[Relentless625]

Hello,

I have previously passed all 4 CPA exams at various points over the past 5 years but have not managed to pass them all within the prescribed 18-month period. I have begun studying again in earnest; however, I am also considering a job search.

I am wondering whether it would be appropriate to put “Passed all four CPA examinations” at the bottom of my resume. I certainly earned those passes, and I feel like it might help legitimize my candidacy vs. other applicants.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I would say no, because it comes off as misleading. Even though at one point in time you did pass every single section you do NOT currently have all 4 sections passed. A person reading your resume would assume that you have passed all four sections and would be working towards getting your license (experience pending). However, this isn't the case- you are currently studying for the cpa exam which is what should be stated on your resume.

[govtec]

I wouldn't list it at all. You're really stretching it and it will only invite follow up questions like, when do you expect to receive your license if you passed all 4 parts? What will the explanation be then? That my passes expired and I need to retake the test?

BEC - 12/13
FAR - 5/14
AUD - 8/14
REG - 2/15
Passed 6 of 6 CLEP Exam

[Anonymous]

I agree with the other posters.

You should probably only include the ‘active' exam credits.

[Anonymous]

Losing credit for an exam is, technically speaking, the same as having never taken it. Thus, to claim on your resume that you have passed all sections of the exam is, technically speaking, the same as lying. My intention is not to insult you because I understand that you want potential employers to know that you have the intelligence and work ethic to have passed these exams. But you're assuming 2 things: 1) that employers care whether or not you've passed them before and 2) that you won't be questioned further about your status as a CPA candidate.

If you are applying with companies who prefer a CPA, they don't care whether or not you have passed the exams before. They care how soon you are actually going to get the license, i.e. is it a matter of work experience, do you have one or two sections left, have you not started the exam at all, etc. Furthermore, I believe you should always prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario, which would be that they ask for proof of your exam credits. You don't want to be holding stale-dated letters with expired exam scores when that happens. You will become one of the stories they tell subsequent candidates. “You won't believe what one person tried to pull on us …” And actually, I guess the true worst-case scenario is that they send your resume to your state board and tell them you are trying to pass yourself off as having passed every section of the exam when, for all intents and purposes, the record reflects otherwise.

You are just starting out in a career that demands integrity, and it doesn't really matter what your intentions are. Perception is reality.

[y_u_no_pass]

I think the only way you could include this on your resume is to clearly explain.

Current CPA Candidate:

X Number of Exams passed with current credit

* Have passed all four at least once (x credits have expired) and plan to complete by XX date.

But you can just explain during the interview. Putting that you passed all four is intentionally deceptive and if it gets you an interview will not land you a job.

Florida CPA!
Took final exam 2/25/15.
Sent in Application 3/12/15.
Issued License 3/20/15.
Used CPA Excel solely for all exams.

[Martin]

I was going to give you the same advice as y_u_no_pass. This way the company will know that you have been successful at passing all 4 parts in the past. This is a lot better than having another candidate who has never passed any of the parts or has never taking the exam. You should have an advantage over them.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[mw798]

Honestly, I just would leave out the parts that have lapsed. If you say that you have passed all four parts over the past 5 years but various parts have expired, that might open up a can of worms. The potential employer may think why has it taken you 5 years and you still haven't passed? And if you put “plan to complete by XX date”, they might be inclined to think, if you couldn't pass all within 18 months in the past 5 years before, what makes me believe you can now?

It's best to leave it out and only put the passes that are still valid on your resume. You have to remember, when companies are screening through resumes, they are not going to waste time to ask you to explain yourself and you may very well have a great explanation as to why your credits lapsed. However, it'll be on to the next resume.

[Anonymous]

I'd say like mw that stating you've had parts expire on your resume just opens up a can of worms and is more likely to be negative than positive. You can't add there as well the explanation as to why some of them have expired, so it just creates questions in the mind of those reviewing the resumes, and the answers are left up to their creativity.

[Author]

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