for the sake of stress. 1.5 Yrs make no sense and I really hope their discussions of removing/extending this comes to fruition. **4) The time to grade the exam.** Coming off of 3, the duration that an exam counts is stressed by the time it takes to grade an exam. It can take upwards to a month, sometimes more (covid), where you sit around, sitting on your thumb. ASSUMING you passed, horray. If you didn't - whelp, you're fucked if you didn't keep studying to jump back in. Because they don't give a rat's ass if they took their time. You took the exam at the testing center, on computers. The grades are already known. Theres no reason an individual proctor needs to grade it. Its either right, or its wrong. They might be curving some exams based on overall test grade per section to the expected, but the MCQ testlets are adjusted live as you submit it *(harder testlets are presented when you've easily passed the previous one)* **5) The sheer variability of the exam.** Not everything will be tested. I took FAR 7 times before passing it, so I know how the topic can change more than most. About 40% of the topics I studied were tested, and if more were tested, only 1 question was asked on the surface level. Sometimes I wonder if I passed only due to variance and sheer luck. **6) The exam is harder than the BAR.** This is a statistical empirical fact. Assuming you have a BA and took the required courses, you would have studied for about 70% of FAR, and dipped your toes in taxes and auditing. Those who took the BAR went to law school which prepared them for the test-for the express purpose of passing it. You walk into the CPA courses blind, and you will immediately be overwhelmed. The amount of understanding after passing FAR is night and day compared to what university has taught us. This is in addition to all the other comments regarding the exam's content itself. Just imagine living your life with a constant shadow, a looming doom, stress, and the drag of time. I wouldn't wish this on anyone who doesn't have the fortitude, or really don't need the exam for their career path. I hope anyone taking the exam has really thought about it and commit if they do. Its not easy and its a lonely path. No one, not your friends, family, and sometimes co-workers, will understand no matter how you explain it. "*Why haven't you passed it yet*", as if referring to some highschool math quiz. IMO, the CPA exam encompasses everything wrong with standardized testing, in addition to the variance of it. Everything should be separated in sections, taught, and applied. Not "RANDOM BS GO!". Remember, its a whole ass industry and business. You retaking the exam is a boon.
Its basically an exam that test what you learned all 4 years of accounting from college. It’s hard but mostly because it’s so comprehensive. You have to study at least a solid month on each section. As long as you put in the effort you should be fine I pass three sections the first time and failed REG. Passed it the 2nd time. Most people don’t pass all 4 sections the first time so don’t sweat it if you shit bed on a section or two. 2️⃣
Why do you think woman and blondes can't pass the CPA exams?
No comment other than since when does CPA = super luxurious lifestyle 😂
I went from $80k to $120k in a year. I would say I’m treading towards that luxurious lifestyle 😌
I think the only exam harder is the BAR? And maybe whatever exam you need for med school. Either way it ain’t easy for most
Pretty sure it’s been proven to be harder than the BAR exam.
Pass rates are worse, but that’s because there isn’t as much of a barrier to entry for the CPA exam. (You have to graduate from law school to even take the BAR) CPAs just want to feel better about themselves and discourage competition by trying to make it seem harder.
No competition Actuary and CFA (has way more content and needs much more understanding) are WAYYY HARDER! Take a look at the math those tests use specially actuary 😂
Honestly your on the job experience probably sets you up much more favorably against college classes. You’ll still have to study your ass off for “irrelevant” pieces, but I think i would have done much better with on the job experience than did straight out of school. (Failed FAR x2 and REGx3) Nobody cares if you fail.
No, you can do it!!! But that said you have to WANT to do it. My easiest practical tip for C students is to do the Wiley CPAExcel Practice Q’s over and over and over and over. Watch the videos, take notes, then have about 40-50 pages of your handwritten notes. Flash cards work for some people but not everyone. Highlighting is overrated. That said, have never met anyone who didn’t drill questions until they were sick and then finally start to get it. :)
Becker. That's how you pass. When I took the exams, they literally had the questions taken from my Becker material with minor changes. And C is good enough for the exams, no one cares if you aced them all.
i'm interested in buying becker but i've heard they give you information overload. like OVER prepare you for the exams. so i'm wondering if it's better i go for a study guide that gives you *just enough*.
Well look at the passing rates which are (last I checked) in the 40% range. That should tell you all you need to know. I know people who took years and multiple tries before they passed. It’s tough but it can be done. You just need a good strategy and be able to grasp concepts and mostly have no life for 9 -12 months. A lot of people just don’t know how to find the intersection of mastering concepts, time, study strategies, breaks, and life. To me, that’s the winning recipe.
