[JoMS]

Starting July 1st, 2015 for CO CPA license the requirements are changing including the one of 150 credit hours instead of 120 (I have just 120 and experience over 1 year).

I have passed AUD and failed BEC in October, now I need to take FAR, REG and…BEC in Q1/2015 window, so I have time to apply for the license at least 3 months in advance?

Any tips how to plan these exams?

How much time takes in CO from application for license to be received? (the reg. says that all pending application at Juy 1st fall under new reg 🙁 )

I wonder how much time takes now … though I know months before June 30th they will get lots of applications and the process will be slower.

Thank you for any tips, advice, experience shared!

[Anonymous]

I am in your same boat. I have the 150 but because my undergrad was a liberal arts undergrad I do not have enough upper level business courses to satisfy the 7/1/15 requirements.

The Director of the Colorado Society of CPA's was telling everyone to be done by 12/31/14 to “just be safe”. I almost threw up when I heard this. I had every intention of trying but it just isn't going to happen. My friend who was also my auditing professor told me that I should be safe through February. So, I am trying to get it done by then. I am taking AUD this month and then (hoping I pass) I am taking BEC the beginning of February. However, based on score release from Q4, I may not get my score back from that until end of February meaning I wouldn't have everything in until March. THIS IS freaking me out as I am afraid it won't be enough time for all of the paperwork to process. I just can't take BEC sooner…I know I won't have enough time in December to prepare. I was “stupid” and booked a vacation to Mexico. However I am taking the ethics exam during this time to at least do something to keep the train rolling.

In all reality I would start studying for FAR today and keep yourself fresh on all sections through the end of the year and take that thing on January 1. Screw New Years. There is such a thing as waiting too long to take the exam so you just have to make sure you aren't forgetting material as you progress in your studying. Also maybe do the ethics exam during this time. As for REG and BEC, you'll have to determine which one will be your weakest and that's what you should do next. Maybe study for REG for 5 weeks and take the beginning of February and then refresh yourself on BEC for the last few weeks and take the end of February? I think that might be the only shot you (we) got.

Seriously, all the luck to you. I really do feel your pain. And if you have to go get your Master's I highly recommend Metro's program. I am a CU undergrad but the Accounting Masters at Metro is super flexible. However, I also work full time and am 31 so take my advice with that knowledge.

[Kimboroni]

Oooh, tough one. I would try to take one at the end of November, JoMS– it's a huge longshot, especially since your 2 options are FAR and REG, which have the most material. I guess pick the one you feel the most comfortable with/have the most experience with and cram like crazy. Maybe you'll get lucky. I'm hoping you have tax experience and can try for REG, as that seems slightly less crazy than attempting FAR in this short amount of time.

When did you take BEC, and have you been studying anything since you took it?

Then take the other one (FAR/REG) in January, and retake(s) in February/March.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[JoMS]

Thank you @Kimboroni

Unfortunately no tax experience and BEC was in OCT, so I cannot take it again in NOV. I am studying FAR now (and it seems the easiest to me as I work in corporate finance, but is too much material and I don't have experience for all included in the material), so my plan now is FAR in 1st week of JAN, and REG/BEC, one JAN31 and one FEB28, didn't decide which one 2nd. I plan to start in DEC to study REG in parallel, and see if I can assimilate info for FAR and REG in the same time.

My understanding is that FAR and REG helps with BEC simulations (I read about it after I applied for AUD and BEC together in MAY).

Also, I am hoping for some info about time frames for CO licensing process, to see if an exam in 1st week of APR (incase of another “incident” keeps in the “race”.

Congrats for your scores!

[Martin]

JoMS, and brooks303, Im on the same boat as you both,but I dont think I will be able to pass all 4 parts by June. I have only passed FAR thus far and taking Audit next. What happens if we dont pass all 4 parts by the June 30 deadline? We can still become CPAs,but we will need to get the 150 credits and experience correct? Do you know if there is a deadline to finish the extra credits and experience before the parts that we passed expires? Is there another state that does not require the 150 hrs so we can transfer the parts we have passed?

Thanks in advance fore your help!

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

[Kimboroni]

Thanks, JoMS!

I still think you should try for one this month, and if you're already studying FAR then go for that one.

