[MintsRGood]

…is what a staff accountant at my husband’s office said to me yesterday when I stopped by his office for a quick visit.

She told me she has a masters degree in accounting but after she graduated she got married, had kids, found a decent job, and just never got back around to perusing her CPA. She continued that not making the time to get her license was something that always eats at her when she thinks about her career. She knows that in her company she will never be promoted or be paid more simply because she isn’t a CPA. She is in her mid 40’s and has apparently lived with this regret since her 20’s.

I told her that it was never too late to get her license and that with a bachelors and masters degree in accounting, she could sit for the exam immediately pending Michigan board approval. The 150 credit hour rule is a huge barrier to entry that she overcame years ago! She just needed to get a full review course to get up to speed on PCAOB rules, IFRS, and current taxation rules. I told her she could have all of my materials because I certainly won’t need them after 11/4! She just smiled and shook her head. She thinks she’s too old and rattled off a bunch of lame “I can’t” excuses. I told her that there are people her age and older sitting for these exams every day, her company would probably pay for her review materials as they want to promote her but can’t without licensing, her kids will be off to college next year, and that it’s never too late to try. Again, more excuses. It was very frustrating to see someone bright resigning themselves to mediocrity.

As sad as that conversation was…it was motivating as hell. I will make the next 15 days of my life the most study intensive days of my life. I know that with hard work and dedication, I can close out my journey and accomplish the largest and most important professional goal of my life. YOU can too!

Hit it hard today and fearlessly pursue your goals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[tough_kitty]

Interesting story and you are so right! She still has time! But as you can see, if she didn't do it then, she will be coming up with similar excuses now…

My supervisor thinks it's pointless for me to get the CPA license if I decide to stay with the state (yes, he pretty much said it to my face!) but at the same time when other co-worker asked him about it, he said he never tried taking the exam but it would be nice to have those 3 letters after his name! Let me add that my supervisor has no kids and has been employed with the state for the last 15 years…so he had no real excuses not to take it…

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Interesting story and you are so right! She still has time! But as you can see, if she didn't do it then, she will be coming up with similar excuses now…

My supervisor thinks it's pointless for me to get the CPA license if I decide to stay with the state (yes, he pretty much said it to my face!) but at the same time when other co-worker asked him about it, he said he never tried taking the exam but it would be nice to have those 3 letters after his name! Let me add that my supervisor has no kids and has been employed with the state for the last 15 years…so he had no real excuses not to take it…

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[mla1169]

Silly girl, she should know some of the coolest CPA candidates of all time were in their 40's 😉

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Silly girl, she should know some of the coolest CPA candidates of all time were in their 40's 😉

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

@mints

Yep that is a silly girl:) Some even passed the exam at age 51.

[Anonymous]

@mints

Yep that is a silly girl:) Some even passed the exam at age 51.

[jennknee]

Thank you for sharing this story! I am still young, but I definitely don't want to regret not taking the CPA exam later.

I am motivated by this post, I know we can do it at any age! No time for excuses, time for action! 🙂

AUD - 7/5/13 - 93
FAR - 8/24/13 - 91
BEC - 11/30/13 - 92
REG - 2/24/14 - 91! DONE!

CPAreviewforFREE, Wiley Test Bank, Becker, and NINJA FLASHCARDS. <3
Candidate from California

[jennknee]

Thank you for sharing this story! I am still young, but I definitely don't want to regret not taking the CPA exam later.

I am motivated by this post, I know we can do it at any age! No time for excuses, time for action! 🙂

AUD - 7/5/13 - 93
FAR - 8/24/13 - 91
BEC - 11/30/13 - 92
REG - 2/24/14 - 91! DONE!

