[TheMaker117]

For those in California who are interested in the processing time of applications for getting the CPA license for 2016 (and maybe as a rough idea for 2017), here’s the tracking progress of what happened to me when I submitted my Initial License Application to the CBA.

11/14/2016: Passed the Ethics Exam (PETH Exam)

11/15/2016: Sent all of my college transcripts online to California Board of Accountancy.

11/16/2016: Finished my Fingerprint livescan.

11/16/2016: Mailed over my initial licensing application to the CBA
Note: I’ve used USPS Priority mail to send over my application quicker and track down when the application arrives to the CBA in Sacramento. So, normal mail may take up between 7 to 10 days.

11/18/2016: CBA received my initial licensing application – (Found out via USPS Priority mail tracking website).

11/30/2016: CBA cashed in my check for the $250 application fee.

12/09/2016: Received Acknowledgement Card by CBA.

12/12/2016: Received CBA letter (dated 12/07/2016) that all CPA application documents have been received. Results of review will be in 4-6 weeks.

12/19/2016: Received Letter (dated 12/14/2016) that my Official CPA license will be approved after sending over CPA initial license fee ($120.00) and bottom portion of this same letter (containing my name and “address of record”) to California Board of Accountancy (CBA).

12/21/2016: USPS Priority mailed over the $120.00 initial license fee (check) to California Board of Accountancy (CBA).

12/23/2016: CBA received my $120.00 initial license fee (check) and “lower portion of the letter, containing my name and address of record”. – (Found out via USPS Priority mail tracking website).

1/10/2017: CBA cashed in my $120.00 check for the initial licensing fee.

1/22/2017: Went to the CBA CPA license look-up website and found out that I am officially licensed. Expecting my official wall certificate in the next several weeks.

Note:
* I met all the requirements (college courses and signed off work hours) to be a licensed CPA before the Education requirement change happening on Jan 1, 2017. The Education requirement starting on Jan 1, 2017 and onward is where new CPA license candidates must take an additional Accounting Ethics class.

FAR (08/2015): 84
AUD (11/2015): 89
REG (06/2016): 84
BEC: In Progress

[ultrarunner]

Congratulations TheMaker117! I sent my application on 12/21, and my transcript (last document) was received on 12/23 by the board. I received the card yesterday. According to your timeline, I still have to wait another 5-6 weeks (if everything goes well). Thanks for sharing!

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[CPA2BEE]

Your timeline sounds about right, 2 month-ish, from start to finish for getting licensed in CA. However that is only possible if your application is perfectly correct the first time you send it. My experience form was not accepted at first because it was a copy and they needed the form with original signing. This added a ton of time to me being issued a license!

Application mailed: 8/5/2016
License issued: 12/14/2016

4 months!

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[hasy]

A true rarity in its sight, OP. I have hardly ever heard of a licensure that quickly.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

-

BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[Track55]

Took me 3 months.

AUD - 74, 99 !!
REG - 74, 92
BEC - 83
FAR - 73, 86

Studying for Ethics exam

California candidate
Business and Industry

[Anonymous]

Hiya,

This is my current timeline

Sent in my educational transcripts Aug 2016 – I had to do extra credits to meet the 150 semester hours and I even did the Ethics class just in case I got evaluated for the new educational requirements.

Sent in work experience IE my boss sent it in Sept 2016 – I have about 4 yrs so i don't think that should be problem.

I did the live scan on the 13th/14th Dec 2016.

I passed my ethics exam around Dec 18th 2016. (finally after 3 attempts – drove me bonkers)

Sent in Application Dec 20th and it arrived on Dec 22nd.

Check was cashed by CA board Jan 9th 2017.

Note yet gotten an acknowledgement card but i am guess I should see something in the mail soon …. I just hope that my educational hours do satisfy their 150 requirement.

[TheMaker117]

Hello everyone again, I just want to add some updates to my timeline. See below:

—–

*4/21/2015: Hours signed off by CPA Supervisor. (Then, between Aug 2015 and Sept 2016, all 4 parts of CPA exam passed).

11/14/2016: Passed the Ethics Exam (PETH Exam)

11/15/2016: Sent all of my college transcripts online to California Board of Accountancy.

11/16/2016: Finished my Fingerprint livescan.

11/16/2016: Mailed over my initial licensing application to the CBA
Note: I’ve used USPS Priority mail to send over my application quicker and track down when the application arrives to the CBA in Sacramento. So, normal mail may take up between 7 to 10 days.

11/18/2016: CBA received my initial licensing application – (Found out via USPS Priority mail tracking website).

11/30/2016: CBA cashed in my check for the $250 application fee.

12/09/2016: Received Acknowledgement Card by CBA.

