[Wanless Park]

Here is my story. I’m a Canadian IT Business Analyst working mostly with accounting applications. 2 years ago I attended a Becker CPA Review presentation here in Canada. They told me they would find a state, where I would be able to pass the exam and get my designation. First they sent my papers to New Hampshire and then changed it to Maine. Then I received a letter from Maine Accounting Board stating that I was eligible for CPA examination. So I enrolled in Becker CPA courses and finally passed all 4 exams.
nToday I received the “congratulatory” letter from CPA examination services stating that now after having passed the examination requirements I need a proof of a 2 years work experience in public accounting and now I’m in a state of shock and disbelief. Did I waste 2 years of my life in vain? I’m not mentioning here the cost of tuition and passing the exams.
nDon’t gey me wrong, I’m not interested in practising accounting in the States. I simply want to add CPA designation to my credentials and improve my marketability as a business systems consultant.
nDid Becker CPA Canada misinformed me? Did Maine requirements change? What should I do? Your advice will be greatly appreciated.n

n

[mla1169]

In MA you can get a non reporting license (meaning you can't sign off on financial statements but you wouldn't be anyway) without experience so long as you have a graduate degree.

I mean no disrespect but YIKES on getting through all of the exams without being aware of all of the requirements in the state you applied to. Thats a big chunk of change to drop when you don't get all of the info.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[makinthemagic]

For a limited time, Illinois will allow you to get a “license” as a registered CPA. It's like a license in that you an put those three letters after your name and practice before the IRS. The only thing you can do is sign off on audits. It ends on 6/30/12.

here is a site for more info:

https://www.idfpr.com/Forms/Memo/06292010webstatutechangesamend065.pdf

Bec 4/11/11 91
Aud 7/11/11 75
Reg 8/31/11 80
Far 5/24/11 86
Ethics - 98
California Licensed CPA
Illinois Registered CPA

[Anonymous]

@wanless

Sorry, but my response is less for your help and more for my own good — but what do you do exactly?

I've got a degree in Accounting, but my passion has always been with Computer Science or IT. What did you major in? What are your job responsibilities as an IT business analyst working with business applications?

What other jobs do you know of that require both Accounting and CS/IT knowledge?

I guess I'm not exactly familiar with the IT/CS differences. If IT deals more with hardware, I guess I'm leaning more towards an Accounting/CS combo – since I like dealing with software.

[Anonymous]

@cowpatty holy cow how did you pass the WC portion of Bec with blatant spelling and grammar errors like that -_- i'm perplexed lol

[Anonymous]

Please understand there's a difference between a CPA certificate and a CPA license.

CPA certificate – issued by some states when you've passed the CPA exam, have the required education hours, and ethics exam passed too. You cannot do auditing or call yourself a CPA officially under state law. NOTE: Since you're in Canada, this doesn't matter since you're not under their jurisdiction. You're subject to Canadian law, so what do they say about the CPA designation? Can you call yourself a CPA in Canada without having a CPA license in another state? I'm doubting that rule would exist.

CPA license – same as above but requires experience + CPE credits and renewal of license. You can call yourself a CPA and can do audit, and attestation. But this only matters if you live in the state and practice here. Since you're in Canada, this is not worth your while to get the designation.

Now if all you care about is the CPA certificate, there are only 5 states that have it. Illinois will be going off that list starting 7/1/2012 so I'm rushing against the clock to pass that.

[Anonymous]

@wanless what exactly does your job entail? sounds like something i may like doing.

you implement accounting software?

i'm surprised you're able to do something like that with just an IT background

@cowpatty holy cow..i'm surprised you passed the WC portion of BEC with blatant spelling and grammatical errors like that lol

[Anonymous]

I don't know what happened to my post, so I'll try reposting.

@Wanless Park: You can get a CPA certificate from Illinois. But you cannot hold yourself out as a CPA in IL unless you are registered or have a license – better hurry, registration/certificate no longer applies after 7/1/2012 so get it in way before then.

The rule about “you cannot hold yourself out as a CPA in IL unless you are registered or have a license” ONLY applies if you are in the jurisdiction of Illinois – you're in Canada so you are not. Check with Canadian law about CPA's. if Canada says it is OK to hold yourself out as a CPA, then you can do so with only a certificate.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what happened to my post, so I'll try reposting.

@Wanless Park: You can get a CPA certificate from Illinois. But you cannot hold yourself out as a CPA in IL unless you are registered or have a license – better hurry, registration/certificate no longer applies after 7/1/2012 so get it in way before then.

The rule about “you cannot hold yourself out as a CPA in IL unless you are registered or have a license” ONLY applies if you are in the jurisdiction of Illinois – you're in Canada so you are not. Check with Canadian law about CPA's. if Canada says it is OK to hold yourself out as a CPA, then you can do so with only a certificate.

[Anonymous]

I don't know what happened to my post, so I'll try reposting.

@Wanless Park: You can get a CPA certificate from Illinois. But you cannot hold yourself out as a CPA in IL unless you are registered or have a license – better hurry, registration/certificate no longer applies after 7/1/2012 so get it in way before then.

The rule about “you cannot hold yourself out as a CPA in IL unless you are registered or have a license” ONLY applies if you are in the jurisdiction of Illinois – you're in Canada so you are not. Check with Canadian law about CPA's. if Canada says it is OK to hold yourself out as a CPA, then you can do so with only a certificate.

[valklyre]

Ok I am officially freaking out. I applied in NH when I had to sit for my exam. Now I am applying and I have only 1 year and 3 months of public experience and few years of industry experience. I don't have MS or MBA, but I have double major accounting/management with minor in math. My direct supervisor in the industry I worked in is a CPA and worked in Deloitte for 20 years prior to coming to my company. He signed all my docs for NH. I worked in Internal Audit – operational audit. Do you guys think I may have any issue? please help. I am so stressed out

[mla1169]

In Massachusetts you can get what is called a “Non reporting license” without having work experience, provided you have a masters degree or higher.

The license is in every sense a CPA license EXCEPT that you may not sign off on financial reports (that is on an honor system).

I have extensive work experience but never worked under a CPA so none of my experience qualified.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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