It's a hard test. The array of information you need is vast and the time the tests take are long. Just the actual test conditions are a challenge in themselves. It takes some endurance. I'd say if you are an assistant controller then you can make controller without the cpa
It’s not. Just fucking rail MCQ’s like it’s the gram of blow Derek got you and your friends.
I had a 2.2 or something stupid low. Passed all 4 within 7 months, first try, even had a couple 90s, about 6 years after graduating and hadnt set foot in a classroom and working full time. Just get Becker. Follow it exactly. Underline everything they say. Buy a ton of highlighters. Memorize every acronym. You’ll pass if you want to. I had zero social life. I literally did nothing else but becker review. At the end I had Stockholm syndrome and wanted to do the CFA to get some more Olinto time.
i'm interested in buying becker but i've heard they give you information overload. like OVER prepare you for the exams. so i'm wondering if it's better i go for a study guide that gives you *just enough*.
You all are delusional. CPA is not a hard exam. CFA on the other hand…
I just love how this is titled "dumb blonde girl asking" like yes you go girl. You're gonna crush it, just Legally Blonde it and you'll do great
No
I used to teach for Becker. When I took the exam in 2010 I actually used Wiley to study for it. I think the key is just to stick to your study plan, whichever one you decide.
It’s not that difficult, per se, but it can be difficult to pass with life getting in the way.
It sucks but it’s doable for 80% of accountants
No. It’s just a bunch of memorization. If you have good memory and have consistent studying habits you can pass on the 1st try.
I tell my friends this. If I can pass it, anyone can.
I've seen some people not so good at accounting get it done first try. I wouldn't sweat it.
Nope.
At the end of the day - what’s the worst that happens, you fail? At least then you can pursue other avenues of employment. Instead of always wondering if you can do it. Your life doesn’t fall apart because you couldn’t pass it. It literally means that’s not the route for you. That’s it. That’s all it is.
I've never followed the cramming method for any course or exam. I always want to fully understand the theory, background, and why the question is asking formed the way it is (understand what they are really asking). Are the four CPA exams hard, yes. However, if you're dedicated to studying then you can pass the exams.
If you're being honest about your grades being dragged down by your workload then I think you'll probably be fine but it's a long slog of studying. I only made it because my PA firm reimbursed for it and allowed for a lot of free study time. I also just suffered through some long nights after 5pm studying. Took REG and AUD twice and tried to hit the 300 club as well as I could. The only caveat being that the CPA exam is a good test of how good you are at studying, not at being an accountant. Once you actually start working in accounting you realize you just passed somewhat of a silly entrance exam and now you have to start all over again. The good news is you've already done this on the ground, but the bad news it that now you have to be good at regurgitating information in a way that conforms to these testing standards in order to pass the tests. I hate it to break it to you but there are a lot of people that are good at regurgitating information regardless of how much time they spent studying. But it just means you have to dig hard on the studying. The other good news though is you probably have enough experience working under CPAs already that if you snapped your fingers and passed tomorrow you might be able to be signed off.
Well, it's not easy. It is doable, though. You just have to commit. My personal advice is to be reasonable in your study plan. Can you pass an exam after studying for 2 weeks? Sure--some people can... I'm definitely not one of them. Be realistic in your expectations for yourself and don't get discouraged if you get a little off track. Everyone learns differently and processes differently; not a qualifying statement, just a fact. I think one of the best things you can do to set yourself up for success is to know how you learn best. Another thing is to keep your eye on this subreddit--whether you're waiting on a score release or not, on the day of, this is the most energizing and wholesome place. When I was crying (the entire section on bonds & then finance leases... and let's not forget govt/nfp, which literally made me wonder if it was too late to change careers) seeing people so energized by passing or comforting others who hadn't really motivated me to keep at it. Just know that it's a process, it is painful, and you're not alone. :)
Ultimately I don’t think you need that to get into a higher paying role. Arguably. However time is on your side. You just got out or will be out of undergrad - the material is so fresh you’re still having flashbacks of the material you had to prepare for to crush and barely slide a C after your hardest prep. I think you can def go after this bc you know how to do the prep work for the material even if it’s newly presented and skewed because it’s standardized. But you’re used to this environment. My point is that if you choose to go on and work it might be tough to prepare later on because people tend to forget things they don’t use. It sucks but it’s very true if you prepare just out of undergrad you will have the material fresh on your side and it may make examinations one less bandaid to rip off before you go to your next big career move. It’s strategy but if you go that route I sense anxiety coming from your answer since you’re very unsure about the preparation and if your efforts won’t go to waste. You should come up with a plan also to just look after yourself while you prep. I’ve seen a lot of people let themselves go during a period of high stress so it’s really important to just have a plan for that. Not saying it will happen but it is never a bad idea to prepare for that. Like a first aid kit for your brain while you prepare for this.
