[jenuno01]

I still have a long time before I lose one of my credits but I have to confess it is one of my biggest fears—I just don’t think I’d have the motivation to continue after losing a credit, so big kudos to those of you who have done it. I am just curious to know why have candidates lost a credit? Is it because you took a huge break after passing a certain section? Or because you struggled to pass within the 18 month period? Or both?

Class of 2012

[Kayla86]

My story…

When I first started this process I thought there was NO way it would be a problem getting this done within 18 months. After I passed my first 2 fairly quickly after beginning I felt super burned out and waited until the next testing window to take BEC. Well turns out BEC was more difficult for me than I anticipated. Failed the first time. 2nd time around I felt great about it but a few days before the test I got sick and wasn't feeling the greatest during the exam. I had a bit of a fever and constantly had to blow my nose through out the exam, lol. It was obnoxious. Got a 74 on that one. I am convinced if I had not been blowing my nose every 5 seconds I would have passed.

After I got the 74 I was pretty bummed and it was a few months before my wedding and I really thought I wouldn't study well while finishing up the planning and doing all the pre-wedding events. (I know terrible priorities, I should have sucked it up and done both!)

Right after my wedding I got back into studying and finally passed BEC on my 3rd try.

I've really just drug this whole process out much longer than I should have and I am for sure kicking myself for it now. Remember your priorities people! 🙂 Seriously wish I wouldnt have put a wedding first!

AUD - 73, 82 7/2010
REG - 79 7/2010
BEC - 72, 74, 78 7/2011
FAR - 66, 83 1/2012 - AND I'M DONE! Best feeling ever.

MN Licensed CPA as of 5/18/12!

[jokami]

You want to hear a worst story!!!!! My sister in law (or so she says, I haven't seen any evidence) has passed all four of them and has lost them all…

She lost FAR and AUD, and she es about to lose BEC, just recently passed REG for the 2nd time.

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[jenuno01]

@Kayla – Thanks for sharing! That darn 18-month window stresses me out! It seems like one should have no problem passing all 4 parts in within 18 months, but the AICPA forgets is we all have other things going on in our lives and sometimes unexpected events will sway us away from the CPA process… for example, God forbid, I have a death in my family while taking these tests, I don't think I could concentrate enough to pass my remaining tests within 18 months….sigh, I guess I am just letting my fears take control of me lol

Class of 2012

[jokami]

I think you are in part, right…. But remember that the rules and procedures keep evolving every year and once you have your CPA license you need to take courses and credit to keep up to date…

So I think, this way the examiners make sure that the tests and the candidates being testes are up to date.

What I don't get AT ALL!!!! Is that the Becker program expires in 18 month!!!!!! That window should be at least 2 or 2.5 years!!!!!

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[Kayla86]

Yeah the 18 month window really wouldnt be bad at all either if you could take an exam more than once in a quarter. I always worried too about if something big happened, like you say a death in the family or something would occur! Or getting sick right before your exam :(.

Ultimately though this is my own fault for not just sucking it up when I felt burned out or too busy…. I guess it wouldn't have hurt to just be natrually more intelligent as well 🙂

AUD - 73, 82 7/2010
REG - 79 7/2010
BEC - 72, 74, 78 7/2011
FAR - 66, 83 1/2012 - AND I'M DONE! Best feeling ever.

MN Licensed CPA as of 5/18/12!

[jokami]

There are ways for you to extend your NTS, of course they have to be very well documented and justified, and each one of them are evaluated separately.

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[Anonymous]

You have 6 windows to pass 4 exams…

I don't like the window-restriction. It would have taken me much less time, if there were no windows and you could retake an exam two weeks after you've failed.

[jenuno01]

@75, I agree! Given how money hungry the AICPA is, you'd think they would eliminate the window restrictions to collect more exam fees lol

Class of 2012

[Kayla86]

Agreed. Window restrictions are the worst part of it all. I don't have a problem with the 18 month window, it makes sense.

I also wish Beckers software didn't expire so quickly 🙂

AUD - 73, 82 7/2010
REG - 79 7/2010
BEC - 72, 74, 78 7/2011
FAR - 66, 83 1/2012 - AND I'M DONE! Best feeling ever.

MN Licensed CPA as of 5/18/12!

[Givemesleep]

To me the worst part is the blackout months. I failed BEC in the beginning of a window and have to wait two months th retake. Its not fresh anymore. Why blackout monts?

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[jenuno01]

@Givemesleep, I agree. That's why I am not a fan of testing at the beginning of a testing period. I always try to do mid to end end of month

Class of 2012

[jomarie]

Ok you guys ready for my story.

Took REG in January 2009 – passed it

Took FAR in August 2009 – passed it

Took BEC in February 2010 – passed it

I did take more than those exams inbetween. Then came my nightmare Audit. I was due to have my daughter in May of 2010 so I took the April/May 2010 window off (BIG MISTAKE!!!!!) cause I figured I would have plenty of time to pass Audit before my REG would expire in September of 2010. Well I was wrong!!! After losing all of my credits I finally passed Audit this past October. I was able to get my REG credit back this past August as well. I think if I didn't get that back I would have probably tossed in the towel at that point.

Now I'm trying to get my FAR and BEC credits back.

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[Kayla86]

Way to go Jo! 🙂 I may need some of your inspiration once I find out my score.

AUD - 73, 82 7/2010
REG - 79 7/2010
BEC - 72, 74, 78 7/2011
FAR - 66, 83 1/2012 - AND I'M DONE! Best feeling ever.

MN Licensed CPA as of 5/18/12!

[jenuno01]

@Jomarie – you are probably one of the most inspirational people on this forum. Thanks for sharing your story! And I am sure you'll be a CPA in 2012

Class of 2012

[Veronica75]

I lost Audit because I got hung up on BEC and didn't pass FAR as quickly as I thought I would either. I thought I'd pass them all on the first attempt – boy, was I wrong!!! The score release changes, or delay or scores I should say, in 2011 did nothing for me. It was horrible because I didn't know how to proceed. In hindsight, I should have pressed onward to another section while waiting for scores, but I was just flip-flopping between material and trying to take two sections per window to make up for lost time. I should have focused on one section per window…

So I've now passed Audit twice and am finally in the home stretch!

FAR - 79 (2x)
AUD - 81 (expired), 77!
REG - 74! omg (3x) 87!!!!!!! I'm done! OMG!
BEC - 81 (4x)

[Author]

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