[italianCPA]

Hi everybody!

Finally, after a fight with the California CBA, they did recognize 16 accounting credits from my italian universities (undergrad and grad). I am taking an extra 10 at a local community college in LA and will be done in a couple of weeks.

If the school sends the official transcripts around June 10, how long will it be till they approve my application, get the approval, pay NASBA fees (for FAR and BEC for now) and get the NTS?

I plan on sitting for FAR at the end of July and for BEC at the end of August.

I started to study FAR this week and I’m confident I’ll be able to sit for it in the next window.

Sounds doable?

In my experience, the California CBA reminded me A LOT of italian burocracy, which is NOT good….

Thanks!

FAR - 7/26/10 - 95
AUD - 8/10/10 - 88
BEC - 8/31/10 - 88
REG - 10/15/10 - 95

[Anonymous]

I am in CA and my experience is that the first time application process could take 1.5- 2 months to actually be able to schedule.  Make sure you choose “email” as your contact method in your California CPA account, that could make the response time shorter. 

If you really want to take FAR and BEC in Quarter 3, they might both end up in August.  But as long as you are prepared, there shouldn't be any problem taking both sections in the same month. 

[Trojan.CPA]

I agree with angelfish. You should choose email as your contact method.

I graduated in December and I was able to send my official transcripts by January 15th. I got approved via email on the 26th of February, paid my NTS and by the next day I was able to schedule Audit on the 4th of March (this was unusual because they added a week to the regular window due to the snow they had in NY)

I was studying with Becker and I was preparing myself for such a situation and thank God it worked as I planned.

And my recommendation would be to study a lot for FAR from the day you finish your classes so you can be prepared to go and take the exam on the same week that you get approved (I imagine this would be during the first week of August). And then you will have a couple of weeks to cram for BEC and take it at the end of August.

I know that it is doable, I haven't done anything else other than study for the last 3 months. I passed 2 already and I am waiting for the scores of FAR and REG.

Good luck!

AUD-79 (3/4/10), REG 84 (4/9/10), FAR 84 (4/22/10), BEC 89 (5/7/10)
Using Becker and studying full-time for the CPA

[italianCPA]

I sent in my application in March because I didn't know how many accounting credits they would recognize. They started with 5, after a fight I got to 16 (my school from Italy sent official transcript already in English, a lot was lost in translation, as you can imagine).
They already have my file, I paid the fee, they just need to upgrade my credits once they receive these new transcript. They told me it should take a week, but I'm not so sure.
Anyways, I do consulting from home (just moved from NY) and I have lots of free time, that's why I'm starting with the beast (FAR). I'm using the wiley book and I'm getting 80% of the MCQ right. Sounds too good to be true and it probably is. Are becker's MCQ much more difficult?
Also, in your experience, if I take FAR at the end of July, should I just try REG instead of BEC at the end of August or is it too demanding to prepare in less than a month?
I know everybody has different backgrounds…. I worked as financial controller and director of finance in industry for the last 6 years. I know for sure AUD will be the hardest part for me since I've never done it. That's why FAR and BEC sound more familiar to me. No idea about REG…

FAR - 7/26/10 - 95
AUD - 8/10/10 - 88
BEC - 8/31/10 - 88
REG - 10/15/10 - 95

[Trojan.CPA]

I don't know if Becker's MCQ are harder than Wiley's, but I know that they are harder than the actual exam. I got 69 in my practice test the day before I sat for Audit and I ended up with a 79.

I have almost no experience, I interned as an IT Auditor at a Big 4 last summer, so my actual experience on audits is close to none. I feel that Becker prepares you well for all the exams except for REG (in that exam I got one complete simulation on a topic not covered by Becker as they should)

AUD-79 (3/4/10), REG 84 (4/9/10), FAR 84 (4/22/10), BEC 89 (5/7/10)
Using Becker and studying full-time for the CPA

[laserglare]

Two questions.

1. Are we supposed to send in our transcripts first and then pay the application remittance, or can we do all at the same time?

I was advised two contradicting options by the CBA…(california board)

First time I called, they said to send the transcripts first and then send my application remittance with the 100 dollars after they receive ALL of my transcripts because it will be quicker

Second time I called, they said to send the remittance form via mail and pay ASAP because it does not matter.

I am trying to sit for the exam as soon as possible, I am ready. I sent in my last few transcripts June 19th, and the two of them haven't arrived yet.

2. Can anyone give a range of an estimation of when I can start sitting for the exams. I have not mailed in my application or fee of 100 for first timers but I've sent in all my transcripts ~2 weeks ago. I am waiting until they receive all of my transcripts but i'm thinking of just sending in the application now. I am thinking about taking the gmat since I have some spare time, I'm expecting another month before I can sit.

[SeattleAccountant]

@laserglare

Application + fees are all being submitted at the same time simultaneously with transcripts being requested to be sent directly to BoAcc from the schools. Again, all of this is done around same time. Once all the required paperwork is in, BoAcc will contact you and let you know that u can pay exam fees and after that, you will be given permission (NTS: notice to schedule) your actual exam. It can take some time. Better send the remaining paperwork ASAP if you want sooner results!

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[laserglare]

darn it! …gonna go to post office tomorrow and rush the mail.

Assuming I do some 3-day shipping plan and mail the application and fee out, and they have all my transcripts and receive my application payment by Friday, how much time am I looking at before I am given NTS permission in California.

[laserglare]

So all of my transcripts are in and my application fee will arrive on Friday, July 5th, From this point on, can anyone give me an estimated timeline on how long it will take to receive an NTS.

Is it about 3 weeks now?

I ask because if its still about 5+ weeks, then I will go ahead and take the GMAT next week, if its within 3 weeks, then I'll keep studying and take the GMAT later.

Any predictions will be helpful, thanks!

[foreverstudying]

May 21st – submitted NASBA application and requested my school send my official transcript

May 22nd – transcript confirmation from my school stating it would be send in 3-5 business days

June 3rd – received confirmation to sit for the exam

June 5th – received NTS via email

June 6th – scheduled first exam for July 12th

not sure how fast it works in California but it was a relatively quick process for me over here in Jersey. hope that helps!

FAR - 70, 83
REG - 82
BEC - 78
AUD - 76

[Author]

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