[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 :)!

[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.

[mystical guy]

@kky617, I agree with @toughkitty et. al. CPA is akin to gold, in the business world. Whether you wanna teach, open your practice, work for someone, or just display it for your friends to admire, it's absolutely amazing to have that certification. I'm speaking as a permanent resident, myself, and I have had my businesses and also worked in industry, but now I'm heading to the Big 4 to get more business experience.

And like @mena je twa has suggested, doors will be opened for you, with the CPA. I mean, you can go into advisory, assurance, tax… you name it. ..

FYI, I've heard that the EA exam is “easy” compared to REG, but if I could pass REG, anyone can..

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[mystical guy]

@kky617, I agree with @toughkitty et. al. CPA is akin to gold, in the business world. Whether you wanna teach, open your practice, work for someone, or just display it for your friends to admire, it's absolutely amazing to have that certification. I'm speaking as a permanent resident, myself, and I have had my businesses and also worked in industry, but now I'm heading to the Big 4 to get more business experience.

And like @mena je twa has suggested, doors will be opened for you, with the CPA. I mean, you can go into advisory, assurance, tax… you name it. ..

FYI, I've heard that the EA exam is “easy” compared to REG, but if I could pass REG, anyone can..

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[kky617]

@Tough Kitty, CPA

There is a pretty decent sized Korean community here in Colorado, so I was thinking of finding my niche there. But, after hearing from you and others who replied to this thread, I decided to stick with my first plan to become a CPA.

Oh boy, it is funny that the receptionist did not know about CPA license when she knew CTEC 😉 You were too good and too smart for them :)! I am sure you will land on the job you would most dearly love any time soon 🙂 Hope I get to hear when you get your dream job! Fingers crossed!

[kky617]

@Tough Kitty, CPA

There is a pretty decent sized Korean community here in Colorado, so I was thinking of finding my niche there. But, after hearing from you and others who replied to this thread, I decided to stick with my first plan to become a CPA.

Oh boy, it is funny that the receptionist did not know about CPA license when she knew CTEC 😉 You were too good and too smart for them :)! I am sure you will land on the job you would most dearly love any time soon 🙂 Hope I get to hear when you get your dream job! Fingers crossed!

[kky617]

@Skynet

Do you plan to keep both designations? I heard that the association dues really do get piled up, but also heard that some firms offer you incentives for you to get the EA license. I do agree with you on the fact that CPA will open more doors for me. So, I decided to pursue becoming a CPA! Fingers crossed!

Whoa! I can't even imagine how much the CTEC, EA, CPA, CMA and the realtor person is paying to maintain all of the credentials 😉

[kky617]

@Skynet

Do you plan to keep both designations? I heard that the association dues really do get piled up, but also heard that some firms offer you incentives for you to get the EA license. I do agree with you on the fact that CPA will open more doors for me. So, I decided to pursue becoming a CPA! Fingers crossed!

Whoa! I can't even imagine how much the CTEC, EA, CPA, CMA and the realtor person is paying to maintain all of the credentials 😉

[kky617]

@Jack_J

I hear you! Have you passed some parts of the exam so far? I do also hope that after passing all 4 sections and the ethics exam, some companies find me worthy enough to hire me for me at least for a year so that I can get the golden CPA license 🙂

Let's not give up!

Let me know how your job search or exam taking is going! Knowing that you are on the same boat as I am is a relief. Let's get out of this situation SOON and make money!

[kky617]

@Jack_J

I hear you! Have you passed some parts of the exam so far? I do also hope that after passing all 4 sections and the ethics exam, some companies find me worthy enough to hire me for me at least for a year so that I can get the golden CPA license 🙂

Let's not give up!

Let me know how your job search or exam taking is going! Knowing that you are on the same boat as I am is a relief. Let's get out of this situation SOON and make money!

[kky617]

@DonicaCampbell

I can't imagine getting laid off 3 times.. that's brutal…

I really hope we can all pass the exam and get a golden job and get to brag about how we love getting a fat paycheck 😉

[kky617]

@DonicaCampbell

I can't imagine getting laid off 3 times.. that's brutal…

I really hope we can all pass the exam and get a golden job and get to brag about how we love getting a fat paycheck 😉

[kky617]

@mystical guy

Hearing you really, REALLY, made me feel motivated! I will study really hard, so that I can pass the exam and get hired!

Good luck at BIG 4!!!

[kky617]

@mystical guy

Hearing you really, REALLY, made me feel motivated! I will study really hard, so that I can pass the exam and get hired!

Good luck at BIG 4!!!

[tough_kitty]

kky617 – Thank you 🙂

In my opinion, maintaining CTEC license after you get your CPA license is redundant. Not sure about EA but if it's really easy to get and you can get it within the next 6 months or less, and like you said, find your niche, then you should definitely look into it. Getting a CPA will take you longer. It took me almost 1 year from the day I ordered CPA review until the day I got certified and I was doing it while being single with no kids. So, usually it takes even longer than that.

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

[tough_kitty]

kky617 – Thank you 🙂

In my opinion, maintaining CTEC license after you get your CPA license is redundant. Not sure about EA but if it's really easy to get and you can get it within the next 6 months or less, and like you said, find your niche, then you should definitely look into it. Getting a CPA will take you longer. It took me almost 1 year from the day I ordered CPA review until the day I got certified and I was doing it while being single with no kids. So, usually it takes even longer than that.

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

[Author]

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