[Anonymous]

I recently encounter a dilemma where having passed the exams (May 2013) and the ethics component exam, I am now one step away from gaining my CPA license, however, the CPA who I had plan to verify my experience is unable to do so (I’m from the Caribbean where CPA’s are rare and the person who I had contacted his CPA license is inactive).

I am going thru Washington State and there requirement is that the person have 5 years of post CPA experience, has an active license, can verify the person, and the person necessarily do not have to be a supervisor.

As such, I’m wondering if you know of anyone who would not have a problem verifying my experience as a Washington state candidate? Or of someone who have done this before?

[RockMeRock]

mla1169,

As far as I know, the Board hasn't said that you the CPA has to know the person, but that's a good question to get clarified.

I think becoming a CPA shouldn't be dependent on who you know and what kind of connections you have.

[mla1169]

Rock, you aren't understanding the purpose then. Has nothing to do with who you know or your connections. Has to do with someone who is qualified to say that you have practical experience to justify your title. Yes passing the exam shows that academically you more than know your stuff, but being able to apply that knowledge in the real world says a lot too.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Rock, you aren't understanding the purpose then. Has nothing to do with who you know or your connections. Has to do with someone who is qualified to say that you have practical experience to justify your title. Yes passing the exam shows that academically you more than know your stuff, but being able to apply that knowledge in the real world says a lot too.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[tough_kitty]

…or not to apply that knowledge in some cases…. Unfortunately, those people are already CPAs which makes me question the meaning of the license…. But oh well. That's life….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

…or not to apply that knowledge in some cases…. Unfortunately, those people are already CPAs which makes me question the meaning of the license…. But oh well. That's life….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Anonymous]

I saw on another forum that if you had the mental fortitude to pass the CPA exams then ANY hurdle can be overcome (eg. preservation). So I took a look at my options and decided to try one of those states that give a CPA certificate (albiet inactive, i.e. I would not be able to sign off on accounts) so at least I have the actual papers in my hand when I meet recruiters. Furthermore, if and when I have the need for a license then I can get my Masters degree and register with Massachusetts, since, in the Caribbean finding someone with a CPA License (the ones I know have the CPA certificates not licenses) is very difficult. I've read all your comments and thanks for your input it helped my decision making.

[Anonymous]

I saw on another forum that if you had the mental fortitude to pass the CPA exams then ANY hurdle can be overcome (eg. preservation). So I took a look at my options and decided to try one of those states that give a CPA certificate (albiet inactive, i.e. I would not be able to sign off on accounts) so at least I have the actual papers in my hand when I meet recruiters. Furthermore, if and when I have the need for a license then I can get my Masters degree and register with Massachusetts, since, in the Caribbean finding someone with a CPA License (the ones I know have the CPA certificates not licenses) is very difficult. I've read all your comments and thanks for your input it helped my decision making.

[letsrun4it]

This is a bump to an old post to point out this issue still remains. In WA you are allowed to work not just in public accounting but also in any industry/academia to achieve your experience. So many of us are left without an obvious CPA to sign off on our experience. I have contacted the CPAs I know loosely and they are unwilling to help me because they mistakenly believe what Jeff posted on here that you had to supervise the experience yourself. This may be the case in other states but not in WA. Of course I was familiar with this rule before signing up for the exam so it's extremely frustrating to pass the exam and be in this position. These people I have asked are unwilling to call the board of accountancy and verify this information themselves. I am now going to go Door to Door until a CPA is willing to help me.

If the experience component is so important, why doesn't the CPA board just verify it themselves? They don't just take a signed affidavit that says you passed the exam do they? No.

Just venting.

BEC: 85
REG: 74, 78
AUD: 86
FAR: October?

[.]

@letsrun4it Do you live in Washington?

FAR - June 2016 - 88
REG - July 2016 - 89
AUD - Aug 2016 - review phase currently
BEC - Sep 2016 -

Wiley CPA Excel & Ninja MCQ

[Nancy]

Can't you still have someone who is inactive sign off? I called the AICPA a few years ago to make sure and they said the person just had to have a CPA and does not have to be active or your employer. Is this still true? The people on the phone kept having to transfer me to other people because they didn't seem to know a specific answer which seems weird.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

[Missy]

Nancy depends on the state. In some states the person who signs the experience doesn't need to have ever been a CPA, in others they must be active in that specific state.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

@letsrun4it My state (KY) has similar rules to WA in that the CPA need not be a supervisor. IIRC, there's some wording like “must be familiar with the applicant's work”. I've never worked for a CPA, so I had a CPA lined up that knew I'd truly worked for the year etc. but wasn't my manager. He was a little hesitant since he wasn't sure if I could sign it, so I emailed my state board with a brief description of how I knew him/how he knew my work and asked them to confirm that he could sign, and they replied back that he could, which when he saw he was OK. Perhaps you could do something similar with the CPAs you know?

In general, I imagine the signing CPAs would want to have some acquaintance with the person and his/her work, even if it's not required.

[Author]

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