[theilya]

Becker CPA Review cost $3,500. Did anyone pay full price? I have been unemployed for about 2 months now and decided to study for the CPA in hopes that it will help me find a job.

Most of the people I know that used Becker got it at a huge discount or free from their employer.

Do people actually pay $3,500 for Becker CPA Review Self Study?

[SeattleAccountant]

Paid full price for basic Becker course .

My purchase is justified due to a time factor, i.e. the longer or the more takes on each section i'm going to devote by failing to fully prepare the first time around, the bigger the opportunity cost in wages and time away from normal activities, exercise and vacation.

So, shelled out for what I felt was the best program (personal preference for speaker voice, lecture lengths and book format), and hoping to pass with minimum tries, will see how it is going to turn out!

I can recoup full cost in less than 2 months by going back to my normal working hours and additionally, I like (not really) that monthly pmt to Becker motivates me to progress along by “reminding” me each month, ugggggrrrrrrrr!

On the other hand, spouse's employer subsidizes review costs, but demands to see scores. No wonder that not that many folks from the corresponding acct. dept. had utilized this feature.

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[SeattleAccountant]

@chakdey

Did you pass the exam or just sad for having paid that much, just curious.

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[theilya]

@SammyJ,

So to my understanding Wiley test bank is very similar to Becker software?

If so, I could just buy 2012 becker books from my buddy for $200-300 and test bank for $100

[SammyJ]

@theilya

Well I would say for Becker, theres typically around 1200MC for each section and about 1000MC for Wiley. There are probably around 150 questions that are word for word the same for both, because these are the questions that gets released by the AICPA.

If you pay 200-300 per books that would be great especially if you already have an accounting background. I would take the risk and not pay for lecture disks or live lectures, I really dont see them being very beneficial. And yes the test banks are really cheap on this site. I think you would be able to use just the test banks along with 2012 edition books and it'll still work.

But just to point out a few things. I think the Simulations for both are completely different. And a lot ppl on here say that they dont even look at the practice SIMs, I however love the Becker SIMs. They really offer great questions. Wiley has SIMs too, but from the few I've looked at they are really really extensive and in detail and I feel Im spending a hour on just one SIM. But I like your strategy. You can probably get away with it by spending around 1200-1400 and save 1800 dollars. I say go for it!

FAR-81!!
AUD-69, Retake: 84!!
REG-86!!
BEC-81!!
Education- Done
Ethics- August 2013
Experience- 7 Months of CPA Experience and counting!

[Anonymous]

@SeattleAccountant I have passed 3 of the 4, will be retaking BEC next week, If I dont pass I will lose my FAR credit. Becker expired in OCT. Sad because I paid so much when i could have bought the whole set for half the price on eBay, which seems pretty legit from reading buyer reviews from different sellers.

[Anonymous]

The Becker software had like 1850 mc for FAR if you count the final exams, so I think that would be significantly more than the Wiley. I don't think its possible to pass without all the mc you can get your hands on.

[SeattleAccountant]

@chakdey

Good luck to you on the last exam, great job that you got 3/4 done!

I did look for Becker to purchase online initially but was afraid to purchase non-licensed software. However, I would have purchased flashcards if I did not make my own and also, I saw textbooks being offered. But as far as I recall, prices were still biting and there was an uncertainty with buying product without full rights (software download & updates would probably be problematic b/c it can be loaded only three times). Additionally, recently Becker had switched to full online, no more cd's and that I would imagine pose even more problems.

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[greenbreen]

Cal CPA discount (free with .edu ) will discount $300. A whole 10% is not bad.

[Anonymous]

I paid the full price for Becker ($2,700 after school discount) as well while I was in graduate school and before I even got a job. I wanted to get a head start before I started working and I did. Passed FAR and REG before I started work and I regret nothing!! You will make up the cost quickly if you become a CPA. Well worth the investment 🙂

However if you can't justify the cost for Becker, go with Wiley, Ninja Notes & MCQ…there are fantastic, everything you need to pass.

[tcheney3]

I paid full price for it. It's worth it if you pass. You can definitely get by with other material, but if you have to spend the time and money to retake exams you will end up paying more in the long run.

BEC - 82
REG - 86
FAR - 85
AUD - 84 and I'm out!!!!!
Ethics - 95
In Skynet's Honor:
Act I: Shutdown Skynet and prevent Judgment Day.
Act II: Add a comma and three letters to my title.
Act III: Time Travel and marry a young Denise Richards (and prevent subsequent plastic surgery),return to present.
Act IV: Serve as Successor to Elon Musk as CEO of Tesla.
Act V: Ensure Judgment Day has been stopped. Utopia achieved.

[Zuly]

@theilya I highly suggest looking into NINJA MCQs for the test bank. If I had to do it again, I would only buy one section at a time. You really don't know what you're getting yourself into until you really start studying. I know it comes out to more but trust me you'll be sorry if you start studying with Becker and end up hating it. Also, from my experience some test preps are better for some sections than others. I am studying with Roger and he was great for FAR & AUD but I personally liked Yaegar better for BEC. Also, the Wiley books might be overkill but if you go on Amazon you can get used 2014 versions (which are practically the same as 2015…I know because I've compared them) and they have hundreds of questions (if not more for some sections) + SIMS + a full practice exam so that's another good prep material you can use. I only spent $5 on my Wiley Audit book, $10 for BEC and $15 for Reg. Just a thought…

FAR - (11/01/14) 71 (02/07/15) 79
AUD - (04/30/15) 86
BEC - (07/21/15) 73 (10/01/15) 75
REG - (11/30/15) 55 (05/19/16) 74

[KBinMN]

I purchased Becker out of my own pocket. Thought since I was a pretty good test taker that I'd be able to cram. I failed each section and then my subscription expired. To re-up the subscription it was half of the initial costs which I think was $2800 (so $1400). I wish I would've known that was the case and that it would take 3 months to get my NTS. The video lectures were a pretty big waste of time.

I took a few years off and then decided to buy Wiley books/MC and NINJA audio and notes. I made a plan for studying and stuck to it, got a study buddy and passed all 4 parts.

So IMO Becker isn't worth it, the expiring subscription part really rubbed me the wrong way.

[Jenny]

I paid for Becker. 0% for 18 months.

Then had to buy it again because I didn't take the exam serious and had to pay for the half price costs 18 mo 0% financing.

*facepalm*

Oh well, I'm 3 down, 1 to go! (waiting on score)

Oklahoma Candidate
AUD - Pass (8/14)
FAR - Pass (11/14)
REG - Pass (2/15)
BEC - Pass (11/15)
Ethics Exam - Pass (12/15)

[Author]

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