[Anonymous]

Is it possible to pass the CPA exam with a newborn baby and working full time?

No better time than now to pass the cpa exam right?

[Mamabear]

If I pass my REG retake in November, I will have passed with a 1 year old, a 3 year old, a 5 year old AND working full time. It is definitely possible and better to do it when they are young than to do it once they start having their own schedules to work around–soccer, dance, gymnastics, homework, etc. You can do it!!

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Anonymous]

When do you study?

I try to study late when they are asleep and I listen to audio while holding the baby.

[mla1169]

Honestly I think it depends on if you are the mommy or the daddy. (I am not being stereotypical, by the way, I know daddies care for babies too). If you're a nursing mom, your rest is VITAL to baby's food supply and I would wait until baby is sleeping through the night.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[koz124]

It's all dependent on the newborn. I was able to pass with a 1 year old, but if it were a few months earlier, there would be no way. She was one of those newborns that NEVER slept..which meant I was a frazzled mess 99% of the time. I know I've read about others on here and elsewhere that have had good babies and were able to study though.

Studying with Wiley Review, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja Audio.
Retakes with Ninja MCQ only...awesome!
Far - 1/28 72, 7/22 79
Aud - 2/28 70, 8/14 83
Bec - 4/10 80
Reg - 5/30 64, 7/2 82

[Mamabear]

I waited until my youngest was 4 months old to start studying. She was sleeping through the night and so were the 2 and 4 (at the time) year olds. I have help though. My parent's live near me and watch the girls while we work so 2 nights a week they also just spend the night and I study on those nights. As it gets closer to the exam I add in Friday night and study Saturday during the day. However, if you have a spouse with a regular schedule (mine works crazy hours and has two jobs), your spouse can do the same thing that my parent's do. He can watch the kids 2 nights a week while you study at the library or a 24 hour cafe. I have no advice if you're breastfeeding because all of mine were formula fed so having someone else watch them so I could study was easy. I also did late nights after they were asleep, but I don't know how much of that was efficient studying because I was so tired. Also, the baby carriers like K-Tan and Moby wraps really help if the baby is fussy or won't sleep. You can still study while wearing the baby on your chest. I only had to do that a couple of times when she was really fussy and wouldn't go back to sleep.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Gabe]

Currently have a 2.5 year old and a 3 week old…FAR in November will be my first test with the newborn added to the mix…I'll let ya know how it goes. Basically I study any free time I have. Lunch, after 2.5 year old goes down. If I am up in the middle of the night I'll listen to audio…

CPA, CFE
CISA- Experience will be completed by August 2016

[lexisavannah]

It will not in any way be easy, but it is definitely possible. Just remember that if it's too much that you can take a break and breathe. Being a new mom is wonderful and terrifying! Congrats and good luck 😉

BEC 7/3/14 - 79
FAR 8/30/14 - 64, 85 (used Becker and Ninja MCQ)
AUD 10/3/14 - 82
REG 11/25/14 - 85

[StephAV]

It isn't impossible. I have a 6.5 and 2.5 year old and I'm hopefully done… It took me 18 months from when I started studying, but it feels amazing. I feel like I can take on anything now. First thing, will be the 25 pounds I gained sitting around studying. I really liked the NINJA audio for being on the go. I could listen in the car, on walks to the park, at soccer practice… I've definitely felt my fare share of mommy guilt. I didn't volunteer in my son's kindergarten class because I was so overwhelmed with work and studying. This year I'm helping out in his class but I didn't sign him up for T-ball or soccer. I've had to make some tough choices and I'm not sure if the choices I made are right, but I'm hopeful that once I'm done I'll be able to put more time in to doing things with my boys… Good luck! You can do this!

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.

[Laura M.]

I am right there with you. I started taking the exam before I knew I was pregnant with my 3rd. My plan was to pass it and then have the third..ha! I took FAR at 37 weeks pregnant! I am studying for BEC now. I gave myself a month “off” after the baby was born and started studying for BEC Oct 1st and taking that Nov 24th and then hopefully REG in Jan or Feb because my AUD will expire the end of May so I need another window in case I fail either BEC or REG. It is a lot harder than I thought for sure. i start back to work next week and hoping I will actually get to study more that I am on a schedule. I find it impossible to study while I am at home and nursing and my studying has been done at night after my 2 and 4 year old are in bed. My husband takes care of the baby and brings her to me when it is time for her to eat. Good luck to all of us young moms! 🙂

FAR - 82
AUD - 79 (lost credit), 75
BEC - 76
REG - 91

CPAexcel and Ninja Notes and Ninja MCQ

[ijustwant76]

Some of you are simply amazing! My hat is off to you.

[CM]

I was asking myself the same question just minutes ago. I normally study at night after I put the baby to sleep, clean the kitchen, and leave everything ready for the next day. I don't know how this is going to work because when I study I feel drained 90% of the times. I listen to the Ninja audio as much as I can.

FAR: 78 (5x)
AUD: 80 (3x)
BEC: 9/07/2016
REG: 12/06/2016

Failure is never an option.

"Faith in your own powers and confidence in your individual methods are essential to success." Roderick Stevens

[Anonymous]

Maybe read the textbook (don't write notes in your situation since you have so little time) over the weekend. Then listen to the lectures while you do your business during the weekday, and either when you have any little time or before you go to bed do as many MCQs as you can. And most importantly, with each wrong question write down the question number and write why you got it wrong. Then next weekend, read over the sheet to absorb the gaps in your knowledge. Rinse and repeat.

[Author]

Replies