[Anonymous]

Hi, can someone give me advice. So I don’t have an accounting degree. I have an economics degree. I’ve been a finance manager/sr analyst in my 10+ years of work experience. I’ve been debating whether to pursue a MBA (con- very expensive) or CPA (pro- less expensive, con- cheaper but not guaranteed to pass). If I take the required accounting classes and hours from an online school, will that be sufficient to help prep for the exams? Has anyone out there gotten their CPA after taking online courses.

[Pete]

I've heard of people passing with just accounting books, but it's probably not very easy. Expect to spend around 2-4k on a prep course in your planning. The money you pay on a prep course will probably be well worth the time you save.

The classes alone will probably not be sufficient to pass; however, they will likely provide you with the foundation information, which you need to do the prep courses/exam. For example, a prep course probably won't cover the idea that revenue goes on the credit side of a T-account (at least not very thoroughly).

Conceivably, you could pass without even taking the classes, you would just need to self teach yourself everything (credits/debits, etc.); it would just be brutally difficult.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[aaronmo]

I took a mix of community college classes and online classes.

I have a strong bias here – MBAs as a class of people are useless, and you aren't getting an actual skill. You'll certainly work a lot harder in accounting – it's a real study course.

You can basically buy an MBA – you're going to work for a CPA.

[Son]

CPA is totally doable. I have 0 accounting background as well (studied law in a foreign country, work with international taxation in the States). I used Becker as my prep course, 2 months per section (even if working full-time) is more then enough time to prepare from absolute scratch for this exam.

AUD - passed
REG - passed
BEC - passed
FAR - passed

[Missy]

MBA has a very low ROI and at the end of the day if you're looking at accounting or finance positions a CPA will get the job over an M.B.A. almost every time. Only time it's worth doing is if it's on someone else's dime. ANYBODY and I mean ANYBODY can pass the CPA. It's not rocket science but it's about remembering enough information at one period in time to take 6 college finals in a four hour period

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[SaveBandit]

I wouldn't discount the MBA if you're attending a top 50 school and want to go more into finance vs accounting. Just my two cents.

4 for 4

FAR 85
AUD 94
BEC 86
REG 90

[Anonymous]

I am also taking the exam kind of from scratch, no formal accounting education, European legal background, but I have tax experience in Big Four in Eastern Europe. I started out with REG as it seemed to make sense because of my work experience, however it turned out to require a lot more hours over several months than usually reported by or expected from a “normal” US candidate. I heavily relied on CPA review courses plus occasionally IRS website in my preparation for REG. Now I am going through FAR and will be taking it at the end of Q3. I am primarily using Becker + Wiley test bank.

I apologize for hijacking this thread, but

@Son, it was quite interesting to read your posts on this forum, it is really impressive to achieve a tax manager position in the US Big Four firm with a non-native English background. Have you had US tax experience before joining Big Four? How did it all play out for you to make a move from Europe to the US?

I pursue CPA to make me more marketable in Europe in countries where there is significant US tax work (UK or Switzerland), however it would be great to get your feedback on my chances to get a job in the US or elsewhere. AFAIK, there is no PM on this forum so it would be nice to be in contact with you via email, my address is tasmena at mail dot ru. Definitely, subject to your agreement / availability.

You mentioned that English is your third language. What are your first two? As for me, besides English, I speak Russian and Polish.

[SomeSomeCPA]

S&P 500 FP&A for 4 years, Mathematics major. Decided I wanted to get a CPA instead of the MBA to wait for the MBA until later in my career. Did half online half in class. You can see from my signature now long it took. Hasn't got me any extra recognition at work other than a small bonus. But after an informational interview with an accounting firm they did let me know they are dying for CPAs so I feel like I could make a change if I wanted to. Just don't want to go back to entry level after the progress I've made in my current role. Still worth it in my opinion, spent about 10k-12k between classes, tests, Becker, Ninja MCQ,and superfastCPA notes.

FAR: 39,59,TBD
BEC: 74,79
AUD: 77
REG: September

[CPA2BEE]

I agree with @SaveBandit, an MBA from the right school is highly valuable. As for getting your CPA without any background, totally doable. I had an accounting degree going into studying for the exams, but still didn't really know anything about accounting (wasn't a great student in college – other interests). Just study diligently and consistently and you can totally pass the exams without any accounting education or experience.

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[smk168]

I know of a lot of people who were in the same boat! Check out UNC-CH they have an awesome MAC Program and you can do it online if you're not local.

https://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/programs/master-of-accounting/program-formats

[setmefree]

@cpa2bee, I feel quite relieve hearing from someone who has the same experience like me. I graduated a year ago, and just started my CPA journey. I was never a good student so my account background doesnt help in this situation. I do study diligently and consistently, but i don't seem to be able to retain the information well. Quite a slow learner too. Sure, that doesn't apply to you since you already passed all 4 parts, I am curious how long did it took you to pass all 4 parts?

[CPA2BEE]

@setmefree I had my struggles don't get me wrong. I will say one thing, had I applied myself in college not only would I have had stronger accounting knowledge going into the exams but I would've had much better study habits and study abilities as well. That was part of my learning process with the exams, I had to teach myself how to study the right way and effectively. So even though its doable without accounting knowledge, there is still something you'll probably have to compensate for along the way if you're going into it with less than your average candidate.

It ended up taking me about 14 months to pass all 4 parts. I failed FAR, AUD, and REG all one time so a total of 7 exams I sat for. My AUD and REG fails were 71 and 74. Don't get me wrong, a fail is a fail, but that 14 months could've been more like 9-12 months had those gone the other way. But take your studies day-by-day and keep learning something new about the material everyday. Also take some time to review what you've already studied every day, not just the last 2-3 weeks. Constant reinforcement will help the material stick. Good luck and just keep studying!

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[setmefree]

@CPA2BEE, thank you so much for your tips and feedback. You do give me a new sight and hope in passing this exam, hope this journey will be well worth it in the end.

[setmefree]

@cpa2bee, i do regretted for not studying hard in college, but i think now its the time to repay

[CPA2BEE]

@setmefree Just don't even think about the student you were in college, just focus on what you can accomplish now! You will still be just as much of a CPA as the kids who had straight A's in college.

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[setmefree]

Created with Compare Ninja

[Author]

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