[Anonymous]

Hello guys

I just received a letter from the CBA and they are asking me to pay the $185 initial license fee before sending me my CPA number. Does this mean I m officially approved or it is still under reviewing process?

Does anybody know?

Thanks!

[ImaCPA168]

I haven't received my wallet certificate yet, nor can I find myself on the online search 🙁 Sounds like I do have to follow-up with CBA since I got my wall certificate and letter almost 2 months ago.

The certificate is 14X17. It's pretty big.

I live and work in the San Gabriel Valley area 🙂

@crossovercpa – The letter has your license number on it. It tells you when the license expires and explains the whole birthday, even and odd years thing. It tells you now many CPE credits you will need for your next renewal and explains your responsibilities about getting continuous education, CPE, and keeping your license active. I think that's all.

@ Jade CPA-to-be – You should start looking for a job. Also, you can and should put in your resume that you already passed all the exams and meet all the requirements for licensure. And that you have applied and are just waiting to receive your license. Any saavy employer will know what that means.

B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[Anonymous]

@168

Did you frame your wall cert? If so, any good suggestion where to get one?

[ImaCPA168]

I did frame my CPA license. I was hesitant to because I have some gripes about it. But my husband made me to it. I actually just did it this weekend. I went to Michaels and bought a frame that wasn't quite the right size and ended up trimming the actual certificate a little.

My gripes about the certificate.

1. Weird Size 14″X17″- I couldn't find any frame that fit it. So either get a custom fram job (Aaron's Brothers, Michaels) or do what I did. I trimmed the certificate to fit a ready-made frame I liked.

2. 100% Printed Via Color Laser Printer on Plain White Paper and Not Good Quality – The entire thing is printed, from the lettering to the actual faux-parchment texture. You know how certificates are usually on nice parchment type paper that has the marbling and texture? The CPA certificate is not. They printed the marbling/texture onto the white paper. There is a 1/4″ white border all the way around were the printer doesn't print (which is why it was OK for me to trim it). The printer is either not good quality, or the certificate image they are using is low resolution. The certificate appears pixellated and dull in color. Black font is greyish. At least they put an actual gold sticker seal on the bottom to officialize it.

3. A Very Anti-Climatic End to a Very Difficult and Expensive Journey – I was really looking forward to finishing my CPA exams and getting licensed. When I got the wall certificate, I couldn't help but feel disappointed at how crappy it was for how arduous and expensive a journey this was to complete (compared to all the diplomas and other certifications I've received). Crappy California!!! I bet other states have way better and nicer looking certificates.

Maybe I'm expecting too much. Let me know what you think after you get your certificate.

B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[Kenada]

Oh wow, that does sound like an anti climax 🙁 …Shame they don't spend the money on the material of the certificate..

FAR 05/27/14; 786/110 - Done !

[acamp]

Is it against the rules to, once licensed, commission a printing company to create a presentable license? LOL

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Anonymous]

@168

I actually went to Michael's yesterday and got a quote (totally out of my budget)

Did you get the frame on the shelves? I was planning to customize it so that I can pick my favorite color other than just BLACK!

I actually saw a website @ frameachievement.com and the samples that they have are looked pretty good, just the price is no good so I m trying to shop around.

How much did you end up paying for your frame?

Seems like you are ripped off about the appearance of your cert, I'm not sure if I will get the same one as my boss, who got his license in 1996. His cert looks pretty ok, nice Roman font and it's 14X17 and the frame size that he has is 20X24, looks huge and I like it. Bad thing is the color of the frame, which is relatively dull. I expect my frame to be like Gold color.

I haven't receive my cert yet so I can't really do mix and match at Michaels….I checked with the board this morning, they haven't even cashed the check yet. Ah!

[evesocal]

crossovercpa – the wall certificate is BIG like someone else said, 14×17. Weird size. I got it custom framed at Aaron Brothers and it cost. $237.50. Aaron Brothers does a nice job.

I also found the certificate itself somewhat underwhelming so the nice frame kinda' dresses it up lol.

IMACPA168 – you got your certificates but you can't find yourself online?? I don't see how that is possible. You can search by your name or your license number. Are you looking here: https://www2.dca.ca.gov/pls/wllpub/wllqryna$lcev2.startup?p_qte_code=PA&p_qte_pgm_code=0300

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[ImaCPA168]

@ crossovercpa – I got a mohagany frame (ready-made off the shelf at Michaels). It is mohagany with some gold trimming and black accents. Glossy finish. Looks stately and official. Like I said earlier, there are no 14X17 ready-made frames so I think I got 13X16 and trimmed the certificate a little. I'm at work but I can go home to check the exact measurements for you. Anyway, I think I did a good job because the certificate actually looks nice now. Not like how it did when I first took it out of the mailing tube. The frame was around $50 dollars. I got it during the 4th of july sale for 40% off.

I just thought of another framing alternative!!! If you don't want to trim your certificate and you really want a custom look but for less money, you can buy a ready-made frame and order a custom mat. Pick a frame that is bigger than the certificate, like a 16×20 or bigger, that is ready made. Go online to look for coupons. Michaels always has 20% off coupons you can print online. Then go to the custom framing section of the store and order a custom mat. That's the thick paper frame that goes inside the actual frame on top of your document. You can pick a color that will match your frame and certificate. They will cut the mat to size for you to perfectly fit inside the frame and around your certificate. Make sure you bring your certificate when you order this or any custom product. The mat will give you a nice custom look. And you can assemble the whole thing yourself and save $$$ on custom framing. Of course you can do this at Aarons Bros, too. I don't know if they have online coupons to print though.

