[smsingla]

I am in such a big dilemma and would like to get advice from my fellow Ninjas.

Earlier in 2013, Jan to May, I worked in a small CPA firm as a Tax Accountant. After that I took break in summer and started studying for BEC in August and now cleared BEC and REG.

Now I am confused. I have two options:

Option #1 Work in CPA firm again for this coming tax season for 4-5 months and then study for rest of my exams so that I don’t have too much gap on my resume. I have till April 2015 before REG expires

Option #2 I just finish with my CPA and then look for more permanent job after passing all the sections

Any advice will be really appreciated.

REG 81
BEC 74,65,78
FAR 79
AUD 85 DONE!!!

[Anonymous]

I would work to get experience and money to pay the bills and take the exam after tax season. Even if it's not your dream job it looks good to future employers to have continuous employment experience. I think most people don't really have the luxury of choosing not to work for a period of time. You can do this! You will pas the CPA exam in time if you put in the time! It took me sixteen months to pass all four exam while married & working full time, and raising little baby girl. It was tough but we made it through and are stronger now because if it.

[Anonymous]

I would work to get experience and money to pay the bills and take the exam after tax season. Even if it's not your dream job it looks good to future employers to have continuous employment experience. I think most people don't really have the luxury of choosing not to work for a period of time. You can do this! You will pas the CPA exam in time if you put in the time! It took me sixteen months to pass all four exam while married & working full time, and raising little baby girl. It was tough but we made it through and are stronger now because if it.

[mla1169]

I think you should work (you probably need to meet an experience requirement to become licensed) AND study. Granted during busy season your study hours will be more limited and it may take you twice as long to do what you could do when you're not working.

Its really not “all or nothing”, its just a matter of finding the right balance.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

I think you should work (you probably need to meet an experience requirement to become licensed) AND study. Granted during busy season your study hours will be more limited and it may take you twice as long to do what you could do when you're not working.

Its really not “all or nothing”, its just a matter of finding the right balance.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

I studied for REG during tax season and passed. My study time was limited to Sunday and early a.m. before work so it was really hard but definitely doable. I didn't pass by a lot but it doesn't have to be either or – it is possible to work tax season and study.

[Anonymous]

I studied for REG during tax season and passed. My study time was limited to Sunday and early a.m. before work so it was really hard but definitely doable. I didn't pass by a lot but it doesn't have to be either or – it is possible to work tax season and study.

[jewba07]

I'm working full-time and taking these tests…if you're lucky enough to have a support system to allow you not to work then just take the tests. You can probably get them done quicker.

FAR - 74 (1/5/2013); 80 (5/30/2013)
BEC - 81 (7/21/2013)
AUD - 72 (8/30/2013); 71 (10/14/2013); 79(1/10/2014)
REG - 85 (12/5/2013)

[jewba07]

I'm working full-time and taking these tests…if you're lucky enough to have a support system to allow you not to work then just take the tests. You can probably get them done quicker.

FAR - 74 (1/5/2013); 80 (5/30/2013)
BEC - 81 (7/21/2013)
AUD - 72 (8/30/2013); 71 (10/14/2013); 79(1/10/2014)
REG - 85 (12/5/2013)

[Anonymous]

Many many people on here work while taking the tests, so it's definitely doable. Granted, fewer take tests during busy season than non-busy-season, but it's still attainable. Also, if you have 2 tests left, you may be able to get one done before proper busy season starts. In my limited experience, tax returns don't really start rolling in till at least the middle of January. The tax accountants that I know usually don't start working crazy overtime till at least the start of February if not more like mid-February. So, if you will be working full-time or less for the next 6 – 8 weeks, then I would try to knock one of these out before then! If you take a week off for Christmas, you'd still have most of a week to do 100% focused studying before you start work, and then I figure at least a month of reasonable hours…and that's enough time to stomp one of these. Then you'd maybe focus mostly on work for 3-4 months and still come back and pass them all within a year. Not bad. 🙂 And definitely worth keeping the job experience and work history!

[Anonymous]

Many many people on here work while taking the tests, so it's definitely doable. Granted, fewer take tests during busy season than non-busy-season, but it's still attainable. Also, if you have 2 tests left, you may be able to get one done before proper busy season starts. In my limited experience, tax returns don't really start rolling in till at least the middle of January. The tax accountants that I know usually don't start working crazy overtime till at least the start of February if not more like mid-February. So, if you will be working full-time or less for the next 6 – 8 weeks, then I would try to knock one of these out before then! If you take a week off for Christmas, you'd still have most of a week to do 100% focused studying before you start work, and then I figure at least a month of reasonable hours…and that's enough time to stomp one of these. Then you'd maybe focus mostly on work for 3-4 months and still come back and pass them all within a year. Not bad. 🙂 And definitely worth keeping the job experience and work history!

[Texas CPA]

I worked 40-45 hours a week, took care of a family and studied for the exam.

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 worked 40-45 hours a week, took care of a family and studied for the exam.

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

[Anonymous]

I am in tax right now so I can see your worries. There are peak times definitely since there's really 2 tax season for the year: March/April and September/October. I am working full time and studying as well. Working gives some experience and like others have said, if you have a good support system where your not financially in a crisis, then I would try to get them all done. But since work is already competitive as it is, getting job and getting that exposure is also very important =)

And you can kind of plan your parts once you get an idea of how busy it can get, and I can tell you it can get pretty insane. lol So like for me , I don't plan to retake FAR until the summer and working on AUD for now since its less chapters as I get into the next season. But definitely possible! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I am in tax right now so I can see your worries. There are peak times definitely since there's really 2 tax season for the year: March/April and September/October. I am working full time and studying as well. Working gives some experience and like others have said, if you have a good support system where your not financially in a crisis, then I would try to get them all done. But since work is already competitive as it is, getting job and getting that exposure is also very important =)

And you can kind of plan your parts once you get an idea of how busy it can get, and I can tell you it can get pretty insane. lol So like for me , I don't plan to retake FAR until the summer and working on AUD for now since its less chapters as I get into the next season. But definitely possible! Good luck!

[Study Monk]

If you have the option to leave after april 15th on good terms I would take the job with the intention of taking the audit section of the exam in the April/May window. Passively study for audit when you have the spare time and try to get ready for one section in four months. Then in April take a leave of absence to finish FAR.

That being said it really all depends on your experience with yourself. Are you a person that can easily stop and go or are you a person that is primarily momentum based? I tend to do well with momentum and am sensitive to changes in habits. If I took two weeks off from studying I might end up losing two months or years even.

Your study endurance is another thing to consider. When you work full-time on these exams does it take you a month and a half to pass a section or more than two months per section. The reason this is important is you are basically taking six months off the time you have to pass this thing before you lose a section if you work at a busy tax firm. If you might end up with two testing windows left the amount of time it takes you to pass each exam will be relevant in your decision making process.

I am assuming finances is not an issue since it wasn't brought up in your post.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Author]

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