I am not generally one to suggest jumping into a test (as you can see by the test dates in my sig), but I think this is a special situation. If you do pass, then that one is out of the way and you only have to take 2 sections in Q1. If you don't pass, then you keep studying and retake it in January. You're not really losing anything except the ~$200, and if you end up needing to take additional credits it will cost way more than that. I know it's a crazy idea, but it just may work.

I wouldn't recommend trying to retain FAR and REG at the same time. Too much material, too different from each other.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[JoMS]

@brooks303 Sorry I missed your post last time when I logged in. Thank you for all your advice. If it needs to be Master it will be Metro, I got there all accounting classes because I have an European BA in Management-Marketing, and I needed all 27 credit hrs to be done in USA, but I will be 50 🙁 before I will finish my Master and I don't want to do that to myself…or maybe just in an extreme case I have to.

Best of luck, and let me know how ethics exam works… I have heard that is much much easier than CPA exams, more like on online class/exam.

@Martin …as I know, beside CO just USVI still has 120 credit hrs request. For this reason CO will be overwhelmed issuing licenses, especially that CO doesn't have residence requirement, and all international applicants that want to catch the “120 cr.hrs” train will apply here. 🙁 Let me know if you find another state with just 120 req. Best of luck to you, too!

[JoMS]

@Kimboroni If I wouldn't work 8-10 hrs per day +2 hrs commute, I would try an exam in NOV, but in this conditions I failed BEC (the easiest as I understood from others) after studying 6 weeks after work. I don't even have time to read once all FAR or REG. 🙁

[Anonymous]

Hi Martin, I am so sorry but I just now saw this. Per your question:

“I dont think I will be able to pass all 4 parts by June” – unfortuntately we have to be CERTIFIED by June 30th so if we can't get it done my February there may be a slim chance of us even getting in under the deadline. It sucks…big time

“I have only passed FAR thus far and taking Audit next. What happens if we dont pass all 4 parts by the June 30 deadline?” – Just keep going on your exams. Nothing is affected there. The only thing that will change are the education requirements however that's only for licencure, not for sitting for the exam. Then, once you pass all four parts I think you have a long time to get the other requirements. Seriously, read and memorize this thing: https://cdn.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&blobheadername2=Content-Type&blobheadervalue1=inline%3B+filename%3D%22Accountancy+Rules+and+Regulations%2C+effective+July+1%2C+2013.pdf%22&blobheadervalue2=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1251853987334&ssbinary=true

And almost all states require the 150 hours now but I haven't looked into it too much. Let me know if you find anything!

[Martin]

Thanks Joms and Brooks, it seems that we dont have any other place to transfer our credits in case we dont meet the deadline. USVI does require as to be residents. I wonder if Colorado accepts clep courses. Look at option 5 below=

https://www.towson.edu/cbestudentnews/oct11/150credits.htm

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

[Anonymous]

I've been wondering about that but haven't found anything. If you do find something please let me know. And if they don't, well, your competition across this country will have a Master's so if you have to get it at least you know it keeps you competitive.

My current plan (based on the assumption I am done with CPA in February) is to turn everything in and if I don't have my certification by end of May I am just going to register for the Summer semester at Metro, take three online business classes (which seems like a cakewalk compared to what we all have been going through am I right) and go from there.

If I get it by June 30th (which is my birthday so that would be a lovely gift) then I will probably just finish the courses since it would only be a few more weeks. If I don't make it, well, I think I am short 4-6 upper level business classes (my undergrad was a Liberal Arts) so I will have the three Summer classes and can finish the rest in the Fall.

In all reality though, based on my initial assessment with NASBA, I have no idea how short I would be as I don't know what constitutes “Above Introductory Level” under the new CO. rules. I just don't know if it means the same as 3000 and higher or if some “advanced” 2000 level classes would suffice. And NASBA is no help. When I first applied to sit they said I was short 12 hours. When I called and argued with them about it I had 6 more than what I needed. As always NASBA proves themselves to be the dumbest organization I have ever had to deal with.

So, there's my plan. I finally resigned that if I need 4-6 more classes then it is what it is. I have been in school my whole life so why stop now (ugh). Just need to be done with the tests by May to make Plan B work.

I only lay this all out there for you to see how I have dealt with this crap situation so hopefully it will give you some ideas on what you can do.

[Author]

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