[Patrick909]

Seriously, is there going to be a long wait for this? Just got my letter from CPA Examination Services yesterday…..in all honesty, I was expecting something a little more than the same letter I received for passing the other 3 sections.

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How long do these “Boards” take to grudgingly recognize the fact that you passed the exam? This would be the FL BOA. Speaking of which, has anyone ever had a “good” experience dealing with this Board?”

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I’m fully expecting them to try to deny me licensure using any means necessary, including simple stalling, if need be. It was difficult enough initially getting them to approve me to take the exam….it took forever and a day, and then when they finally approved me, they didn’t bother to notify me.n

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[Patrick909]

Wow, I actually got mine in the mail too! Still doesn't show up on the website, though. lol

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I guess the earliest we can now hope for is their March 26th board meeting….geez…so much waiting.

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What about the Laws and Rules exam? The mailing they sent me didn't even mention it. Or am I going to have to mail in my application, then wait another two months before they'll let me go through that exercise?n

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[JDCPA]

Florida law no longer requires CPA candidates to pass the florida laws and rules exam. As a result, we don't have to take it.

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I spoke to someone at DBPR last week and she said that the applications take 2-3 weeks to be processed and the licenses granted. Further, she stated that we would not have to wait till the March 26 board meeting to receive our licenses, so long as there were no complications with our applications (i.e. prior background check – criminal history, etc).n

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[Patrick909]

Oh yeah? Sweet. I thought you had to wait until you got on the consent agenda at a board meeting, at which point they approve all the recommendations in one fell swoop.

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I filled out my application, attached the $50 check, and sent it in today. If they have transcript problems, I am literally going to yell at them. I had to send them official transcripts in 2008 to prove my compliance with the 150-hour rule in order to take the exam in the first place. If they don't still have those on file, they are going to hear it from me.

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Thankfully, I'm exempt from the new work experience requirement, too. Was approved to take it under the 150-hour rule prior to 12/31/2008, and passed the exam prior to 6/30/2010. I'm VERY thankful for that.n

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[Anonymous]

Patrick909, I don't want to rain on your parade, and you should probably reverify this, but I do not think that you are exempt from the work experience requirement. The following is from the FAQ on the FL BOA website (link provided):

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“2. I sat for the exam prior to the new work experience rule being passed, am I exempt from the work experience requirement?
nNo, the statute specifies that any application submitted for licensure postmarked after December 31, 2008 must meet the work experience requirement.”

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It seems to me like you would have had to apply for licensure, not exam, prior to Dec 31, '08 to be exempt.

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Link to BOA page with that FAQ: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/cpa/faq-exam.htmln

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[Patrick909]

Look under Florida Statutes 473.308. I quote:

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3) An applicant for licensure must have at least 150 semester hours of college education, including a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by an accredited college or university, with a concentration in accounting and business in the total educational program to the extent specified by the board.

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(4)(a) An applicant for licensure after December 31, 2008, must show that he or she has had 1 year of work experience. This experience shall include providing any type of service or advice involving the use of accounting, attest, compilation, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills, all of which must be verified by a certified public accountant who is licensed by a state or territory of the United States and who has supervised the applicant. This experience is acceptable if it was gained through employment in government, industry, academia, or public practice; constituted a substantial part of the applicant's duties; and was under the supervision of a certified public accountant licensed by a state or territory of the United States. The board shall adopt rules specifying standards and providing for the review and approval of the work experience required by this section.

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(b) However, an applicant who completed the requirements of subsection (3) on or before December 31, 2008, and who passes the licensure examination on or before June 30, 2010, is exempt from the requirements of this subsection.”

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I definitely completed the requirements of subsection 3 before 12/31/2008, and I passed the exam well before 6/30/2010, so I'm good to go. It's as if 4(b) was written exactly for me.n

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[Patrick909]

Well, my application is in the bowels of the Florida DBPR. I can't wait for this ridiculous bureaucratic process to be over. Look at the following, copy/pasted from my license status page:

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“Application OK Work in Progress 02/08/2010
n1 year Work Experience Work in Progress 02/08/2010
n36 hrs upper division accounting Work in Progress 02/08/2010
n39 hrs general business Work in Progress 02/08/2010
n30 hrs in excess of bachelor's degree Work in Progress 02/08/2010″

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Well gee….didn't you idiots already verify all that crap BEFORE I took the exam in the first place? So why does it need to be “work in progress?” Witness the following from my original CPA exam application….LOL:

