[Master the CPA exam]

So I am currently working at a CPA firm and I have been studying for the FAR exam. I am scheduled to take FAR on April 25th. However, I feel that I am not getting enough studying in since I am full time, any suggestions where I could work where I would have more time, they would hire quickly, and I could make a decent amount of money. Any suggestions…..

FAR - May 2015 - 69
BEC - TBD
REG - TBD
AUD - TBD

Wiley CPA Excel, Wiley Test Bank, & Ninja Audio Notes

"Fight through the pain, so you can live like a CHAMPION"

[y_u_no_pass]

I don't know what you do, but this is a busy time of year for all accountants. You just need to make time. Alternatively you could begin studying when it slows down a bit.

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.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest Government but they are not hiring much lately (depending the area) and the hiring process may take long if you dont have a history wih them. They have good flexibily when it comes to work schedules. You can still try it.

[Anonymous]

I can free you up another 8 hrs per day if you give up sleep.

In all seriousness, while it may not feel like it, there is enough time.

[Gabe]

Get up earlier, stay up later, study during lunch (if you can). There is time, you just have to push through it. Good luck!

CPA, CFE
CISA- Experience will be completed by August 2016

[Vern -No what I mean]

McDonalds? If you don't like that option then here is another:

For the next 7 weeks

1 hour before work = 5 hrs per week (MCQ's)

1 hr during lunch = 5 hrs per week (MCQ's)

2 hours at night = 10 hours per week (Notes and MCQ's)

Saturday = 4 to 6 hours (Videos, notes, MCQ's)

Sunday = 4 to 6 hours (Videos, notes, MCQ's)

Total = 28 to 32 hours per week times 7 weeks = approx 220 hours

Like Billbrasskeysaid… there's plenty of time.

AUD - 90
FAR - 71, 76
REG - 75
BEC - 76 (bubble sucks)

Becker + Ninja MCQ's

[tami3492]

I work full time and have 2 kids. While not easy, it is doable. You just have to give up other things and make this top priority. Squueze in time whenever you can. I found Ninja audio to be great to listen to while in the car. It was to the point where my kids could almost recite what Jeff was saying. Get up an hour early in the morning, stay up later at night. Weekends and a social life are basically nonexistent, though I do think it is very important to take a break and get out once in a while to clear your mind. I tried to get in 2-3 hours on weekdays and probably 5-8 on weekends. Every once in a while I would take a day off because I found that if was getting burnt out I wasn't getting anything out of studying.

FAR 7/8/14 - 88 - Becker live course
REG 10/14/14 - 82 - Becker live course, Ninja notes and audio
BEC 11/25/14 - 88 - Becker live course, Ninja audio, Wiley book for extra questions
AUD 2/3/15 - 94 - Becker self study, Ninja audio, Wiley book for extra questions

[LongShot]

I feel like pretty much everyone else here-there's always time, it's just a matter of using it. I work full time and have 3 very young kids (now 6, 4, and almost 1). Almost every night after getting them to bed I'd study till around midnight or 1am. Then I got up at about 4:30 am and studied before they woke up. And then I studied over lunch. Heck, while helping finish off my parents' basement over the summer instead of blasting music I was usually playing Jeff's audio notes for my last REG retake.

Every single thing about it sucked. I've never gotten such little sleep for so long in my life. And it was all worth it. I just tried to look at everything as choosing to have about a year that completely sucks now so I'd be in a better position with the CPA to enjoy every year after. Only downside to the whole thing is that now I'm used to waking up at 4:30 in the morning..

FAR - 75
AUD - 72; 87
REG - 64; 74; 84
BEC - 88

Done!!

[mla1169]

I may be mistaken but if there were places that hired quickly, had low hours and paid decently none of us would put ourselves through the CPA exam in the first place. At least that is my feeling.

If you can push the exam out to give yourself more time to study do that. Otherwise there really is no such thing as working too many hours to study. If I could do it while working full time, taking 2 classes per semester and raising 2 kids pretty sure anybody can fit it in.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[UyghurCPA]

It is doable to finish the CPA exam while working full time. In my case, I made a priority to put in at least 2 hours of studying time every week night (not a morning person) after my 2 kids were asleep, and 4-5 hours almost every weekend. I allowed myself to take a break on Friday and Saturday evenings. I didn't watch TV besides 30 mins of Big Bang Theory once week. I did manage to squeeze in some studying time at lunch hour for some MCQ. After a month or so, it became a habit. I'd feel guilty if I wasn't studying. So yes, there is time. But, how to manage it is very important.

FAR - 74, 80!
AUD - 82!
REG - 73, 80!
BEC - 75!!!!
I AM DONE!!!

[Anonymous]

I passed all 4 sections of the CPA Exam while working full time. I put it on hold while I was in public accounting, because for me it was just not doable with all the travel and overtime I had. Once I got out of public, I started it up and finished it (one section right after I started and then a year later, I finished the next three sections from May-August). I never studied before work, it just wasn't feasible for me. I scheduled two hours in a conference room every single day at lunch and studied during that time. When I got home, I changed, grabbed a snack, and studied for about 5 hours every night, with a quick break for dinner. I studied for 8-9 hours on both Saturday and Sunday, every single weekend.

What really worked for me was making a schedule every Sunday for what I wanted to accomplish, every single day during the upcoming week. I would switch up study places, sometimes going to Starbucks at lunch, or on the weekends to study. My husband was also great, and took care of dinner and making sure the house was clean. Overall, it comes down to your dedication.

[juuustin]

The bar down the street? I mean, how is this a serious question?

Like mla said, you just described a job that 95% of people on this forum would take at the drop of a hat, yet you just want this job as an interim position so you can study?

There are more than enough hours in a day to work and study, if you really want it. I had REG on 1/30 and I started at a Big 4 in the middle of busy season 3 weeks earlier. I got home at 11pm every night. I exercised for about 30 minutes and studied for an hour. If you don't want to exercise, you can easily grab 1.5 hours every night without even trying.

MD Candidate: 10/1/14

FAR - 87 (11/23/14)
REG - 87 (1/30/15)
BEC - 89 (4/19/15)
AUD - 98 (5/30/15)

Ethics - 100

Experience - In Progress!

[Anonymous]

I have to echo what others are saying; you have plenty/more than enough of time. Study at least a few hours each night, study 6-8 hours both Saturday AND Sunday, listen to Ninja audio and do MCQs during lunch. That's almost exactly what all of us full time workers did.

Conversely, a new job isn't the answer. Tell me what new job you started that you had complete flexibility and weren't overwhelmed with all the new information….

[Author]

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