[Last Chance CPA]

3 years > September 7, 2012 to Aug 4th 2015.

FAR – 60,71,76

AUD – 71,71,75

BEC – 75

REG – 66,62,65,69,76

Thank you Skynet, Coloradoit, Tscape16, Erikag28, Gabe, ABinTX, rana_cali, CPAbefore40, Jeff Elliott and anyone else I forgot (I feel like I just won Best Male CPA)…

Look, I know I am no Alijah Watt Sells winner. I am just happy to have passed these exams after 3 grueling years. I have had a solid career in IT/business consulting already, so I didn’t need the CPA. I wanted it…really really bad.

Here is advice from someone who is in his mid-to-late 30s, doesn’t work in accounting, and mightily struggled with these exams.

FAR – I still think this is the beast of the exams. It is a mile wide, and an inch deep. You will have to spend the most hours studying for this section. Don’t neglect Govt and NFP, easy points that could get you a pass. I used CPAExcel for FAR. I read both CPAExcel books thoroughly (ahhh those cold Boston nights), and completed every MCQ and SIM. I also used WTB. These were the days I was still hesitant to buy Ninja products. 6-10 weeks – 120-175+ hours is what you will need…

AUD – RTMFQ!!!! The most boring of the four. I used CPAExcel and WTB. I should have passed it on the 2nd try. Work the MCQs by focusing on each of the answer choices. It will almost always come down 2 answers, and sometimes that will make you pull your hair out. The SIMs are FAR related, so make sure you take AUD after FAR…always. 4-8 weeks – 100-150+ hours is what you will need…

BEC – The easiest section for me because I have an MBA. I don’t recall using CPAExcel videos or the study text, and still passed BEC on the first try using CPAExcel MCQs/SIMs, WTB, Ninja MCQ and Ninja Notes/Audio. Ninja is really good for BEC. 4-8 weeks – 80-130+ hours is what you will need…

REG – 5 tries! What happened? This section is no joke. I used CPAExcel study text and MCQ/SIMs, WTB, Ninja Audio/Notes/MCQ, Gleim TB/SIMs and Roger Cram. The latter two put me over the hump. I think I have said this enough times on this forum, Gleim SIMs are golden! You can’t pass REG without doing well on the SIMs. 6-10 weeks – 120-150+ hours is what you will need…

Overall – There is no single review course that will do it, there is no magic pill you can use, and there is no half-assing this exam. BUT if a mid-to-late 30s, non-accountant, who is clearly not a genius, can pass this exam, so can you!!!

My wife is sick of me being on Another 71, so I will have to slowly phase myself out. But it has been a pleasure. Jeff has created a great site (and products) for all of us.

Now I am ready to continue my bucket list (CPA was number one on the list holding everything up); and I will be spending a lot more time with my wife and 1 year old baby girl…

Last Chance…CPA!!!!

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...