[revan]

Hi Guys,

Thanks in advance for your advice. I am 42, with an accounting degree (from 20 years ago) and an MBA. I’ve been working in accounting/finance for the past 20 years. I’ve never worked in public but have been in VC backed startups for most of that time and have sat on the other side of the audit table for the past 20 years. Since the qualification change and introduction of the limited license I’ve been contemplating a run at the exams.

How hard is it going to be given I have no experience or fresh exposure in government accounting, tax, audit-side work? Can I reasonably expect to work through Yaeger’s Homestudy and pass? I’m at the VP level now and think having the certification would help me jump into a CFO role.

[leglock]

@greggk

I am few a years your junior and just completed the process. my degree was not in accounting and was from the late 1990's. I had to take 6 accounting classes to fulfill the 150 hour requirement to sit for the exam. i did that at the local junior college about a year ago, used becker for my review, and passed all 4 sections on the first try.

To answer your question, not having an accounting degree is not a limiting factor. You will definitely need some type of review course other than just taking college classes, in my opinion. The members of this site all have used different products. I used Becker which seems to be the most expensive, but many others are quite successful with other products.

[Tux]

GreggK –

If I understand your question correctly, the answer is yes.

You don't technically need an accounting “degree” to sit for the exam. Just take the required courses specified by your state board.

Whether the study guides are enough to prepare is different for each person. I studied for several months on my own but didn't make much progress. Once I found a couple people to provide feedback to me when I got stuck on a topic is when I started making progress.

So, consider getting involved in a study group – even if it's someone you meet online perhaps through a LinkedIn CPA study group or something. It really helps to get feedback from a live person when you have questions rather than having to figure it out on your own, which sometimes may never happen.

Good luck!

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[ijustwant76]

@greggk, yes it is.

I was 15 units short. This is what I did to get the 24. Take Becker Review for 9 Accounting credits – it's a little more expensive, but hey, it's two birds with one stone. I then took two acctg classes – Intermediate Acctg, which is a LOT like FAR, and Income, which is a LOT like REG.

[Author]

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