[Chantel]

I know I’ve seen a ton of post like this that are saying “Help I’m losing motivation”, but I just really want some feedback.

Sometimes, I honestly feel like this CPA exam isn’t the right path for me. I guess you could say I don’t have motivation, but also, I just don’t feel like devoting allll my time to studying for these exams. I feel like I’m missing out on things, I’m ready to have kids that I’m putting off because of it and etc.

I currently work at a CPA firm as a tax accountant and I love doing taxes, but I’ve always said I’m very open to other fields than public accounting such as in a company accounting office, hospital, or oil/gas (I live in Texas).

Also, this company also has three managers that aren’t even CPAs. Is that normal??

I don’t ever want to be a manager or a partner or anything that requires much less work/life balance. I could honestly be happy the rest of my life with the amount of money I make now.

With all that being said, am I just being lazy and giving up if I decide not to study for the CPA exam anymore? or maybe am I just not right for it?

F - F ('12), 90 (Dec '15)
A - F ('12), 73 (Feb '16), ? (July '16)
R - 87 (May '16)
B -

[Just PlainPA]

Jeff,

Yes, a PA has to take an exam to get the designation: either pass 2 or 3 parts of the CPA exam (depends on the state you're being licensed in; some states require the passage of specific parts of the exam, others require simply passing any parts, as long as it's the minimum number required), or pass the PA exam administered by the Accreditation Council for Accountancy & Taxation.

Educational requirements vary by state, although it generally requires a college degree (Associates, Bachelors, or Masters) with a concentration in accounting (specific number of hours in accounting varies by state).

The purpose of the designation was originally intended to grandfather professionals who practiced accounting before an accountancy law was put on the state's books as a bonafide licensed professional due to their years of experience, as they had considerable “skin in the game” and to not provide them with an alternative license that would allow them to practice legally would've been an insult to their professional competency. Because they were becoming a dying class, states began closing the designation to new applicants, although it should be noted that some states didn't have a PA designation at all. In most states, Public Accountants are not allowed to perform audits or reviews, although in Delaware, PAs have equal practice privileges as CPAs, in that they can audit, review, and compile financial statements. Nowadays, however, it often serves as a mark of achievement and serves as a means to demonstrate through their licensure a measure of competency in accounting.

Now for a little known secret about Delaware: A number of non-Delaware CPA candidates who pass the CPA exam but do not have or cannot get work experience (or get such verified) often apply for the PA permit to “bootstrap” their work experience for a period of 2-8 years. Once this is received, they often get the Delaware CPA certificate and transfer their CPA license to their home state, letting the PA permit expire.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.

AUD - 79
BEC - ?? 10/1/15 (Tentative)
REG - ?? 11/?/15
FAR - ?? Winter 2016

[Sandra]

@ Time is Key- not sure if you will even see this or if you're gone for good… But either way- no worries. You certainly aren't the only one on here that disagrees with me. LOL. I hope you stick around.

[Anonymous]

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Me reading this thread https://i.imgur.com/aocjx.gif

Please don't leave Time is Key. This is a great community. We all have disagreements, but everyone on this forum is working towards the same goal. Sometimes we just can't take the internet as serious as real life 🙂

[jeff]

Register and “Retire” in the same day … that's a new one 🙂

Jeff

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[Sandra]

Awesome. I guess I have that effect on people.

[Just PlainPA]

Tbstew, your post made some excellent points. I particularly liked what you said here:

“If the circumstances of your life don't drive you to want the CPA enough to make the sacrifices, then it's probably not worth it for you”

Perhaps that best sums up my situation: I have had so much public accounting experience, both from a technical and a soft skill standpoint, I literally don't know what passing the CPA exam would serve to accomplish at this point in my career that hasn't already been proven previously.

I respect the sacrifices that candidates make in order to pass the exam and I salute the achievement they obtained once the goal is accomplished. I also understand that for many, it's a way to leverage their expertise where they may not have much experience and/or make themselves more marketable in the workforce. I guess for me personally, if an employer can't see or accept what I can bring to the table as a professional, then three (or in this case, one) additional letter isn't going to change anything, especially considering my practice privilege is in parity with a CPA.

Perhaps that's been my issue: I've been blessed with people giving me opportunities to work in public accounting without a CPA, and I've amassed so much experience, I'm at the point where the incentive to pass the exam really isn't sufficient enough or the stakes aren't high enough for me to rack my brain for the next 6-18 months. But to everyone else here reading, I respect and salute your diligence and perseverance in the process.

I close with a old school song to keep you motivated:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvM0bDj3pOk

AUD - 79
BEC - ?? 10/1/15 (Tentative)
REG - ?? 11/?/15
FAR - ?? Winter 2016

[Just PlainPA]

Update regarding something I said in a previous post:

“Now for a little known secret about Delaware: A number of non-Delaware CPA candidates who pass the CPA exam but do not have or cannot get work experience (or get such verified) often apply for the PA permit to “bootstrap” their work experience for a period of 2-8 years. Once this is received, they often get the Delaware CPA certificate and transfer their CPA license to their home state, letting the PA permit expire.”

The update is this: As of August 1, 2012, in order to get a Delaware CPA certificate & permit, a minimum of one year of work experience must be verified by a CPA. Delaware will no longer allow experience performed under a PA's supervision to count towards such requirements, which means that the PA bootstrap provision for work experience has now been eliminated (or so it appears).

Just clarifying this in case someone was considering going this route after reading my post. I should have brought this up a lot sooner.

AUD - 79
BEC - ?? 10/1/15 (Tentative)
REG - ?? 11/?/15
FAR - ?? Winter 2016

[Author]

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