100% Private CPA

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    Topic
  • March 7, 2017 at 1:44 pm #1507048
    llewis13
    Participant

    Any private CPAs out there? I’m talking about zero public accounting experience, but still taking the exam and hope to gain licensure by working underneath a CPA for a few years?

    If so, how did you do on each section? Did you find some sections easier than others?

    I recently took the AUD exam and found it to be very tricky (score release tonight, so fingers crossed). I’m not sure if it was just my test that seemed over-weighted in reports for non-audit engagements, but I definitely did not leave with a confident feeling. I found BEC to be easier because once I understood the concepts, it was easy for me to apply them to the exam questions.

    Next up for me is REG, but my only professional tax experience is with partnerships which isn’t a huge part of REG. Any advice when studying? Sections to focus on? I have Becker prep software.

    Thanks everyone and good luck to everyone whose scores are released tonight!

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  • March 7, 2017 at 2:23 pm #1507099
    Andyred04
    Participant

    I passed FAR, REG, and BEC while working as an internal auditor for a bank. I don't think I would have found any exams easier if I had been working in public while taking them. Actually I was probably at an advantage because I was only working 40 hours per week compared to working several more now that I'm back in public.

    FAR: 80 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
    REG: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
    BEC: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
    AUD: 8/27/16

    PA Candidate

    March 7, 2017 at 4:09 pm #1507237
    NotYourAverageCPA
    Participant

    I passed the exams before I started working full-time (public), but strongly believe that work does not help you pass the CPA. Whether you are working in private or public, you have the same shot. Only thing that makes a difference is the free time you have, though non-busy season can be a good time to study.

    FAR - PASS
    AUD - PASS
    REG - PASS
    BEC - PASS

    NY CPA- Licensed Jan 2016
    CISA Exam - Passed June 2016

    March 7, 2017 at 5:38 pm #1507270
    llewis13
    Participant

    Free time is hard to come by! I work 50-60 hrs a week (no difference for busy season) and also have a 18 month old at home. Needless to say, maximizing productivity when studying is so important because I can't afford to waste any free time.

    My mistake with AUD was relying on people that say a small percentage would be on Accounting and Review Services.

    So if there are topics people think are more prevalent on the exam, I'd appreciate any tips!

    March 7, 2017 at 7:10 pm #1507441
    CPYay
    Participant

    I have zero public experience. Took REG today.

    Like the others have said, passing is dependent upon your free-time. The more free-time you have, the more time you can study. I worked a lot of overtime while studying for BEC and REG. I also have a family and can't study as much as I'd like. To me, finding the time and energy is harder than the exams.

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