[nickc1028]

Hey guys,

I am starting in big 4 tax beginning of november and I have sat for AUD and BEC so far. It is dealing with corporate tax stuff, so not necessarily doing what salt people would be doing.

Would you recommend taking REG before I start or FAR next?

My thoughts are possibly REG so I can refresh and capture some of the tax law that I don’t remember or did not learn in college. I appreciate all and any feedback. Thanks!

CPA
AUD - 7/26/11 - pass
BEC - 8/31/11 - pass
FAR - 10/14/11 - pass
REG - 11/26/11 - pass
CMA
2/27/15 - pass
5/9/15 - pass

[Anonymous]

I personally would take FAR next to get that out of the way. I understand that you would like to refresh yourself of tax material before you start, but you will get plenty of that in training. Plus if you wait to take REG then a lot of what you learn in training and on the job will assist you in passing that section of the exam. I know me personally taking my AUD exam right after my audit internship was much easier. Also the fact that if you pass FAR, you will not have to worry about that at all during work would be huge, instead of thinking all about tax during the day then switching to thinking all about FAR at night.

Just my two cents, take it if you want.

[nickc1028]

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it!

If you don't mind answering one more question.. Currently have no obligations during the day so I have the capacity to study 5-6+ hours a day (if not more of dabbling through MCQ while relaxing at night). If I started FAR tomorrow, when would you think would be a reasonable October test date? (just wanted to see if you thought it was reasonable to finish FAR by mid october to possible get 1-2 week headstart on REG before my start date)

CPA
AUD - 7/26/11 - pass
BEC - 8/31/11 - pass
FAR - 10/14/11 - pass
REG - 11/26/11 - pass
CMA
2/27/15 - pass
5/9/15 - pass

[Anonymous]

Yea I am in a somewhat similar situation to you, as my full-time job doesn't begin until late October and all I'm doing until then is studying. And I won't know if this is a good strategy or amount of study time until I take the test, but I started studying for FAR last monday (Aug. 22) and am scheduled to take the exam Oct. 6. So if you started now and took it middle of October that would be roughly the same amount of time as me. I think that I will be fine with this amount of time and feel confident so far with my progress, so I think you can do it. Again though, I won't know if this is a good strategy until score time, and everyone is different too.

[nickc1028]

I think I am going with FAR, about Oct 14-17…

I took BEC and AUD and were ready to tackle them. I look at the FAR text book and I can't even begin to imagine how I am ever going to learn all of this……..

CPA
AUD - 7/26/11 - pass
BEC - 8/31/11 - pass
FAR - 10/14/11 - pass
REG - 11/26/11 - pass
CMA
2/27/15 - pass
5/9/15 - pass

[I just love this]

You're starting in Tax? Take FAR, that's an easy decision. You'll remember more of that information from school, REG will be easier after you work for a little while since that will be what you'll be doing day-to-day.

REG- Waiting 7/1/13
BEC- Waiting 7/23/13
AUD- Studying 8/12/13
FAR- Signed up 10/1/13
Studying with CPAExcel and Wiley Test Bank.

[Author]

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