[OnMyWay732]

Just curious…for those who passed, or are passing soon…when do you add CPA to your title? Your Name, CPA

As soon as you find out you passed #4? Once you get your certificate?

AUD - July 2014 - 76
REG - August 2014 - 82
FAR - November 2014 - 78
BEC - January 2015 - 81

DONE!!!!

Used Becker online. Who needs a text when you can burn your eyes out staring at the screen for months on end?

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you're hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!"

[taxgeek83]

I'm a little confused too – maybe it's an LA thing? I think I remember Kricket saying she was starting her own firm though. I am pretty sure firms in my state have to have a firm permit to perform attest engagements. Their employees should just have to have their own individual permits though I think?

Regardless, @Kricket – Are you able to sign “CPA” after your name on a tax return? Or is it an all or nothing kind of deal until your firm permit goes through? I'm pretty sure I also remember you saying how much you love taxes…. 😉

[Anonymous]

Typically, all of this is handled in a matter of a couple of weeks. But my former “partner” (please read that word in the smart @$$ sarcastic tone it is intended), added my license number to his firm permit. But we were never partners because I didn't sign the partnership agreement. So long story short, I'm terrified to do anything that the board might see as wrong or potentially license jerking. I can't get the IRS to give me an ERO because, guess what? my SSN is attached to his ERO as a designated individual. So I've done a few tax returns, for free, because I don't want to push the “Paid Preparer” thing even though I have a PTIN. It's all a huge cluster and I'm just sitting here waiting for others to decide my fate. I didn't do anything wrong so I'm not worried about that, but I don't want to take any chances now. I took everyone's advice and talked to an attorney and he said we did not have a verbal contract because we lacked a “meeting of the minds”. Meaning he intended for me to keep his daughter employed for 10 years and I had no intention of keeping her employed 10 minutes. No meeting of the minds, no verbal contract.

On the upside, my office is 95% complete. Nothing else to do so my wonderful, talented, brilliant husband finished up what he needed to do, a wonderful friend helped me paint, and the carpet was installed yesterday. I just need a firm permit so that I can give the company doing my sign the go ahead.

The moral of this story is that once you get a license number, guard it like it's the last case of beer during a hurricane evacuation. Anyone can go online and look it up, it's a matter of public record, so I don't mind leaving it in my signature on here, but from now on, I TRUST NO ONE!!!

[Tncincy]

Oh man…it was mercy that you got from under this sudo partner….but tell me this or I can email you….How do I change over my bookkeeping and tax business (after I pass of course). I've been in business for 18 years and I want to stay on my own, but I need some audit or cpa experience I guess. I am checking with the tn board to see what I need to do. I was going to sign up with this accounting firm building company, now I don't know…..Your story is amazing….can you get damages? this guy really screwed you over…..

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[lsutigers03]

I passed my last exam in September of 2014. Everyone I knew called me a CPA after I told them I passed my last exam and I always corrected them and said I wasn't just yet. Then four months later I received my official license number and I could legally call myself a CPA. So until your state approves you and you get a license number you can't legally call yourself a CPA.

REG - 78
BEC - 74, 67, 69, 69, 70, 79
FAR - 76
AUD - 69, 69, 69, 74, 85

Licensed Louisiana CPA

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein

[leglock]

how many of you will admit to adding it to your preprinted name on your personal checks?

[Anonymous]

I only use about 2 checks per month, totally not worth the effort. 😛

[ScarletKnightCPA]

You guys are mostly correct but not completely. There are a few states left that are 2 tier states where you get a cpa certificate after passing. With this cpa certificate you can hold yourself out to be a cpa . my understanding is that this used to be the norm until the 90s and early 2000s

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[mla1169]

Even with a certificate, you have to wait until it is official with the state to call yourself a CPA, you still don't get to use the title just because you passed the exams.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[taxgeek83]

I don't think you get a certificate just for passing the exams…. Montana is a two-tier state, and you have to specifically apply for the certificate. In addition, it does not allow you to hold yourself out as a CPA. I'm guessing it just looks good on a resume and is a placeholder until you can meet the experience requirement to be able to apply for a permit.

That said, there's a bill going through the legislature this session to make Montana a one-tier state, and my guess is that it will pass.

[Author]

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