[kky617]

Hi,

I have BA in Psychology and finally fulfilled the 150 credit requirement (including the required Accounting and Business credits( to take the CPA exam. I have no experience in accounting field.

I thought my worries would be over once I am done with the credit requirement, but now, I am more worried about the career options. I am a permanent resident (can work legally in private and public sectors just not the government job) and will apply for citizenship in July of 2015 (next summer).

I live in Colorado Springs, CO.

I am debating whether to pursue CPA license or just pursue EA license.

Pursuing CPA license would require me to find a CPA firm that will hire me after I pass all 4 sections of the exam or to get a graduate degree in order to fulfill licensing requirement through education in lieu of experience (totaling 18 more hours in Accounting and 15 more hours in Business related subjects). Getting the golden CPA license would allow me to work in various industries (public/private/government once I get my citizenship).

Pursuing EA license would require me to study a lot more about taxation and pass the SEE exam. One good thing about getting this license is that I don’t have to have additional work or educational experience to get licensed upon passing the exam. With EA license, I would need to open my own business (most likely) and advertise a lot to recruit my clientele in order to stay in business.

Please help me decide.

Thank you so much :)!

[tough_kitty]

If you read your own post, it sounds like the answer is obvious – CPA ALL THE WAY!! 😛 You can get EA while you are pursuing your CPA but not sure if it adds a lot of value in terms of job offers etc., and as far as tax return preparation options, even with a CPA license you need to find clients, get insurance, PTIN with IRS, etc.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

If you read your own post, it sounds like the answer is obvious – CPA ALL THE WAY!! 😛 You can get EA while you are pursuing your CPA but not sure if it adds a lot of value in terms of job offers etc., and as far as tax return preparation options, even with a CPA license you need to find clients, get insurance, PTIN with IRS, etc.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Jack_J]

I think you can apply for state jobs but not Federal Jobs which mostly require US citizenship.

[Jack_J]

I think you can apply for state jobs but not Federal Jobs which mostly require US citizenship.

[Study Monk]

I agree with tough kitty and would try to get the educational requirements knocked out before July 2015 when Colorado is changing their requirements. I know I posted this once today but here it goes…

https://una.cpaexcel.com/papp/enroll.html

I think you could finish an accounting class every two weeks with this program while preparing for the CPA exam. Its going to be hard to find clients with no tax experience(unless your lying) and most people don't know what an EA is while CPA is universally recognized. Go to an EA forum and you might hear differently.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

I agree with tough kitty and would try to get the educational requirements knocked out before July 2015 when Colorado is changing their requirements. I know I posted this once today but here it goes…

https://una.cpaexcel.com/papp/enroll.html

I think you could finish an accounting class every two weeks with this program while preparing for the CPA exam. Its going to be hard to find clients with no tax experience(unless your lying) and most people don't know what an EA is while CPA is universally recognized. Go to an EA forum and you might hear differently.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[tough_kitty]

Love to hear it, Study Monk 😉

As far as EAs go, I've only had a chance to work with one of them when I audited a small store in SoCal a few weeks ago. The EA was Vietnamese and she served Vietnamese community – so as an EA you can find your own unique market, but yes, it may be hard.

Funny story – I had an “interview” for the tax preparer position also a few weeks ago, and the lady (most likely the office assistant) told me they required CTEC license (lower level of certification than EA, required in CA for paid tax preparers). I told her I was getting my CPA license. I used to have a CTEC license but I don't anymore. Her response was: “What is this license you have, again?”….needless to say, she never followed up on the interview….and they needed a freelancer which isn't something I can do now, because 1) I don't have enough time, 2) I don't want to spend more $ on PTIN, e-file, bonds, etc……because if I do, I'd rather find my clients on my own!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Love to hear it, Study Monk 😉

As far as EAs go, I've only had a chance to work with one of them when I audited a small store in SoCal a few weeks ago. The EA was Vietnamese and she served Vietnamese community – so as an EA you can find your own unique market, but yes, it may be hard.

Funny story – I had an “interview” for the tax preparer position also a few weeks ago, and the lady (most likely the office assistant) told me they required CTEC license (lower level of certification than EA, required in CA for paid tax preparers). I told her I was getting my CPA license. I used to have a CTEC license but I don't anymore. Her response was: “What is this license you have, again?”….needless to say, she never followed up on the interview….and they needed a freelancer which isn't something I can do now, because 1) I don't have enough time, 2) I don't want to spend more $ on PTIN, e-file, bonds, etc……because if I do, I'd rather find my clients on my own!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[mena je twa]

I would pursue retail industry. I would set up a pot shop in Colorado and get some buddies in to invest.