12/12/2016: Received CBA letter (dated 12/07/2016) that all CPA application documents have been received. Results of review will be in 4-6 weeks.

12/19/2016: Received Letter (dated 12/14/2016) that my Official CPA license will be approved after sending over CPA initial license fee ($120.00) and bottom portion of this same letter (containing my name and “address of record”) to California Board of Accountancy (CBA).

12/21/2016: USPS Priority mailed over the $120.00 initial license fee (check) to California Board of Accountancy (CBA).

12/23/2016: CBA received my $120.00 initial license fee (check) and “lower portion of the letter, containing my name and address of record”. – (Found out via USPS Priority mail tracking website).

1/10/2017: CBA cashed in my $120.00 check for the initial licensing fee.

1/22/2017: Went to the CBA CPA license look-up website and found out that I am officially licensed. Expecting my official wall certificate in the next several weeks.

**1/25/2017: Finally received the wall certificate in the mail.

Notes:
* This just to add some clarity on when my hours were approved. They were approved back in 2015 at a company that I worked there since Dec 2012.
** Just want to add it in here to give everyone a reference on the duration it took to finally get that CPA wall certificate.

Other Notes:
* I met all the requirements (college courses and signed off work hours) to be a licensed CPA before the Education requirement change happening on Jan 1, 2017. The Education requirement starting on Jan 1, 2017 and onward is where new CPA license candidates must take an additional Accounting Ethics class.
* Yes, my application process went pretty quick only because everything was correct the first time around. Also, I think I submitted my application at around the time when the new education requirement for the ethics class was coming up after 12/31/2016. So, it could be likely that the CBA was in a hurry to determine if I make the cut to be licensed soon (without having to take the Ethics course).

FAR (08/2015): 84
AUD (11/2015): 89
REG (06/2016): 84
BEC: In Progress

[Anonymous]

Hiya,

My current timeline (Updates in **)

Sent in my educational transcripts Aug 2016 – I had to do extra credits to meet the 150 semester hours and I even did the Ethics class just in case I got evaluated for the new educational requirements.

Sent in work experience IE my boss sent it in Sept 2016 and ex-Boss back in Nov 2014 – I have about 4 yrs in total so i don’t think that should be problem except the process might be longer as 2 out of 4 yrs are with a CPA with Texas license so there is additional steps they need done verify their CPA licenses.

I did the live scan on the 13th/14th Dec 2016.

I passed my ethics exam around Dec 18th 2016. (finally after 3 attempts – drove me bonkers)

Sent in Application Dec 20th and it arrived on Dec 22nd.

Check was cashed by CA board Jan 9th 2017.

**Received acknowledgement Feb 2nd 2017.

[Goingallin]

For the CPA hours requirement, can you start accumulating hours under a CPA before, during, or after you're done with the exam?

[ultrarunner]

It doesn't matter before, during or after. But as far as I understand, the sign-off certificate is good for 5 years. Or you will need to take additional CPE. Here is the handbook: https://www.dca.ca.gov/cba/applicants/applbook.pdf

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[mooseonloose]

are we able to send out forms without yet completing the exams?

[Track55]

I wouldn't start the process till you pass the exams.

AUD - 74, 99 !!
REG - 74, 92
BEC - 83
FAR - 73, 86

Studying for Ethics exam

California candidate
Business and Industry

[ultrarunner]

Am I supposed to receive a letter? I got the Card a few weeks ago but never got the letter. Should I email the board? Thanks!

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[Anonymous]

The acknowledgement is a card. After 30 days you should get a letter saying you are approved or if they need additional items. After 30 days if you don't hear then yes email the board and i am sure they can give a status update.

I think currently they are swamped as must have gotten many applications in December to qualify before the new changes took place.

[ultrarunner]

Thanks brainfarts. I think many people are taking exams this quarter as well before the changes. I will wait for one more week. Good luck to us!

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[Amandah]

I sent in everything during November and December. Passed my exams in July. I had to take some units Fall 2016. So lucky me, one professor didn't post grades until 2017. So the only thing I sent in after the deadline was one class transcript and they received it on 1/3/17.

They cashed my check 12/19 and i have received a card and nothing else. It has been 6 weeks. I have e-mailed more times than I'd like to admit and a week ago the lady told me to wait another 2-4 weeks as they hadn't even done an initial review yet, but it looked like all my documents were in. So after 5 weeks they had barely glanced at my paperwork.

Although who cares. I had no idea I would need an accounting ethics class and am now enrolled in one just in case. So probably won't get my license til this summer regardless. Oh joy.

California

FAR - (61), (80) PASSED!!!
AUD - (59), 6/6/16...
BEC - (72), (81) PASSED!!!
REG - (72), (73), (86) PASSED!!!

[Author]

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