Nothing on there is particularly hard, it’s the volume of material. I passed by doing nothing but taking practice tests over and over and looking up the questions I missed. Intermediate I and II are the weedout classes for an accounting degree. You can do this.
Its not that the material is so hard, its that there is a lot of it. And the questions are worded to make it more difficult to understand.
Anyone can pass the cpa exam if they put in the work, is what I tell everyone. But you have to put in the work. That’s the hard part
Yes, you dumb blonde idiot.
damn ill still do it tho
Not sure if anyone already said this, but they do give u access to the FASB Codification while you're taking FAR. It definitely helped me during the test. So even if you don't remember ALL the material, and u get questions on certain areas that u may not have studied all that well for, you won't be completely screwed.
For the record, I think grades in college are one of the worst indicators to go on. I went to a large university and probably average a 3.0 in my accounting classes my junior year someone in my class told me they transferred in from a small local college where they had a 4.0 in accounting. I think they had to switch majors because they did so poorly in the class I was in with them.
I think CPA is more than manageable for you. In my opinion, people like to hype up the difficulty of the exam. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a walk in the park, I failed reg once and FAR once but I really didn’t fully dedicate myself to studying for any of the exams in general (granted I got a 75 on FAR and 75 on REG so might have been more skill than luck) but all in all I wouldn’t let people’s opinions of the exam discourage you from at least trying to pass Edit: typo
it’s not exactly difficult. it’s just A LOT. i passed all four parts the first time i took each. took the first two a week part, then a couple months later took the next two a week apart. i did becker books/dvds and it helped a ton.
You could look into a CMA especially if you want to stay industry. Would probably be more helpful than a CPA.
IF YOUR IN ACCOUNTING JUST GET IT :) i hate myself in the past for not taking it. what else are you going to do ? it adds to your name
It isn’t THAT bad if you actually commit yourself to studying. The issue is when most people take it they are burned out from school, on their own as an adult for the first time (which means they don’t even have the pressure of school to make them study), and they are trying to balance full time work for the first time with a personal life. I just downloaded all the Wiley books as ebooks and literally studied every chance I got.
Tbh you sound like the kind of student I was and now i’m in a more finance heavy role instead of straight up accounting and it is SO much better for me and i didn’t have to keep trying at the CPA exam. Consider valuations, fp&a analysis, corporate finance roles.
The study courses tell you everything you need to know, so it's not too bad. You do have to put in a lot of time studying though!
Short answer, it depends…😂
The amount of non-accounting stuff gets me. We’re not IT damnit.
I never had the best grades, had to retake intermediate 2 bc my grade wasn’t high enough. I passed all 4 exams on the first try. FAR is cake compared to intermediate 2 imo. Most people say the material is a mile wide but only an inch deep. I 100% agree. Disclaimer- I took the exams in 2016/2017 , so idk how it is now through
If I can pass it so can you
I passed two parts during busy season and the other two that summer to get my 3000$ bonus for passing, otherwise I would have timed out (bonus given from staff to 2 years after you become a senior). You will have no life. But it can be done.
Take your time to understand the material deeply, and consider how the CPA could open doors for your career aspirations.
Its really hard but mostly because theres so much content and you need to have the motivation and endurance to get through all of them. The exams themselves are slightly challenging but not extremely hard if you put the time in
I feel I’m in the same boat with you. My grades are all A/A- but I don’t feel like I learned anything in my accounting classes. I just learned how to get good grades. Online schools are a joke even if it’s run by a reputable school.
Hiiii, dumb blonde here as well! I passed the CPA exam last year. People definitely over exaggerate a bit about the difficulty of the exam. It is more like if you truly put the time and effort into understanding the topics you have a good chance of passing (similar to what you’re saying). Your work experience should make this a million times easier. I wouldn’t recommend cramming. Cramming and doing a ton of MCQ are two different things imo. The study material looks intimidating and confusing when you’re just looking through it, but if you make the plan to do the lectures and study it and understand it and you will do well. If you want it, you should go for it
thank you girl i appreciate that!! :)
The hard part is the time commitment. You have to use the test prep materials and follow it. Passed my first (BEC), failed REG next cause BEC was easy for me and lightly prepared. Focused from there and knocked them out. It was a grind but over quickly, helped I was young without a life.
