[futureCPA12]

Its time to brag a little. How long did it take you to pass all 4 parts?

AUD - 92
BEC - 81
FAR - 76
REG - 89

Never give up!

[taxattorney]

*Planned except for the FAR retake

REG- 89
BEC- 86
AUD- 92
FAR- 74,80
DONE!!

JD, MBA, Law licensed in two states and before Tax Court

[taxattorney]

*Planned except for the FAR retake

REG- 89
BEC- 86
AUD- 92
FAR- 74,80
DONE!!

JD, MBA, Law licensed in two states and before Tax Court

[mla1169]

All right tax attorney I HAVE to know. If aliens forced you to either retake the bar or the CPA, which one would you choose? Even difficult of content aside, isn't the bar 2 consecutive days?

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

All right tax attorney I HAVE to know. If aliens forced you to either retake the bar or the CPA, which one would you choose? Even difficult of content aside, isn't the bar 2 consecutive days?

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

TaxAttorney – what states are you in? We might want to chat sometime and compare notes.

My CPA journey:

In 2007, with no study, passed BEC, failed AUD, REG, while working. I wasted money and time in hindsight – why sign up for a test that I didn't study for… the arrogance! 1L year at law school in 2008 I decided to toss the CPA exam until later, if needed. Work full-time, young family, and law school was as much as I could handle.

2013, as a “tax attorney” I decided the CPA credential was important, so I crammed and passed Reg in late August 2013, then AUD in early Oct 2013, FAR Nov 2013, and early Dec 2013 passed BEC.

My first attempt at the CPA was really no attempt I have decided. No study doesn't count. Sorry. And studying in law school and for the Bar Exam taught me how to really study for a big test, so I feel like those skills paid off during the CPA.

Now:

Licensed Attorney in NV with anticipated CPA license in January 2014, with 2.5 years Big 4, 6 years IRS. Now I just need to figure out how to market all that so that clients hear it, understand it, and are willing to pay for it.

For those who will invariably ask regarding Bar Exam and CPA – first of all, I feel like the CPA exam is harder now than it was in 2007. SOX, IFRS, sectional testing, have all combined for what is, in my opinion, a more grueling experience in comparison to earlier CPA exams. Yes, you can bite it off in smaller parts, but the amount of information required is extensive.

All that being said, I feel like the experiences between the Bar and CPA are directly comparable. I studied a total of two months for the Bar, but I studied the same amount in that two months as I did during the three-four months I did for the CPA. The difference was, during the Bar, I was at a government job and used a lot of annual leave. This meant I had a lot of time for evening and weekend study. During CPA study, I was/am working as an associate at a law firm, with nearly no leave and much higher expectations of my work product. Time management was crucial in this circumstance.

The study method I used was also similar. BAR-BRI was a video course with workbooks, essays, and MC. Yaeger with Wiley Books, Wiley Cram Books, and WTB was a close match. Based on my success with BAR-BRI, I wanted a similar study experience, and that is why I elected video + books + MC for the CPA. I like what Jeff has done with his Ninja approach, it captures the remaining learning method that video/book/MC does not – repetition and writing.

I had a great study group for the Bar, and that helped a LOT. I did not have that for CPA, and that was stressful.

One trick I used for the Bar that I applied to CPA, and seems to have worked – successive reductions and refinement of the review materials. This is what I mean:

First time through is a full read with videos, and recommended MCs.

Second time through starts immediately after first time through, and lasts until about a week prior to the test. This is budgeted for how much time I have, and consists of a reading of the text, and review of the MC, and follow-up on weak areas.

Third time through is the final week. I cover the entire test, including skimmed reading, MC, review of outline materials, and perhaps work out some mnemonics.

Fourth review is the day before/morning before the test. 2-4 hours with a crambook and my outlines, refreshing the materials and mnemonics, entire subject is covered.

Thanks for reading. Happy Studies, CPA hopefuls!

[Anonymous]

TaxAttorney – what states are you in? We might want to chat sometime and compare notes.

My CPA journey:

In 2007, with no study, passed BEC, failed AUD, REG, while working. I wasted money and time in hindsight – why sign up for a test that I didn't study for… the arrogance! 1L year at law school in 2008 I decided to toss the CPA exam until later, if needed. Work full-time, young family, and law school was as much as I could handle.

2013, as a “tax attorney” I decided the CPA credential was important, so I crammed and passed Reg in late August 2013, then AUD in early Oct 2013, FAR Nov 2013, and early Dec 2013 passed BEC.