Sitting in texas, i wish i could do something like this. Its legal in your state, now is the time to get in cause in 5 years it will be saturated with lot more retail shops…..

Make some money now and sell it down the line.

I am serious, jokes aside…

Between EA & CPA, definitely CPA is the king…..It will take you places where the EA won't!!!

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[mena je twa]

I would pursue retail industry. I would set up a pot shop in Colorado and get some buddies in to invest.

Sitting in texas, i wish i could do something like this. Its legal in your state, now is the time to get in cause in 5 years it will be saturated with lot more retail shops…..

Make some money now and sell it down the line.

I am serious, jokes aside…

Between EA & CPA, definitely CPA is the king…..It will take you places where the EA won't!!!

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[Skynet]

@kky617 – I have an EA but am pursuing my CPA license. If you are only going to do taxes then the EA is the obvious choice. However, with the CPA, you can do much more than just taxes compare to the EA. Or you can pursue both. The SEE exams are not that difficult. I pass all three sections on the first try and got licensed three weeks later. Besides, I know professionals who hold multiple designations. There was this one guy who has the CTEC, EA, CPA, CMA, and also have a real estate license. I'm not kidding too!

[Skynet]

@kky617 – I have an EA but am pursuing my CPA license. If you are only going to do taxes then the EA is the obvious choice. However, with the CPA, you can do much more than just taxes compare to the EA. Or you can pursue both. The SEE exams are not that difficult. I pass all three sections on the first try and got licensed three weeks later. Besides, I know professionals who hold multiple designations. There was this one guy who has the CTEC, EA, CPA, CMA, and also have a real estate license. I'm not kidding too!

[Jack_J]

CPA is the ultimate designation everyone should aspire to get due to its extreme benefits but if you need a survival job that will put food on the table in the interim while pursing your CPA then just go for the EA.I am in the same situation as yours ie permanent resident to the USA and yet to obtain citizenship if all goes on well ,the job market in US is not “fair” to permanent resident due to lack of inside experience with America companies at least this is my impression.It is not easy finding a job in America relating to accounting/auditing( A/A) if you do not have an American job experience in this A/A field, even entry level jobs which should require no experience are still difficult to get.I came to the US having won the DV lottery on my first try and taught that getting to America with at least my Master's level education and almost completing my DBA would help me easily secured a job at least an entry level job while I purse my America dream of giving my children the best of US education but alas it has been really tough.(I now regret moving to the USA as I was doing very well in my home country) I am currently pursing the CPA exams under CA and hope that once I pass there will be a turnaround in my job search . What I want to advise is that purse a career that will be quick and easy to find job in the short term while staying focused on your long term dream/goals like obtaining the CPA etc.Due to the lack of job I am currently thinking of pursuing CNA this shows how desperate and frustrated I am in USA. But I know that one day my sorrows will turn to joy.

[Jack_J]

CPA is the ultimate designation everyone should aspire to get due to its extreme benefits but if you need a survival job that will put food on the table in the interim while pursing your CPA then just go for the EA.I am in the same situation as yours ie permanent resident to the USA and yet to obtain citizenship if all goes on well ,the job market in US is not “fair” to permanent resident due to lack of inside experience with America companies at least this is my impression.It is not easy finding a job in America relating to accounting/auditing( A/A) if you do not have an American job experience in this A/A field, even entry level jobs which should require no experience are still difficult to get.I came to the US having won the DV lottery on my first try and taught that getting to America with at least my Master's level education and almost completing my DBA would help me easily secured a job at least an entry level job while I purse my America dream of giving my children the best of US education but alas it has been really tough.(I now regret moving to the USA as I was doing very well in my home country) I am currently pursing the CPA exams under CA and hope that once I pass there will be a turnaround in my job search . What I want to advise is that purse a career that will be quick and easy to find job in the short term while staying focused on your long term dream/goals like obtaining the CPA etc.Due to the lack of job I am currently thinking of pursuing CNA this shows how desperate and frustrated I am in USA. But I know that one day my sorrows will turn to joy.

[Anonymous]

Jack_J- I too am having a hard time finding a job coming from the mortgage industry. An industry that is way too volatile. I should have done this when I got out of school. But the money mortgage was offering me compared to accounting was too good. After getting laid off for the 3rd time, I took a job at HR Block, which happen to be the best thing that happened to me. This is where I found about being an EA and thought that it would be the easy way to prove my expertise in tax. Funny thing is, no one knows what an EA is !!! Only accounting firms have a clue. This is very challenging when companies have recruiters to represent them that only know the CPA designation. I found this out after passing the 1st part. I just put the EA exam down to go for the gusto-CPA license. Knowing me, I would have ended up here either way after completing the EA.

[Author]

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