[Anonymous]

I have JUST started studying for FAR. The exam’s scheduled for 4/24. I am NOT working at the moment, but I have a few 1-1.5 CPE webinars (to maintain my CMA) in my schedule, in addition to doctor’s appointments here and there, weekly grocery shopping and lunches with Mom, etc. I may do some p/t temp work if and when I can get it, and may need to go to a few interviews to obtain same. Oh, yes, and I do have to get my tax return in by 4/15! With this minimalist schedule, does it sound possible to effectively use the little time between now and 4/24 to pass this thing?

[mw798]

“What I see is lot of people hoping not to lose a credit, and a lot more taking this exam multiple times,”

That's more the exception and not the rule. Obviously those who are having trouble would gravitate towards a site like this which is probably skewing your view.

In our accounting and finance department, all 7 CPA holders passed the exam on one try and in under a year.

[mla1169]

Sorry, you'll have to learn more about statistical sampling before you tackle audit. The experience of one person regardless of how prolific he becomes after passing the exam hardly translates to “most people”. I've been on this website for 5 years and seen thousands of experiences. Your case has been dismissed.

There are many people who keep at this for YEARS, but more than half get through it In under 12 mos. it's so common in fact you'd be hard pressed to find anybody bragging about “knocking them out in a year”.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mw798]

Just for reference I worked full time including some 70 hour weeks, took the first exam in July and took the last at the start of January.

[Martin]

mw798, I read once that only 30% of US Accountants were CPAs. My recruiters told me that there are not that many CPAs in Miami/Fort Lsuderdale area,so I could ask for 15K more if I become a CPA. If you add those two references together, I think this exam in not as doable as this small group of people think. If it was, why is the % of CPAs so low? Why will I get 15K more for passing it in South Florida? I might be wrong,but I just go by facts not just on this website.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[mw798]

“30% of US Accountants were CPAs.”

1. Accountant is very broadly defined. Does that include A/R and A/P clerks? Bookkeepers? Such jobs don't require degrees in accounting or certification and many in these professions would not qualify to sit for the CPA exam.

2. Let's say you're talking about an accountant in the traditional sense of an auditor or cost accountant. Now, unless you are in public, most company are not going to require you to get a CPA.

3. The pass rate for all sections of the CPA exam is approximately 45%. That means you just need to beat out 55% of test takers to pass. Doesn't sound that insurmountable when I put it in those terms now does it?

[Martin]

mla1169, I know enough statistics to know that if only 30% of US accountants are not CPAs, then this exam is not as doable as you think. Let me congratulate you cause I read one of your posts a while back where you claim to have worked around 70 hrs per week, took care of 2 kids, study for your masters full time, and manage to become a CPA in 1 year. If I do the Math without statistics since I lack those skills, i can easily say that you are the only CPA I know who was able to study 5 hrs per week and passed all 4 parts in 12 months. I always talk about you at work and people dont believe me.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[mw798]

” read one of your posts a while back where you claim to have worked around 70 hrs per week, took care of 2 kids, study for your masters full time, and manage to become a CPA in 1 year.”

Please find a post where I said all of that. Now that I see that you are either making up stuff or have a terrible memory, you've lost all credibility.

I'll wait for you to find it.

[Martin]

mw798, for an accountant, your attention to details is not that great. Please read my post carefully.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Martin]

I dont want drama ninja to come here, so you guys are 100% correct, this exam can be done in 12 months, and the OP should finished it in 6 months. This exam is very doable and only slow learners should take more than a year. Im one of those slow learners, so let me go back to my studies. I hope to work under your leadership and mentor ship one day. I'm not reading this thread again, so peace and love.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Anonymous]

@Martin, I work full time and passed all four parts in 7 months…

[mla1169]

Actually I studied 20-25 hours per week. Worked a ft job 7a-5p, fed my kids, did my online classes 8p-10p then studied for the CPA 10pm-12a and during my lunch break. Saturday I was up at 5a and studied until noon, worked as a cashier at kohls 2p-10p, came home and studied for another hour, and repeat on Sunday.

I've broken that all down multiple times, most people I know get less than 8 hours sleep a night so it was hardly a Herculean effort.

Taking more than a year doesn't translate to slow learning. There are plenty of valid reasons to take longer but it is just less common.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Well dang @mla1169, you didn't have to make me look that bad 😉

PS, you rock

[mla1169]

and I want to be clear, the way I did it isn't for everybody. I have no problem with someone saying thats just not the way they choose to spend their time. My motivation was to put it behind me ASAP, I don't have the mental fortitude at all to have kept at it > 1 year, in fact I personally probably would have walked away. Just trying to illustrate the hours in the day can be found in just about any circumstance.

But that aside, not stating everybody should be able to pass in < 1 year, who cares how long it takes? Just that my experience is that more than half of people do.

Re: 30% of accountants are CPA's, is only relevent if you assume every accountant has met the requirements to become a CPA and have attempted the exam. I'd love to know what % of accountants have 150 credits. Bet its not much higher than 30%. Then take out the people who don't meet the work experience criteria………

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

CP Yay: I have the CMA designation. You may want to reconsider the CPE webinars because passing the CPA exam qualifies as CPE. Also, if there are any ethics sections in the exams, that will qualify for the ethics requirement of the CMA. BEC and REG qualified for me. I spoke with one of their “certification specialist” to make sure about the ethics requirement.

[Tripp11]

This was such a troll post. The OP is gone and is never coming back. Or maybe he's still grocery shopping.

AUD - 93
BEC - 80
REG - 86
FAR - 83

[Author]

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