[Need a Napa]

Well, I’ve been pretty burned out since tax season started. I’ve found it even harder than usual to find time to study for AUD between working longer hours and still wanting to spend time with the kids. I have done my best, and actually felt pretty confident for my test today (way more confident than when I took FAR).

It was a big deal for me to take time off during tax season for this CPA test, so I really wanted to do a good job. I drove the 90 minutes to the Prometric center, and when I was being logged in, the lady said, “You know your drivers license is expired, right?” I actually thought she was joking, but she showed me. It expired 2/12/2011, ten days ago! I had no idea! Long story short, she would not budge, even though I’ve taken 2 other tests at this same center, and she remembered me (I know it is not her fault, but it is just one of those things that can make you want to snap). This was at 11:30, and the test was scheduled for 12:00. She said that if I could get to the DMV, renew my license, and bring back the temporary ID before 12:00, she’d be okay with it. This made me even angrier, considering the temporary ID does an even worse job identifying me than my expired drivers license. I got directions and drove to the DMV, thinking that if there were not many people there, I could just run in and run out and still have a chance of making it. No shot! The line was out the door and around the corner, just like any other DMV office. The parking lot was completely full. I didn’t even stop… I then thought I could renew it online on my phone, and show her the lady that it had it had been renewed, but California obviously doesn’t have enough money to keep the DMV website up and running.

So I drove back to Napa, where I have been on the phone with Prometric, NASBA, and the California Board of Accountancy. It looks like there is a slight chance that I’ll still be able to take AUD in this window (for another $140), but based on my experience so far, I’m not getting my hopes up.

So I would like to ask everybody to please make sure their drivers licenses are not expired/expiring soon. It never even crossed my mind that mine would be. Please do yourself that favor… and don’t be like me.

BEC - 83 (8/31/2010)
FAR - 85 (11/30/2010)
AUD - 82 (2/27/2011)
REG - 87 (5/31/2011)

[Need a Napa]

Well I guess it was worth all of the hassle… 82!! I can't believe scores came out on a Sunday!!

BEC - 83 (8/31/2010)
FAR - 85 (11/30/2010)
AUD - 82 (2/27/2011)
REG - 87 (5/31/2011)

[firehouse]

Congratulations! It sucks what you went through, but thankfully it was all worth it cause you passed 🙂

[Anonymous]

Congrats on passing!

Thanks for the post – just received notice that my license expires next month and I that I had also scheduled an exam on the same day. Talk about being focused on finding a good time for the exam – did not notice I had selected my birthday until I had finished acheduling the test. Did not want to take an exam at 5:30 PM. I will make sure to renew this week and take my passport for backup!

[Anonymous]

Im so glad to hear that you passed after all that mess!!!!

I would remind everyone to pay attention to the 10 minute time limit that starts once you click through the first welcome screen at Prometric! For some reason I didn't see the 10 minutes warning message on the first screen, and my test got timed out before I had even made it through to the actual test. I was devestated, and pleaded with prometric and was assigned a case number at NASBA, but no one ever called me back, and I ended up having to pay again and retake in the next window. I really with they would put a countdown timer in those first intial screens!!!

[St.Rome]

Congrats “Need a Napa”. Best of luck on REG. – REG was the first test I took in this month 4/2011, then BEC at EOMay. I am at step 1 on this long CPA journey. Need to pass all the 4 sections AND work under a CPA for 2 years per CA rqmts. ‘hope to find a firm that has a CPA to work for.

Rome Esparrago, EA

American Canyon, CA

[Author]

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