My first attempt at the CPA was really no attempt I have decided. No study doesn't count. Sorry. And studying in law school and for the Bar Exam taught me how to really study for a big test, so I feel like those skills paid off during the CPA.

Now:

Licensed Attorney in NV with anticipated CPA license in January 2014, with 2.5 years Big 4, 6 years IRS. Now I just need to figure out how to market all that so that clients hear it, understand it, and are willing to pay for it.

For those who will invariably ask regarding Bar Exam and CPA – first of all, I feel like the CPA exam is harder now than it was in 2007. SOX, IFRS, sectional testing, have all combined for what is, in my opinion, a more grueling experience in comparison to earlier CPA exams. Yes, you can bite it off in smaller parts, but the amount of information required is extensive.

All that being said, I feel like the experiences between the Bar and CPA are directly comparable. I studied a total of two months for the Bar, but I studied the same amount in that two months as I did during the three-four months I did for the CPA. The difference was, during the Bar, I was at a government job and used a lot of annual leave. This meant I had a lot of time for evening and weekend study. During CPA study, I was/am working as an associate at a law firm, with nearly no leave and much higher expectations of my work product. Time management was crucial in this circumstance.

The study method I used was also similar. BAR-BRI was a video course with workbooks, essays, and MC. Yaeger with Wiley Books, Wiley Cram Books, and WTB was a close match. Based on my success with BAR-BRI, I wanted a similar study experience, and that is why I elected video + books + MC for the CPA. I like what Jeff has done with his Ninja approach, it captures the remaining learning method that video/book/MC does not – repetition and writing.

I had a great study group for the Bar, and that helped a LOT. I did not have that for CPA, and that was stressful.

One trick I used for the Bar that I applied to CPA, and seems to have worked – successive reductions and refinement of the review materials. This is what I mean:

First time through is a full read with videos, and recommended MCs.

Second time through starts immediately after first time through, and lasts until about a week prior to the test. This is budgeted for how much time I have, and consists of a reading of the text, and review of the MC, and follow-up on weak areas.

Third time through is the final week. I cover the entire test, including skimmed reading, MC, review of outline materials, and perhaps work out some mnemonics.

Fourth review is the day before/morning before the test. 2-4 hours with a crambook and my outlines, refreshing the materials and mnemonics, entire subject is covered.

Thanks for reading. Happy Studies, CPA hopefuls!

[taxattorney]

MLA: I personally feel like it's really a hard comparison to make.

You're right that state bars are usually 2 (or in some states 3) days. Generally they have essays testing state specific law one day (either a tuesday or a thursday depending on the state) and the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) test on the other day (a wednesday) which tests general multiple choice questions applicable in most states. The two day states generally switch whether the essays or If there is a third day, it is filled with more state specific stuff and/or the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) which is basically a research and memo writing project provided on the spot. Unlike other parts of the exam, or the CPA, the majority of the bar isn't credited to other states. Only the MBE portion (and maybe the MPT, I'm not sure because I didn't have to take it) is credited. The lack of exam score reciprocity is definitely a potential added headache the CPA exam doesn't have. The fact the bar is only offerred twice a year, that it takes a few months to get your results and that at least half the exam is state specific (could you imagine what a nightmare the CPA would be if Reg tested state tax laws?) make it particularly awful.

However, state bars don't have the nightmarish 18 month window, adaptive testing, and do generally have higher passage rates than the CPA.

My personal opinion though was that the bar was worse than the CPA exam. I had far more formal legal education than accounting but still felt more at ease taking the CPA than the bars. I think a large part of it had to do with keep straight the differences between majority and minority approaches and state specific approaches for the exams. I've had JD-CPA/JD-seeking CPA friends who have told me they've experienced it the other way around but for me the bar was worse, even more so if you consider the LSAT and law school as part of the exam process since they are prerequisites to sitting for the bar.

REG- 89
BEC- 86
AUD- 92
FAR- 74,80
DONE!!

JD, MBA, Law licensed in two states and before Tax Court

[taxattorney]

MLA: I personally feel like it's really a hard comparison to make.

You're right that state bars are usually 2 (or in some states 3) days. Generally they have essays testing state specific law one day (either a tuesday or a thursday depending on the state) and the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) test on the other day (a wednesday) which tests general multiple choice questions applicable in most states. The two day states generally switch whether the essays or If there is a third day, it is filled with more state specific stuff and/or the Multistate Performance Test (MPT) which is basically a research and memo writing project provided on the spot. Unlike other parts of the exam, or the CPA, the majority of the bar isn't credited to other states. Only the MBE portion (and maybe the MPT, I'm not sure because I didn't have to take it) is credited. The lack of exam score reciprocity is definitely a potential added headache the CPA exam doesn't have. The fact the bar is only offerred twice a year, that it takes a few months to get your results and that at least half the exam is state specific (could you imagine what a nightmare the CPA would be if Reg tested state tax laws?) make it particularly awful.