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“36 hrs upper division accounting Complete 10/21/2008
n39 hrs general business Complete 10/21/2008
n6 hrs business law Complete 10/21/2008
n30 hrs in excess of bachelor's degree Complete 10/21/2008″n

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[fasteddie]

Patrick,

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I'm in the same exact boat as you. I checked the Florida DBPR and I had the exact same result as you. see below:

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Application OK – Work in Progress 02/05/2010

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1 year Work Experience – Work in Progress 02/05/2010

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36 hrs upper division accounting – Work in Progress 02/05/2010

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39 hrs general business – Work in Progress 02/05/2010

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30 hrs in excess of bachelor's degree – Work in Progress 02/05/2010

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Yet, on my application when I filed to take the exam it shows:

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36 hrs upper division accounting – Complete 10/29/2008

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39 hrs general business – Complete 02/05/2008

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6 hrs business law – Complete 02/05/2008

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30 hrs in excess of bachelor's degree – Complete 02/05/2008

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I guess they have to double check to make sure the first application approved to allow you to sit for the exam was actually correct! I am also grandfathered in to the 1 year work experience requirement. That's nice considering I have 20 years of experience, but haven't worked under a CPA for over 15 years. Oh well, time just keeps on ticking……. I'm honestly just happy to have passed this thing. I sat for it originally back in Nov 1989 and passed half of it, but never went back to finish the other half……… That's what youth and cockiness will do for ya :-).n

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[Patrick909]

“I spoke to someone at DBPR last week and she said that the applications take 2-3 weeks to be processed and the licenses granted. Further, she stated that we would not have to wait till the March 26 board meeting to receive our licenses, so long as there were no complications with our applications (i.e. prior background check – criminal history, etc).

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POSTED 3 WEEKS AGO”

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Well, so much for that. It's been 4 weeks, and still no further movement on my application.

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Still not officially a CPA, and I passed my last exam in November.n

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[fasteddie]

I'm with you on this…….. I spoke to them 5 times since I received my results. I passed FAR on 12/22/09. Called them on 12/29/09, 1/28/10, 2/08/10, 2/17/10 and 2/25/10. I asked them if there is anything I need to provide or if there are any issues with my application. I explained that 4 out of the 5 things that are “work in progress” they already have. They told me everything is fine and it shoould take 2 – 3 weeks………… This was the same answer I received everytime I called, after 1/28/10…… At this rate we'll be CPAs sometime in 2011……… I honestly do not know what the hold up could be. I spoke with some of my CPA friends and they warned me that this is how it is. Oh well, at least I don't have to study or wait on NASBA to release my grades anymore. If the private sector operated this way, there would be NO PRIVATE SECTOR.n

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[fasteddie]

OK, So I spoke to someone at the FL Board of Accountancy and they said that they have 30 days to review the application. Which as of today, marks the 30 day time frame. Therefore, I should get a response online later tonight via the FL Dept of Professional Regulation. They stated that they are very busy. So I wait…………………..n

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[Guccimane]

They have to check and see if anything has changed since you first applied; like if you got arrested or something I guess.n

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83 Reg, 76 BEC, 94 Aud, 79 Far

Done ......!

[fasteddie]

APPROVED!!!! YEAH!!!!!! FINALLY I AM OFFICIALLY A CPA.n

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[Guccimane]

congrats now volunteer to help create better cpa exam questionsn

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83 Reg, 76 BEC, 94 Aud, 79 Far

Done ......!

[Patrick909]

Congratulations, Fasteddie. Still nothing on mine but “work in progress.” My date filed was 2/4/10, so it would seem that my time frame is approaching, hopefully.n

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[fasteddie]

Guccimane, I will try, I understand… Since I have been monitoring this website, I have been enlightened and informed. Jeff has done a great job with guiding and making us aware of what to expect. I can empathize with you on the entire CPA process. Patrick909, I overnighted my application as soon as I got it. I was very anxious to get this process over with. If you haven't had any change on the “work in progress” response. I strongly suggest you contact the DBPR and tell them that this has been going on for over 4 weeks and that you need their help in finding out the status. 2-3 weeks isn't a good answer anymore, they told me that they must respond within the 30 day timeframe. They should connect you directly to the Florida Board of Accountancy and that's where you will get an answer. Good luck to you and ALL CPA candidates! This is a very challenging process, but very acheivable with determination and desire. I know, I finally did this after 21 years of questioning my ability. :-)n

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