[Unknown]

Greetings All!

I have been on this journey on and off for over 2 years and I am officially done. I received my last score yesterday. I have some questions and I hope someone who has gone through similar process can help.

1. I live in the state of FL which allows sitting for CPA exam without having 150 credit hours. Right now, I have 138 credit hours. What is the best way to go about obtaining the remaining without getting in too much debt with a Master Degree?

2. How soon will I receive a letter from NASBA? Do I need to complete my 150 credit hours before this letter?

3. If i decide to do a major, does it have to be related to accounting? Can I just take, for example, an easy fun program?

Thank you very much in advance.

I wish everyone success. The journey is tough and can be a very emotional one if your experience is anything like mine. So, please do not give up. Keep fighting!

[Captain Awesome]

I would check the Florida requirements for what type of classes are required. I had plenty of credits because I had a Marketing degree before my Accounting degree, but had to take two masters level classes in order to meet the requirements to sit in Colorado which requires 150. I did not have to complete the masters degree.

[fsugirl2005]

I am in Florida so I'll see if I can help you.

1. You need a total of 36 credit hours of upper level accounting courses to get your CPA license in the State of Florida(community college hours not accepted). Since you have 138, I assume you only have the 24 hours typically required to graduate college? Anyway, if you still have 4 accounting courses to take, may I suggest attending Louisiana State University online or University of North Alabama? There may be other online schools but these are the only two I know of. I just enrolled in the UNA Audit II course as I am short two accounting courses.

2. I suspect you will receive your congratulatory letter for passing the exam but you will be deficient in your requirements to get your license.

3. You can major in whatever you want as long as you have those 36 credit hours of upper division accounting courses.

I wouldn't bother with a Master's degree unless you are going to be specializing in a particular area of accounting like Tax. The Masters would give you a more in depth look at the specialty.

AUD - 10/21/16 (75----07/2010 expired)
FAR - 10/28/16
BEC - 11/2016
REG - 01/2017

Using Gleim CPA Review, Ninja Audio, Ninja Book

[Skynet]

My advice is to go to the local club and drink yourself until you wake up butt naked without your wallet in a Vegas motel room with an itinary and plane tickets to Canada with some unknown female Vegas Show dancer telling you that you need to get dress quick or the both of you will miss the flight taking you guys to a Cult where they have the best Weed in the North.

[Unknown]

@Captain Awesome, thank you!

@Skynet, hahaha thank you! That is on my todo list for the weekend :))))

[Unknown]

@Fangirl2005, thank you so much!

I just found the Florida Board of Accountancy Letter I received back in 2013 and it seems i do only need 12 credits. It also seems i have met the General Business Educational Program Requirement. As for my accounting education program, i am shy of 3 credit hours. So I still need to take 1 accounting course (UGH! LOL) and some 3 others.

Here is the highlight of the letter. I am not sure how the Quarter correlate here because it says I am not deficient in credit hours per this but credit hours per semester says i do. Here you go.
Hours to sit for exam= 120 (Semester) 160 (Quarter)
Hours for Licensure= 150 (Semester) 200 (Quarter)
Total Hours Received= 138 (Semester) 0 (Quarter)
Total Hours Deficient to sit= 0 (Semester & Quarter)
Total Hours Deficient for Licensure= 12 (Semester) 0 (Quarter)

Accounting Educational Program:
Deficiency Hours to Sit = 3

General Business Educational Program:
Deficiency Hours to Sit = 0

[Unknown]

@Fangirl2005

Oh, am I able to just take these classes without them being towards a major or a minor? Would this be like a continuing education program? I remember I was forced to graduate in school because I had way too many hours so I wonder if this might affect me?

Thank you very much for your help. I really appreciate it!

[DocJ]

Now you get the education and/or experience requirements. Or just don't, up to you. Taking this exam is just one of many different steps and paths in your career. The good news is it stays forever, you never have to take the exam again (at least in most states AFAIK). If your current career isn't accounting but you want to take that direction in say 10 years, you've got your exam already done for it 😀

[thunderlips]

i second skynet response. i can only imagine what it feels like to pass one let alone four. hopefully one day i will have that feeling

[Unknown]

@Docj, you're right. I will be taking 1 course per semester so i do not overwhelm myself. I'm just trying to find the right path to take.

[Unknown]

@Thunderlips, LOL! It feels liberating. It is such a relief. I used to be tense 24/7 but now I can't even feel my shoulders because i'm so relaxed lol. Trust me, it's one of the best feeling in the world right now and I hope one day you get to feel this way too :).

[fsugirl2005]

@Unknown

You would essentially be enrolling as a non-degree seeking student whatever school you go. Unless you can go sit in a classroom for those 15 credit hours, I suggest you do an online program to finish your requirements. All Florida requires is that they be upper division courses(level 3000 and up) although I believe they have to be from a regionally accredited school, check on that. The school I enrolled in for my additional courses have a program that is geared toward CPA candidates like us who need those extra courses to meet our licensure requirements.

I was forced to graduate college too as I graduated with 140+ credit hours…lol. At one point I couldn't make up my mind what I wanted to major in, hence the extra credits.

AUD - 10/21/16 (75----07/2010 expired)
FAR - 10/28/16
BEC - 11/2016
REG - 01/2017

Using Gleim CPA Review, Ninja Audio, Ninja Book

[Unknown]

@Fsugirl2005
I can't thank you enough. I will look into those online courses. Thanks again for all your help and i wish you the very best in your exams.

[fsugirl2005]

@Unknown

You're welcome. Good luck to you!

AUD - 10/21/16 (75----07/2010 expired)
FAR - 10/28/16
BEC - 11/2016
REG - 01/2017

Using Gleim CPA Review, Ninja Audio, Ninja Book

[jeff]

Passing one section feels amazing. I passed FAR and took a year off. And then had to re-pass it. Don't do that. 🙂

[Unknown]

@Jeff

Lol! Right! I am done with all 4 sections now. I am very excited to say your audio were a huge help in that!

[Author]

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