CPAreviewforFREE, Wiley Test Bank, Becker, and NINJA FLASHCARDS. <3
Candidate from California

[MintsRGood]

@mla1169 and @candothis EXACTLY. This lady has no excuse to pass on her dreams. I took a live review course last fall and one of the ladies in the BEC course was in her 60's! I hate the “I'm too old” BS. Besides, it's not like I'm 21 or anything. I'll be 31 at the end of November. If I'm going to be 30, I might as well be 30 with a license! 😉

What made me so frustrated was that she already had her 150 hours, which IMHO keeps the vast majority of accountants out of CPA contention. I would be more understanding if this lady would have had to cough up $30k and 2-3 years of her life for a masters program just to sit…but she's already done that!!! Seriously, she should just get a freakin' review course, study her tail off, and check this beast off the bucket list!!!!!

The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!!!!!! 😉

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[MintsRGood]

@mla1169 and @candothis EXACTLY. This lady has no excuse to pass on her dreams. I took a live review course last fall and one of the ladies in the BEC course was in her 60's! I hate the “I'm too old” BS. Besides, it's not like I'm 21 or anything. I'll be 31 at the end of November. If I'm going to be 30, I might as well be 30 with a license! 😉

What made me so frustrated was that she already had her 150 hours, which IMHO keeps the vast majority of accountants out of CPA contention. I would be more understanding if this lady would have had to cough up $30k and 2-3 years of her life for a masters program just to sit…but she's already done that!!! Seriously, she should just get a freakin' review course, study her tail off, and check this beast off the bucket list!!!!!

The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!!!!!! 😉

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[evesocal]

Too bad she thinks that way. I took my first exam, BEC at age 56 and the last one, FAR at age 57 and passed. Most of my career is behind me but not all of it! And I am very very happy to have those three letters. It means something in my firm and to my clients. And my children (in their 30s) are proud of me. 🙂

I used a similar excuse for many years. When I still had kids at home there was that excuse – how could I possibly work, raise a family and also study for the exam? After my kids were grown it was, I work long hours and I'm over 40 (and then 50) and too tired to study.

But my firm wanted me to get the license and paid part of the cost of the review classes. Once they paid, I felt committed to follow through. It was grueling to prepare and work full time but it's done! And worth it.

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[evesocal]

Too bad she thinks that way. I took my first exam, BEC at age 56 and the last one, FAR at age 57 and passed. Most of my career is behind me but not all of it! And I am very very happy to have those three letters. It means something in my firm and to my clients. And my children (in their 30s) are proud of me. 🙂

I used a similar excuse for many years. When I still had kids at home there was that excuse – how could I possibly work, raise a family and also study for the exam? After my kids were grown it was, I work long hours and I'm over 40 (and then 50) and too tired to study.

But my firm wanted me to get the license and paid part of the cost of the review classes. Once they paid, I felt committed to follow through. It was grueling to prepare and work full time but it's done! And worth it.

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[Texas CPA]

I wish I was 40 again. 😉

BTW, tell her it is easier now that it is all computerized……I kid, I kid…..:)

Reg - Passed 82 Nov 2012 - Becker
Aud - Passed 86 May 2013 - Becker
BEC - Passed 88 Aug 2013 - Becker
FAR - Passed 88 Nov 2013 - Becker

https://www.becker.com/cpa-review

Texas CPA

[Texas CPA]

I wish I was 40 again. 😉

BTW, tell her it is easier now that it is all computerized……I kid, I kid…..:)

Reg - Passed 82 Nov 2012 - Becker
Aud - Passed 86 May 2013 - Becker
BEC - Passed 88 Aug 2013 - Becker
FAR - Passed 88 Nov 2013 - Becker

https://www.becker.com/cpa-review

Texas CPA

[san4596]

Mint – thanks for the story! People are the worst about getting in their own way. Step up or shut up is what I always say.

Tough – Your boss sounds like he is one of those bare minimum type of guys. He will do the bare minimum to be somewhat successful, and attempt to keep others from being more sucessfull than him. Especially those below him, since you may be a threat after receiving your CPA.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[Author]

Replies