[GoBears123]

I saw a thread like this for past years, so I’m starting one for 2018.

Here’s where I’m at so far:

2/26/18 — mailed in full application, with all requirements completed

3/19/18 — $250 application fee check cashed

Now waiting for some type of word from the CBA.

Gotta say — the CBA is SUPER frustrating to deal with.

Anyone else going through the the same waiting game??

FAR - 6/4/16 - 82
AUD - 8/27/16
REG - TBD
BEC - TBD

[jombe]

I wish I worked for CBA. Must be nice to be able to tell your clients “check back in about 5~6 months and maybe we'll have what you need.”

My colleague and I were joking today that we should just transfer our scores from Cali to the state where we now work and we'd still get our license before CBA finishes processing our applications.

FAR - 94 (10/4/15), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
AUD - 99 (1/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
REG - 96 (4/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
BEC - 91 (7/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ

581 days of listening to lectures, reading texts & 10,000+ MCQs...

[CPA788]

@hecubus330 – just speculating. It wouldn't surprise me if Big 4s got fast tracked by the CBA “unofficially” – not a knock at all. Literally just data gathering.

@adtejeda – ah, that does make a little more sense with the initial review. So lame you missed that cut off for ethics by such a short amount of time. I joked with my coworker about the exam portal and how nothing has changed. He couldn't believe nothing had changed from when he finished in 2011.

BEC - 74, 77
FAR - 72, 71 (retake 7/29)
REG - 69
AUD - Q4 '16

CA Candidate

[TommyTheCat]

big 4 do not get fast tracked. Our managing partner is on the CBA advisory committee. He said they have their heads so far up their asses in general they wouldn't be able to fast track any subset if they tried.

For the record they all know how much of a mess the CBA is right now. Not news to them.

[TommyTheCat]

curious the opinions of those with CBA application processing experience here…

I have passed all exams including PETH. I have the general experience form signed off by my partner, and am getting my livescan done today.

I was short units with the “new” (for this old timer) 150 unit requirement and am completing my final 3 courses at foothill as we speak. Quarter ends 6/30, and i have already put in an order for my transcripts to be sent from foothill to the CBA as soon as the grades are posted for the spring quarter. Expecting they'll be posted and the transcript then mailed to the CBA sometime in mid/late July.

I have the application for licensure already completed and was thinking with their super long processing times it would be wise to go ahead and submit the application and get my app in line so to speak. Figuring they aren't going to have moved on it fully by mid/late July anyway so the final transcript arriving in late July would be perfect timing. That way I dont sit here waiting another month before I mail my application in.

I wouldnt be so antsy othewise but getting my license is the only item I am needing to get a pretty big promotion at work and my year-end review (when promotions usually are made) happens in early Nov. If I am not licensed by early Nov I am worried they'll not move on the promotion for a while. With these processing time horror stories I am not confident my application will have been approved and license granted by early Nov if I wait to mail it in until late July.

Has anyone mailed their application in ahead of their final transcript being sent in? Did they have any luck with that or did it just lead to further delays and back and forth with the CBA?

Thanks

[S6]

@Tommythecat i am in the same exact boat. I am finishing one class at foothill (accounting ethics) which will compete the 150 units. This is the last item on my list. I was planning on sending over my transcripts as soon as they post and send in my application for licensure at that time as well. But you make a good point about the processing time and i think i am going to send in my application for licensure next week. Im just going to hope the timing of all this will work

[TommyTheCat]

@S6 – thanks for the feedback I am doing the same. Just need my 2×2 headshot image that I'll have tonight and am going to submit my application tomorrow.

I've already done the livescan and went online and put the order in for foothill transcripts to be sent to CBA as soon as the spring 2018 classes are posted.

Lets just hope they dont have an issue with my criminal disclosure form I am submitting with my application. Bought a keg when I was 20 using my brother's ID and got caught. Just my luck that becomes an issue. That was 15 years ago.

Good luck to you and keep me posted as you go. I will post updates here when I see the check get cashed and any notifications I get from them. Fingers crossed they process this shit by November.

[CPA788]

Friends – in an interesting turn of events, I have received my approval of application letter… via email. I expect the hard copy to come in the mail soon but I can send my payment now it looks like.

Praise.

Um also – has there always been a discounted license payment option? As long as I pay before November, it's only $60…? After Nov 30, it's $120.

