[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone,

I recently graduated from Bryant University in May of 2013 with 122 credits. I did not graduate with 150 credits, so I will have to take additional courses at some point in my career. I planned on going to grad school to get a Masters and fulfill the 150 credits so that I could re-apply to Public Accounting firms (especially the Big 4).

I soon realized that it is very hard to achieve your 150 credits at a graduate school in ONE year. This raised a difficult question for me. Do I go to grad school for two years to get my 150 credits and THEN take my CPA Exam? Or should I take my CPA Exam first, and then just achieve my 150 credits with undergrad courses?

I will be sitting for my exam in New Jersey. Since I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Accounting I am eligible to sit for the exam. I just won’t be licensed until I achieve the 150 credits. Also, there is no time limit after completing the CPA Exam to get my 150 credits in New Jersey

Also, I was just recently hired to do Private Accounting for BASF this upcoming Fall. My accounting friends had mentioned to me that I should take my CPA Exam first b/c the more I work the more i’ll be busy. And I can b*llshit courses later on in my career, but I CANNOT b*llshit studying for the CPA Exam.

Please let me know your thoughts. I am very confused on what I should do. Thanks!

[sonygal57]

I am knocking out my exams with my Bachelor's degree. I figured getting a review program and studying for the tests was not as expensive as Masters degree level classes. I have been and plan on continuing to save money for grad school while I knock out the tests. If I had chosen to get the credits first I probably would have gone through the community college to save money….I guess I wanted money to be less of a factor in determining which route I took for obtaining my final credits.

Good old Gandalf, "All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is give to us."
"Not all those who wander are lost."

FAR: I slayed the Dragon!
BEC: I defeated the Siren!
AUD: I eliminated Medusa!
REG: ?????

[NC CPA]

My advice go for the exams. I am in the same situation. I graduated may 2013 with 133 credits. I went ahead and took the exams in less than three mths. Look at my score. I do not have a job lined up right now but the recruiting season is starting and I think I will be more marketable with cpa exams out of the way. I need 18 more credits which I am planning to take online through community college

FAR: 90 MAY 6 2013
AUD: 99 MAY 29 2013
REG: 84 July 1 2013
BEC: 85 July 31 2013

[NC CPA]

My advice go for the exams. I am in the same situation. I graduated may 2013 with 133 credits. I went ahead and took the exams in less than three mths. Look at my score. I do not have a job lined up right now but the recruiting season is starting and I think I will be more marketable with cpa exams out of the way. I need 18 more credits which I am planning to take online through community college

FAR: 90 MAY 6 2013
AUD: 99 MAY 29 2013
REG: 84 July 1 2013
BEC: 85 July 31 2013

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for your input. It really helps me in deciding what I want to do. Can't thank you enough!

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for your input. It really helps me in deciding what I want to do. Can't thank you enough!

[Jferjamey]

I'd take the exams now, take the pressure off. I'm half way through my MBA right now and took a semester (summer) off to take them. Exam study is way more intense than a few grad classes, IMO. I agree with @NC CPA- you'll be more desirable with the exams done.

B - 81 (8/31/13) first attempt!
A - 80 (2/3/14) first attempt!
R - 89 (7/31/13) first attempt!
F - 86 (7/2/13) first attempt!
Licensed CPA: 12/31/14

Becker rocks!

"Discipline is choosing between what you want now, and what you want most." -Abraham Lincoln

[Jferjamey]

I'd take the exams now, take the pressure off. I'm half way through my MBA right now and took a semester (summer) off to take them. Exam study is way more intense than a few grad classes, IMO. I agree with @NC CPA- you'll be more desirable with the exams done.

B - 81 (8/31/13) first attempt!
A - 80 (2/3/14) first attempt!
R - 89 (7/31/13) first attempt!
F - 86 (7/2/13) first attempt!
Licensed CPA: 12/31/14

Becker rocks!

"Discipline is choosing between what you want now, and what you want most." -Abraham Lincoln

[Anonymous]

what about the option to get your cpa through another state that does not have the 150 hour requirement?

[Anonymous]

what about the option to get your cpa through another state that does not have the 150 hour requirement?

[Anonymous]

If I were to obtain my CPA through another state, I would only be licensed in that state, so that wouldn't do me any good

[Anonymous]

If I were to obtain my CPA through another state, I would only be licensed in that state, so that wouldn't do me any good

[Anonymous]

I finished half my masters and got a new job at a company that was really pushing for CPA licenses, so I took a break to work on the exams. Honestly, I think I made a great decision. If you get the exam out of the way, it proves you know your stuff. I've gotten 3 parts out of the way, and I am going to be bumped up in pay and title soon. Management at my company assumes that because I have passed most of the exam, I am going to finish and should be promoted.

Plus, once you put in the long hours of studying for the exam, grad classes will seem like a breeze.

[Anonymous]

I finished half my masters and got a new job at a company that was really pushing for CPA licenses, so I took a break to work on the exams. Honestly, I think I made a great decision. If you get the exam out of the way, it proves you know your stuff. I've gotten 3 parts out of the way, and I am going to be bumped up in pay and title soon. Management at my company assumes that because I have passed most of the exam, I am going to finish and should be promoted.

Plus, once you put in the long hours of studying for the exam, grad classes will seem like a breeze.

[StephAV]

I'm doing the exam first. I was hoping to pass before the 150 hour requirement goes into effect in CA, but since I didn't pass FAR I know that is just not going to happen. I'm concentrating on passing, then I'll get my units.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[StephAV]

I'm doing the exam first. I was hoping to pass before the 150 hour requirement goes into effect in CA, but since I didn't pass FAR I know that is just not going to happen. I'm concentrating on passing, then I'll get my units.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[Author]

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