However, state bars don't have the nightmarish 18 month window, adaptive testing, and do generally have higher passage rates than the CPA.

My personal opinion though was that the bar was worse than the CPA exam. I had far more formal legal education than accounting but still felt more at ease taking the CPA than the bars. I think a large part of it had to do with keep straight the differences between majority and minority approaches and state specific approaches for the exams. I've had JD-CPA/JD-seeking CPA friends who have told me they've experienced it the other way around but for me the bar was worse, even more so if you consider the LSAT and law school as part of the exam process since they are prerequisites to sitting for the bar.

REG- 89
BEC- 86
AUD- 92
FAR- 74,80
DONE!!

JD, MBA, Law licensed in two states and before Tax Court

[taxattorney]

DeathnTaxz: Congratulations on recently passing! My bar licenses are in MA and CT. I was fortunate because I was able to take both exams (CT essays Tuesday, MBE Wednesday, MA essays Thursday) at the same time. I definitely agree with you about law studying helping with the CPA. A lot of the techniques I used to study for my parts were those I adapted from having to deal with final exams worth 100% of your final grade and with bar studying. And I also found Barbri and Becker very similar in their layout (although it's been a few years since I took Barbri so it's starting to escape my memory slowly…. except for some of the crazy lecturers on there like Paula Franseze).

Is there a specific area of tax you tend to focus on? E&G?

REG- 89
BEC- 86
AUD- 92
FAR- 74,80
DONE!!

JD, MBA, Law licensed in two states and before Tax Court

[taxattorney]

DeathnTaxz: Congratulations on recently passing! My bar licenses are in MA and CT. I was fortunate because I was able to take both exams (CT essays Tuesday, MBE Wednesday, MA essays Thursday) at the same time. I definitely agree with you about law studying helping with the CPA. A lot of the techniques I used to study for my parts were those I adapted from having to deal with final exams worth 100% of your final grade and with bar studying. And I also found Barbri and Becker very similar in their layout (although it's been a few years since I took Barbri so it's starting to escape my memory slowly…. except for some of the crazy lecturers on there like Paula Franseze).

Is there a specific area of tax you tend to focus on? E&G?

REG- 89
BEC- 86
AUD- 92
FAR- 74,80
DONE!!

JD, MBA, Law licensed in two states and before Tax Court

[mla1169]

Thanks for the interesting conversation taxattorney and deathbytaxes. I've seen a lot of “smack talk” about bar vs. CPA exams and truly feel the only credible source is someone who's actually done both. I really considered going back to school and studying law because it just fascinates me (LOVED my business law classes and felt I wanted to learn so much more!)

In the end I decided I'm too old and too tired to go back to school.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Thanks for the interesting conversation taxattorney and deathbytaxes. I've seen a lot of “smack talk” about bar vs. CPA exams and truly feel the only credible source is someone who's actually done both. I really considered going back to school and studying law because it just fascinates me (LOVED my business law classes and felt I wanted to learn so much more!)

In the end I decided I'm too old and too tired to go back to school.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[sarita]

From first test to last test, it was exactly 5 months (July 3 to Dec 3)… but of course I studied before the first test so I would say including studying time, about 6 months.

FAR 7/3/13 - 82
BEC 8/21/13 - 82
AUD 10/2/13 - 92
REG 12/3/13 - 88

DONE!!!! CA Candidate
Beat the 12/31/13 clock!

[sarita]

From first test to last test, it was exactly 5 months (July 3 to Dec 3)… but of course I studied before the first test so I would say including studying time, about 6 months.

FAR 7/3/13 - 82
BEC 8/21/13 - 82
AUD 10/2/13 - 92
REG 12/3/13 - 88

DONE!!!! CA Candidate
Beat the 12/31/13 clock!

[gt5717b]

I took 17 months from start to finish with these exams. However, I took 12 months off between my first two exams because we had twins.

Passes

July 2012 REG

July 2013 FAR

October 2013 AUD

November 2013 BEC

REG - 89
FAR - 84
AUD - 73, 86
BEC - 89

GA Licensed CPA

[Author]

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