@tommythecat – I also took many classes at Foothill. Though I checked the box/request that said “please don't send until grades are posted” they sent it anyway with everything pending. It took me about a month to figure out the CBA had a useless transcript – just keep that in mind and be vigilant.

BEC - 74, 77
FAR - 72, 71 (retake 7/29)
REG - 69
AUD - Q4 '16

CA Candidate

[jombe]

@CPA788, congrats! hopefully people in this thread, including myself, will soon have great news like yours!

FAR - 94 (10/4/15), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
AUD - 99 (1/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
REG - 96 (4/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
BEC - 91 (7/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ

581 days of listening to lectures, reading texts & 10,000+ MCQs...

[candidatekay]

If license application is taking that long, does exam application take longer than that?

[rwglapalma]

Adding to update my progress:

2/5/18 – application received by CBA (sent certified mail return receipt requested)
2/14/18 – check cashed (Happy Valentine's Day!)
3/25/18 – called CBA licensing to request a status update on my application. Woman I spoke to stated they were still processing applications from late January and to expect 8-10 week delay which now I think means 8-10 weeks on top of the 4-6 weeks expected processing time
4/23/18 – called CBA and was told my license went through the first screening and was on to the second one, should hear back by the end of June
5/12/18 – Received a letter from CBA that my application was under review
6/21/18 – Called CBA for a status update, was told my pre=approval letter had been sent, was sent an email with a copy dated 5/18/18 that I had been approved, remit the fee etc. etc. Sent out fee same day certified mail
6/22/18 – Hoping I'll be a licensed CPA before the end of July

@CPA788 I'm confused because I had to pay the $120 fee but someone else at my firm who received their license this year also had the $60 fee

[TommyTheCat]

@CPA788 congratulations and thank you for the heads-up on them sending that transcript without the proper hold. I will make sure I check on that.

[rwglapalma]

@candidatekay While the exam application does take awhile, it didn't take nearly as long as the licensing application took. Maybe 2 months or less?

[hecubus330]

Update 2

3/08/18 – received final passing score
3/10/18 – Livescan
3/12/18 – mail out application certified mail
3/16/18 – application received by CBA
3/27/18 – check posted
4/03/18 – Receive postcard
4/21/18 – pass PETH
4/26/18 – letter saying our records show you passed all four sections
5/01/18 – letter saying we're initiating the review of your application, you'll hear the results in 4-6 weeks.
6/04/18 – letter saying my application will be approved, send us more money
6/05/18 – overnighted payment
6/06/18 – CBA received check
6/21/18 – CBA cashed check

Good thing I overnighted that check for them to sit on it for two weeks. SO. CLOSE.

BEC -69, 69
REG -77 (expired), 79
FAR - ?
AUD - 65, 67

[adtejeda]

CPA788 – I got my application approval with the license fee request a couple weeks ago and all I saw was $120 no matter when I paid. Where is this $60 discounted fee you speak of?? I'm a bit peeved.

In other news, the CBA must be getting busy, because my check was cashed on Friday, 6/22 after sitting in someone's inbox for two weeks 🙂 I keep checking the CPA license lookup website like a mad woman!

[Benny]

This is my license application timeline. I completed my last CPA exam in Dec 2017 and sent out my application in Mar; but CBA told me I still needed 3 credits in Ethics in Accounting. I finished the course from Mission College and sent my transcript in Jan 2018.

Dec 2016: Passed PETH-California ethics exam
Mar 2017: Submitted initial licensing application to CBA
Jun 2017: Submitted 1 year work experience form to CBA
Aug 2017: CBA informed I lacked 3 credits in Ethics in Accounting
Jan 2017: Finished and submitted 3 credits in Ethics in Accounting
Feb 2018: CBA informed all docs required had been received; in final review stage
May 2018: CBA informed they were ready to issue me the license and asked for $120 initial licensing fee
Jun 2018: CBA cashed my check of $120

It's been taking forever for CBA to process my application. It has been over a year since I mailed out my application and because of the stupid ethics in accounting requirement, I had to take this course in Mission college, which I am fine with. I did everything and as fast as I could from my end. But CBA is really taking their time; for example, it took them 1 month and more to open the mail that has my transcript. If they are really understaffed, they should really consider hiring more people and increase the budget

FAR: 75(OMG)/2015-11-24/Wiley CPA Excel
BEC: 82/2015-11-24/Wiley CPA Excel
AUD: 73(Failed), 81/2016-05-24/Wiley CPA Excel
REG: 62(Failed), To be taken again on Jul 31, 2016

[Author]

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