[Anonymous]

I’m in florida and under the state liscencing website…as long as you have your name and social security number (your employer will have access to it) the can see how many times you attempted and failed each section.

for some reason i was under the impression people can only see if you are liscenced or not……NOT how many times and the dates when you failed each exam. 🙁

this kinda dissapoints me because i will know that every job i apply to in the future can look up that i struggled so much with the exam and question my knowledge.

[musicamor]

In Texas, score information is not readily available–you can only see if one is a licensee in good-standing or not. I have never heard of an employer asking to see exam scores–as others have said on this thread–it's irrelevant. I am an employer of CPAs and have had to fire some “first-time passers” because they could not do simple tasks like a proper rollforward; they failed to use common sense on variance analyses because they were so smart. I wouldn't worry about your scores–they should be no indication to an employer about your competence for a position. I would stray away from any employer who asks to see scores.

Texas CPA - licensed in 2012!!!

[Minimorty]

@musicamor – I disagree with your characterization of the information as “irrelevant.” You personally may not put much weight on the information, but other employers may. As I posted in another thread, I believe that a person's testing data (# of attempts, scores, test dates, etc.) is all relevant information to a person in a hiring position.

[musicamor]

@Mini…thanks for your perspective, but I hold to my original statement. How are one's scores relevant to a hiring decision? What does the number of attempts at a standardized test tell a prospective employer? As a manager, I look for employees who can endure the rigors of accounting and all of the responsibility that comes with closing the books, producing financial statements, completing a good external audit, filing the Q's and the K's on time, etc.

Being able to score in the 90s on a standardized test, passing all parts on the first time is no more important than never scoring close to the 90s and not passing a single part on the first time. As a previous poster alluded to, commitment and tenacity are highly valuable interpersonal skills that I have seen lacking in many a bright CPA. Just my opinion.

Texas CPA - licensed in 2012!!!

[LSNYC]

@mini – question do you think employers should be allowed see your scores without permission? I happily handed over my college transcript when asked but I would not like it if anyone with my info could request it. I am not saying they don't have a right to ask for your score history, I'm just wonder if you think they should be able to obtain the info without your knowledge.

@musicamore – if you were asked for the info would you deny giving it to an employer?

I happen to think they have a right to ask, I also happen to think you should supply the info if asked. However I'm not sure I think it should have that much weight. Proving yourself after you're hired should mean way more than your test scores or how many tries it took you, IMO.

A - 61, 91!!
B - 78!
F - 76!!!
R - 71, 73, 74, 69, 77!!!!

Finally done!

This is my 2nd attempt at the exam, I had two parts passed (failed many) and I stupidly quit, big mistake. Now I'm back and with a vengeance!

[Minimorty]

The best and the brightest have all of the above.

Let's say you have two employment candidates, A and B. Both A and B are equal in every respect with regard to all of the characteristics that you mention above (can endure the rigors of account, can handle the responsibility of closing the books, is committed, tenacious, and has highly valuable interpersonal skills). However, A scored 90+ on all exams in 5 months while B scored 76, 72, 80, 73, 79, 82 and took 18 months to pass.

Are you suggesting that you would give absolutely no weight to this additional information?

[Minimorty]

@LSNYC – I do not think that employers should be able to see a candidate's scores without their permission. I think that would be an invasion of privacy. However, I would see nothing wrong with an employer putting in a provision in the employment application whereby the candidate gives permission to the potential employer to access the information.

All I am saying is that the information is relevant. As a hiring manager, why wouldn't you want the additional information about the potential person you are hiring? Give it whatever weight you want, but dont say that it is irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

Why would employers care how many times you took the exam? Most of the senior staff at my company don't have a CPA after their names. Only two accountants in my dept have it and everyone else is not interested in obtaining one.

I am just starting my FAR studying process. I purchased NINJA notes and Yaeger review course. I put together a good study plan thanks to all of the honest posts on this forum. Anyway, It does't matter how many times you fall, but how many times you get up again. It took me six years to get my undergraduate degree and three for my masters.

I think in general, with this economy, employers are becoming very picky about their hires.

[LSNYC]

I understand what you are saying. I only asked about the permission because the original poster said in Florida (their state) anyone can look up the scores with someone's name and SS#. When I have applied for jobs I needed to give your SS# for payroll info, background check ect. I think looking up scores with out people's knowledge is not appropriate.

But I'm not sure I agree it should have a ton of weight in a decision either. If I was interviewing people it would not be a top item in my consideration, granted I have passed yet so who knows how I will feel when I am done.

A - 61, 91!!
B - 78!
F - 76!!!
R - 71, 73, 74, 69, 77!!!!

Finally done!

This is my 2nd attempt at the exam, I had two parts passed (failed many) and I stupidly quit, big mistake. Now I'm back and with a vengeance!

[Anonymous]

I REALLY have a problem with all of the investigations employers conduct. It is becoming an invasion of privacy. Unless, you are going to work for the president, it should be kept to a minimum.

[Anonymous]

Very unlikely to be a deciding factor for an employer. I would not worry about this.

[Anonymous]

ok I just checked the FL licensing website and no scores are posted there. FL Only NASBA is the score keeper, and they would need your login and password. FLDPR only has license information ie. active or not.

[Minimorty]

@rvelez749 – If you are ever on the other side of the hiring table, you will begin to understand why it is necessary. Making a bad hiring decision can be a costly mistake, especially for a small business. Why wouldnt you do all the proper due diligence necessary to minimize the chance of such a mistake?

[musicamor]

@LSYNC…I would not withhold said documents if an employer requested them. If said information holds no weight or influence upon their hiring decision, why do they want them?

@Mini…again, the best and brightest candidates who pass the exam on their first try with high scores is irrelevant to a hiring decision I would make. Many times those bright individuals lack common sense and “out-of-the-box” thinking; they are no better than the “letter-of-the-law…” When numbers/data needs to be looked at from a theoretical point-of-view, said bright individuals cannot be called upon. I am not making a blanket statement about all individuals, but several with whom I have interacted are “too smart for their own good.”

Texas CPA - licensed in 2012!!!

[MICHI2D2G]

I think you are overthinking it…..honestly you have passed 3 out of 4 and once you start working, you will see most people don't have their CPA…at least where I am

[SIMSLAYER]

I agree with Mini. Whether its fair or not, any additional information on a job candidate is relevent in a competitive job market. I do see that their could be a correlation between exam performance and job candidate's talent/ability/potential. I personally am very impressed when an individual scores in the 90s on all exams in a matter of a few months. I automatically hold such a person in high regards, right or wrong.

Of course we all know that scores don't necessarily tell the whole story. The person with the high scores may have been single, with no kids, and living at home with mom and dad rent free. Meanwhile, the person with lower scores and/or some fails on record may have been working 40-60 hours per week, with 3 kids, had a death in the family, etc.

It's similar to college GPA. At face value, a higher GPA makes a candidate appear highly desirable; but who really knows. That person may have deliberatley chose easier coursework (or instructors that are known for giving easy As) in an effort to preserve his or her GPA, when he/she could have chosen more challenging coursework and maybe risked getting a B, etc.

FAR- 81
AUD- 93
BEC- 79
REG-

[Author]

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