[joyflying]

On my application form, there is a “notarization” section that confuses me. I don’t know what to put in there and am wondering whether this whole section should be filled out by someone else (since the signature section is “notary public signature” accompanied by “commission expires date”). Anyone has any ideas of this? Thanks

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[Missy]

The only person who can do that is a Notary Public. If you don't know any Notaries, your bank should have someone on staff who can do it for you. You'll need ID for the Notary to do it. Don't sign it until you are in front of the Notary. Most will understand if you sign in advance but technically you're not supposed to. They'll also need to stamp and emboss it. Also most notaries will do it for free but they are allowed to charge a nominal fee ( I think the limit is $2 which is why most don't bother).

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

[joyflying]

@mla11692 So I should have this section filled out before I submit my app it seems. Yet, I don't think I know any of the notaries – are they supposed to be lawyers? If I don't have notaries, I can have my bank do it? This is confusing because this is in the “criminal charge” section (last section on page 6 for the non-reporting app). They have a similar section on page 3, which I think I don't need to fill it out.

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[Missy]

No you don't have to be a lawyer to be a notary but I believe many lawyers are. Go to your bank and ask if they have a notary on staff. You may even work with someone who is a notary and not know it (I've got my application to be one in my drawer but too lazy to drive to boston to take the test.)

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

[golfball7773]

You need to take it to a notary – only a notary can fill in that info and they need to witness you sign the paperwork.

Your paperwork will not be valid until it is notarized.

FAR: 63, 55, 62
REG: 65, 77*
AUD: Fail, 64, 71
BEC: 72, 74, 81

*expired

[joyflying]

@mla11692 I don't even know where I can get one if my bank cannot do it. And my boyfriend's dad is a lawyer, can I ask him to fill this out for me? Or does it have to be an independent third party to fill this out?

How long does the AECR and the license app took you (if you can still remember)?

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[Missy]

When I was licensed there was no AECR yet, that came about a year later. Yes if your boyfrends dad is a notary, he can do it or I am sure he knows who could.

The MA board meets ten times a year. Their meeting dates are posted on their website. As long as you have all of your information to them ten BUSINESS days (2 weeks) before their next meeting you get approved at that meeting. If not you have to wait until the next board meeting. I know they just had a meeting on June 18 so it should be mid july before their next one. I submitted my application on 2/24/12 and was approved at their 3/10/12 meeting had my license number on the 11th.

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

[y_u_no_pass]

Most banks will have one but you can google or yellow pages for a notary. I had something notarized at a fed ex store once. It cost $10 though. But nominal in the scheme of things. It was a lot when I was 16. Anyway the person doesn't have to be independent from you it just can't be you. And has to be a notary public.

Florida CPA!
Took final exam 2/25/15.
Sent in Application 3/12/15.
Issued License 3/20/15.
Used CPA Excel solely for all exams.

[Missy]

Actually there is no July meeting. https://www.mass.gov/ocabr/licensee/dpl-boards/pa/calendar-for-board.html Looks like Aug 20 is the next meeting so you'd want to have everything in before Aug 10.

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

[joyflying]

Thanks for the information everyone! All valuable information!

@mla11692 That is lucky of you. I have to go through both CED and AECR evaluation, which might take a month to 1.5 months to happen, and then submit my app. But since the board does not meet in July, it might be favorable to me then! Hopefully I can send in my app before their August one!

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[Anonymous]

Im a notary. I'll even do it for free. The plane tickets might be expensive, though. And yeah, don't touch that section, dont even sign it without the notary present.

[Anonymous]

PS being a notary is nothing – a few hour class, a simple online test, pay a small fee, done. My work needed a notary so i did it in a day. Not to be confused with lawyers! 🙂 even ethics was a lot harder than the notary exam.

[Anonymous]

Joyflying……………..CONGRATS on passing all of the exams!! I'm super impressed with your scores! I'm still struggling with BEC and FAR so any advice would be appreciated!

I have a question, if you don't mind. What information does the document showing you passed all 4 parts contain? Does it just show “credit” for each one or does it give your scores? Also does it give the date that you passed each exam? When (and yes I'm saying “when” because I'm determined) I pass all of them, I will have to provide the information to HR in order to get my bonus, so I'm just curious.

Thanks and congrats again…………..I would be over the moon!

[Missy]

Coloradoit in ma you can't do the test online, have to haul your cookies into Boston to take it. I've got everything ready to go, had an attorney sign it (are you required to get an attorney signature on the application in Colorado?) Just haven't made my appointment because I loathe Boston.

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

[Anonymous]

@joyflying The company you work for may even have one. At the relatively small CPA firm I work for both of the department admins are notaries. Do some asking around, one might be closer than you think!

[joyflying]

@coloradorit Haha if you happen to be on a vacation here, then welcome! And can you notarize yourself? Probably not?

@ArkansasCPASumDay I checked everything on my CPA central since I have not received anything else from the board yet. It just shows your score, your status (credit), score receive date and expiration date for each of the sections that you sat for. It should be exactly the same as the one that you can see on your CPA central – there is nothing different except that all four sections of information will be on it.

FAR is my strength, so I actually did not put much effort in it. But I would say stick with the textbook (if you also use Becker), and practice and summarize MCQ as much as possible. Same thing with BEC. And I believe that BEC has some content that AUD addresses too. Looks like you have a pretty decent score on AUD, it should be pretty easy for you to nail BEC.

FAR - 93 (08/24/2014 - First down!)
AUD - 91 (11/21/2014 - Second down!!)
BEC - 90 (02/26/2015 - Third down!!!)
REG - 94 (05/29/2015 - Touch down!!!!!)

Here comes my touch down!
Certified in MA (08/2015)

[Author]

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