@ evesocal – That's where I go to look myself up (by last name, first and last, by license number). I do it almost twice a week hoping that they'll update their data base. I'm not there. It says “no results found” each time.

So I just called CBA right now during my lunch break. The lady who is helping me put me on hold for 15 minutes. Then she came back and asked for a number she can reach me at and said she's going to look into it and call me later. I'm kind of freaked out. I hope she doesn't ask me to mail back my wall certificate!!!

Phew!!! CBA just called me back. It was an error. They're going to put me in the online search data base next week. And they are going to issue me the wallet ID. That will take 3-4 weeks though.

B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[Anonymous]

@168

I just called the board moments ago and they said they haven't send my wall cert yet! I was so pissed! They said they cashed the check on Thursday and would send out the letter and cert on friday. Today I got a different answer!

The lady on the phone just gave me my license number and told me I will receive my cert by the end of this month! Holy, that's a long wait! Really can't stand how slowly the board works!

I actually went to Aaron & Brothers and they charge way too much than Michaels. Frankly I cant decide what color or what size of frame I want until I actually receive the cert! I m so eager to bring it to Michaels and get a more precise quote!

[Jade CPA-to-be]

update: I applied for a tax associate position at KPMG yesterday and this morning I got declined by email. Feel pretty sad, since I have been looking BIG 4 websites for a couple days for associate position and this position is the one I think I most qualify for. Most of their expenrienced hires are seniors and managers, only a few are associates and I got declined. What do you guys think? Should I quit for applying for BIG 4? I have no BIG4 experience and for the past 4 years, I have been working in small CPA offices and providing full cycle accounting for small businesses.

CPA Licensed in California- Class of 2013

[ImaCPA168]

@crossovercpa – I feel your pain. But you have your license number so just look at the bright side. You can update your resume and LinkedIn profile to say CPA after your name now! I even redid my business cards 🙂 I think you'll be able to decide on color and stuff when you see the certificate and what color that is. End of the month is almost here!

@Jade CPA-to-be – What part of the process did you get declined? Did you get a phone interview and speak with a live person? Or was it before that even? If you got to speak with a live person (HR or Recruiting), you should reach out to them and ask very politely why they declined you? Tell them that you want to know so that you can learn where your weaknesses are and work on them. Most people are willing to oblige.

And don't be down on yourself, it could be all sorts of reasons. Some that you are responsible for such as: GPA did not meet minimum requirements, not enough experience, asking salary too high, etc. Some you are not responsble for such as: position no longer needed, they filled the position with internal people or better qualified people, over-qualified for position you applied. Make sure you don't have any embarrassing/incriminating updates/photos on social media. They will find it. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is professional and up to date. They will look at that.

I'm ex-Big 4. I don't think you should give up just because you got declined by one of the firms. Apply to the others because sometimes it's a matter of luck and timing. Also, it really helps if you have a friend in one of the firms that can forward your resume directly to HR/Recruiting for you and/or put in a good word for you. I did that for one of my friends before.

B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[Anonymous]

@168

Is it mandatory to join the AICPA and California Society of CPA?

Do you know anything about it?

Still waiting the wall cert! arghhhhhh

[ImaCPA168]

@ crossovercpa – It is optional and not mandatory to join professional organizations. I didn't join any because I didn't want to hassle with the additional membership fees and obligations. Some people really like that kind of stuff…being involved, networking, etc. So it's really up to you. Do you need a to join to network and meet people in the fields you are interested in? I'm lucky in that aspect. I still have lots of friends and colleagues I keep in regular contact with from my Big 4 days. That's probably why I don't feel the need to join these professional organizations, or at least not right now.

Other than networking and social perks, a lot of these organizations provide educational workshops, seminars, and webinars for CPE credit. As a member of the organiztion, you may be entitled to discounted rates and sometimes even free admission to a workshop or webinar. This is one way to help fullfill your annual CPE requirements if your company doesn't help with that at all. It can cost a lot to get all the required CPEs every year. I have friends and colleagues who went “inactive” because they didn't want to keep up with thier CPEs.

B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[Jade CPA-to-be]

ImaCPA168,

Thanks for your encouragement and nice words. I will not give up. I applied for another big 4 job as associate auditor yesterday, and hopefully this time at least I will get initial interview. Auditing is what I am interested right now. Since I have no previous auditing experience, I'd like to try auditing to see if I like it or not. I am ok with pay cut for switching, but the frustrating part is most of auditing job requires 1-2 years experience which I don't have. Maybe I should continue with public accounting? Maybe.

It is good that you mentioned social media. Since I started to prepare CPA exam last year, I disabled my facebook. I feel bad for it now. Anyway, I moved to LA last year and most of the time I study for the exam, really I don’t have many professionals I know in LA who can help for job search.

Btw, I just got acknowledgement card from CBA. It should be another month before I get licensed. More wait. LOL

CPA Licensed in California- Class of 2013

[ZSRizvi]

I'm currently taking the CPA exams in CA right now and I have a few worries for the coming 2014 requirements.

I graduated college with 224 quarter units and apparently in 2014 you will need 225 in order to apply for a license. However, I took an extra Masters course that brought my quarter units up to 228. So, does that meet the “150 semester units” requirement?

Also, under the new requirements, I only need one year of experience to become a CPA? I always heard two. I'm going by what I read here:

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I have a long...long...journey ahead of me.

[Author]

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