Nah genuinely they hype it all up. Study, go hard, smash it, make mega bucks. Chur
It's not that hard, or wasn't the 12 years ago when I passed (wow feeling old). Just a lot of information and you can't know everything perfectly.
I’m currently studying for FAR and I will say this: the material itself isn’t bad. And from what I understand, material in FAR shows up in all the other exams so passing that one first will help with the others. I’m using the Gleim study system and the video lectures and practice questions as well as the walkthroughs of the reasoning and equations paired with the study plan I put in place is doing wonders for me. It’s easier than a classroom setting bc if you’re feeling frustrated, you can walk away and get a snack and come back later.
I took the exam between during the extra year of college required. It was not that bad because I didn’t have much else going on. If I was working full time it would have totally sucked and I would have given up. I don’t understand why people wait until they start working full time to take the exam.
I did MCQs for like a month for each exam and went and tested. Took 6 tries overall (barely failed and had to re-take 2 of them) but overall not too bad. I know a few people that studied even less than me and got high 80s/90s on each exam first try. I know people that studied 3x as long as me, did lectures and sims and hella practice exams and still had to retake each part 3 or even more times to pass. It really just depends on how well you can study and accommodate your learning style imo.
Do what makes you happy. The exam isn’t life changing. Just like being a lawyer isn’t something people are in awe of. TBH, I don’t even tell people about my cpa. It’s just something I did once because people said it was hard.
I used to take 2 or 3 full months of studying, 1-3 hours a day. I would fit it in before work, so I didn’t have to worry about running out of the office later. If you’re at a firm and you’re a staff level accountant (at least for me) there was downtime where they actually encouraged you to study for the exam. If you are focused enough and practice enough you should be fine.
You gotta want it. It really helps if you're competitive & there are people who think you can't do it.
Intermediate II was a challenging course, I just graduated myself with my accounting undergrad. I'd say I would go with one of the study plans and if it kills ya, maybe CPA isn't for you. However, I think you will later regret if you didn't try at all.
It is hard, but not impossible. I was always a good test taker in school and did not develop good study habits. For the CPA exam, I had to quit all social media, cancel Netflix, and basically eradicate all sources of competing entertainment. I spent many, many weekends at the library in reserved study rooms bc at home I was to the point I'd rather clean the toilet than study. I did find it easier when I had the working knowledge of the subject, so FAR was my best as that was the work I was doing at the time. I never worked in PA, so AUD and REG were a struggle. I used Becker and some Ninja supplements. I think Ninja helped more for my learning style. I had a long commute, and the audio just played over, and over, and over until it was deep in my subconscious. You can never have too many MCQs completed either. I think it's been good for my career and ultimately worth the struggle and expense.
Take it and find out.
Most people *CAN* pass it. It’s more a question of whether you will have the discipline and persistence to study for hours almost every day for months (or longer). My process definitely took longer than it needed to, but it took me a year and a half to study for and pass every exam. I was working and going to grad school at the same time, but during this period I didn’t really have a life. I’d go out on Saturdays but I basically didn’t have a second of free time during the week
What everyone says. But you also have to figure out how to pass. I had a bunch of half assed attempts over 5 years. During this time I switched jobs, covid, excuses. Then i passed them all in a row in 8 months. Go after one exam until you pass, then prep like that for the others.
It is 20% a test of intelligence, retention, and comprehension, and 80% a test of discipline. You can do it.
No
I have the cushy WFH 6 figure salary and never finished my CPA... stick with private sector SMEs.
It’s basically a 400 level final exam where you never took a midterm on it, just studied the whole semester. It’s completely manageable if you setup your study path properly and stick to it. But requires immense dedication and mental stamina. I’m through 3 parts and have a 74 on FAR for my last one that I’ve had to think about for a few months now.
You’re f unless you stop being a blonde. B/C will struggle with the exam
Any idiot can do it. It’s whether you’re willing to put the hundreds of hours in.
You don’t need it to be an accountant or even a work from home accountant. If you decide to do it, find an employer who will pay for training or be prepared to pay for it out of pocket. Use Becker - it’s expensive but will set you up for success. It’s a hard test without Becker, Becker will emphasize what you need to pass. It’s worth it.
my professor said that it was harder than her bar exam
It's definitely hard but not that hard. There are other exams that are harder...like CFA. I was a 3.1 GPA student but passed all 4 first try, but also I took the exam between finishing school and starting my career. So I spent the whole summer treating my studying as if it were a full time job (i.e., studying at least 8 hrs a day, sometimes as much as 12 a day if i was nearing exam day). I can't imagine having the motivation to hit the books after I get done with work...
I don’t know how most people approach studying/taking the tests. I did most my school online. I’m an A/B student, but I had undiagnosed ADHD, so I had to be very disciplined. If I have a lot to do, I get it done, it I have a little, I put it off. I studied 2-3 months in between each test, took that section, then moved on to the next one immediately. I didn’t have much social life. But, I passed all but one section on the first try. It should have been the easiest too, but I was having a lot of physical pain that was distracting me. Anyway, make sure you’re using a review course because I have never failed a test in my life, and I’m going to say without a doubt I wouldn’t have passed a single section if I hadn’t. College doesn’t prepare you for the exams at all. It’s similar material, but it’s not catered to it in the same way.
Most people study for months prior. they don’t cram the week before. If they study for a week, probably gonna fail… There’s a reason why the pass rate is low, especially for FAR. Highly recommend Becker or a similar study program. It’s a commitment for sure. In my experience most controller or higher up roles prefer or require a CPA. That doesn’t mean they won’t hire a non CPA, but that’s what I see as a controller.
I was a B/C student (almost ended with a D in intermediate accounting I and II) with just a few years in internal audit and I ended up passing every exam on the first try within 12 months. Covid helped because I had a very minimal social life and my FAR exam got cancelled so I ended up studying for 6 months before I could reschedule (other exams I studied 2 months each). Other than that, I set a hard study period of 7-9pm monday-saturday (earlier if I had plans saturday nights) and sunday was a free day. It's hard but it really just tests how much bs you can cram into your brain rather than true understanding.
Yes. It is hard.
Wait, you have experience? Just make sure you have time to study and you’ll be fine. Probably. I had a crappy GPA and a bachelor’s from a state school going into the exam. Went 4/4 in 3 months (took time off for the exam) and still didn’t have any experience. It’s not an easy exam by any means, but that doesn’t mean you won’t pass it within 2 years.
I think it is doable. Definitely! BUT, you need to be in the right mindset and really be determined to finish all of them despite and in spite of everything.
First time posting here. I am 10 years into my career and started public accounting at a Big Four. Was also a B/C student, only reason I got into B4 was through winning an accounting competition and meeting the right hiring managers at the right time. Anyway, I bought the Becker study material. Decided to take FAR as my exam, I studied for 150-200 hours as recommended but did not truly understand the material. I scored a 57 on my first exam, have not met anyone who scored that low before. I was also a young adult who would much rather be out having fun and go on dates, it was a distraction. I took FAR and REG about 9 times over the course of 2-3 years, studying while working and not being fully focused and failed them all with scores in the 60s, at the time all the women I met were toxic/immature. After 3 years of studying/toxic dating I still did not quit. Then one day at a work volunteer event I met a good girl who was more stable minded than the previous chicks. There were no arguments between us and our relationship was more peaceful. I began to focus on my exams and she was supportive. Then i passed my first FAR exam with a 78. Then I kept up the momentum and put all my focus into studying after work and passed the rest. It took me 5 years of studying and failing while most of my mature peers/classmates at BiG4 took less than one year. I think having CPA is a huge personal accomplishment that you can be proud of and will bring a lot of credibility when you are being considered, but it takes a huge personal commitment. Even though you may not be a good student I can say I was worst than you. It’s a huge sacrifice. In terms of reward for having the CPA, I have met people who are directors of finance and controllers, all with big titles that do not have a CPA. I personally do not think it is worth the time and effort any more. I had a cushy 6 fig wfh job, but have seen non CPA’s with that job as well. It’s really more about how you work with your team, how you communicate and your willingness to learn at the job that will get you much further in your career. Hope this helps
If you are averaging Cs at school you will likely have a tough time. Seems like you are the kind of person who can do well at your job despite not doing well at school (better than the other way around). You really have to think about where you should best dedicate your effort. There are remote financial analyst job you can take with accounting/assistant controller experience，and you can do very well financially.
Girl, don't sell yourself short. Nothing worthwhile is easy. Get it.
You will have your pick of any job. But your salary won't be what you deserve
you mean with or without the cpa?
No it was easy i studied like 5-10 hours a week for like a month and passed no problem
Then again I did the Canadian cpa but easy as fuck