[NotAgain]

Ok fellow Ninjas, I have a question for you. If someone told you that they had taken the CPA exam and passed all four parts, but decided not to go forward and get their actual certificate/license because they didn’t want to bother with having to deal with the annual CPE requirements, what would you think? When I asked why they didn’t consider this before taking the exam, the answer was that it was more about “having fun studying with my study group.”

Truth or BS???

[NotAgain]

@samdiego….I almost snarfed up my lemonade when I read your comment! SO TRUE!!

[mla1169]

Thank you. Considering I've been a a CPA for over 2 years I am well aware of what a non reporting license means. And while you are correct that the only time the type of license needs to be disclosed is if asked to sign off on financial statements I would never even consider putting the words “fully licensed” next to my CPA. That implies something much different than what I am since I can perform most but not all functions that a CPA can.Besides anybody with half a clue in the world looks at my resume and quickly figures out I have no public experience and questions my license. Anybody who can't figure that out is not in a position (I.e.hiring manager) where it even matters to then what my credentials are.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

If he did this for the attention of a girl then that's just sad.

[John Tucker]

MLA,

To each their own, why did you even complete the CPA Exam if you weren't going to use it for marketing and branding? I work in Commercial Finance, my intentions are putting the CPA behind my name for further credibility.

When it comes to the experience component, each State has their own different requirements. Some states require 120 credit hours to be licensed, some require 150, are those licensed out of the State that required 120 hours some how “lower quality” CPAs than those that are licensed in the 150 credit hour states? In this case, some states require 1,000 hours under a CPA and 2 years experience, some require 1 year of experience, some require NO experience with a graduate degree (State of MA and CO as well I believe). So are those that are licensed in states that require 1 year experience or no experience somehow lower quality CPAs than those that are licensed in the 2 year experience states?

If you are licensed as a CPA by a State Board……that's it…..you are a full fledged CPA, period.

Now, for the job you are applying for in particular of course you will need to come to the table with the “full package” of relevant experience, education, etc. So if you are going to work in public accounting you need experience to get a job period, no matter if you are a CPA or not. If you are like myself, and work in Commercial Finance or another Finance role and not a direct Accounting role, we don't need public accounting experience but instead Commercial Finance experience.

This also pinpoints the broad overview of what a CPA is and does. A CPA is not just a Tax or Auditing guy, nor a guy that crunches numbers and compiles financial statements. A CPA is also a business manager and business consultant, which is what I am.

* State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
- BEC: Sunday, August 24th
- FAR: Saturday, November 29th
- AUD: TBA for February 2015
- REG: TBA for May 2015

[mla1169]

Who says I don't use my non reporting license for marketing myself? I'm just not pretentious about it. I don't mislead people and I hardly think a non reporting license is useless. It's a great differentiator exactly as it is. And honestly presenting it exactly as it is has still opened doors for me.

I'm far enough along professionally that my experience is far more beneficial than any license ever could be. I was already halfway through my M.S. Acctg before I even considered sitting for the CPA and because I happen to be from a state that offers a non reporting license it was low hanging fruit for me. I am far too old to go back now to an entry level position just to get the public experience to have a full license (full, by the way, means no restrictions. The state of MA differentiates between a full license and a non reporting license, its right there on the license application) and didn't have to seek out another state than where I live just to be able to say I'm a CPA. The types of jobs that want me are controller and CFO positions all while being up front that my license is not a full license. I then go on to explain that as the Controller I wouldn't be able to sign off as auditing my own work, so it has no bearing that my license is not full. Humility goes pretty far when you're the highest accounting position in a company and dealing with non accounting professionals.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[ScarletKnightCPA]

I don't get why learning for the sake of learning is sad and a waste of time and life?

Would it be better if his or her hobby was drinking beer and watching the game?

I actually enjoy challenging myself with school and education and surrounding myself with other like minded individuals, maybe they are not necessarily enjoying it though.

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

[Valerie_Jo]

@ScarletKnightCPA…..yes, yes it would, lol.

FAR: 84
BEC: 88
REG: 33 (winged it, bad plan), 77
AUD: 72 ,72, 81 FINALLY DONE!!!!!!

WI Ethics Exam Passed - 92!!!!

Licensed CPA in WI

[Anonymous]

I don't think learning for the sake of learning is sad and a waste of time at all. I love learning new things and can imagine myself taking more classes that are nonbusiness/nonaccounting classes when I'm done with this. But you could easily learn without going through the exam process. And the way this guy described it was that he wanted to stay in his study group to have fun, not that he was in this for the sake of learning. In actuality if he were in it for the sake of learning then the CPE credits would not have been a negative against continuing, they would have been a positive because you get to continue learning through the CPE. His reasoning just doesn't make sense so I think there is more to the story.

[ScarletKnightCPA]

Maybe he wanted to go through th eexam process to test his knowledge? Maybe he wants to move on to the next subject of study and doesn't want to be bogged down by CPE classes. It doens't seem far fetched to me.

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

[MikeHoncho]

^^ I feel the same way. No need to judge someone we never met. It's not sad or pathetic for whatever reason he chose to take the CPA exam. I'm not trying to fuel a fire or start a drama thread. I'm just saying if you meet the requirements to take the exam you should be able to do so without being called a loser.

Done: 5/22/14

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."
- Ernest Hemingway

[Anonymous]

That's possible. I guess I just feel like if that were the case he would have stressed that instead of “having fun studying with his study group”. Whatever his reasons, it feels kind of shady to play off the exam as trivial to someone currently going through it and to add that there is no way to prove whether or not he is lying since you can't prove who has passed a test, you can only prove who has a license. Seems sketchy to me. But to each his own.

[ScarletKnightCPA]

Well you could demand his score report if you really wanted to investigate it.

Honestly, my future after the exam and my masters, I see myself getting associate degrees in subjects that interest me during my free time, like math and physics or languages on a part time basis as a hobby unless I decide to do a side business as a hobby instead.

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

[Anonymous]

Yep–That's my plan too, Spanish is what I would choose first. I live in Florida and have so many friends that are from Spanish speaking countries. I would love to be able to talk to them in their native language.

[ScarletKnightCPA]

BTW, Good luck tomorrow on your last section of the exam CPA Mommyof3!

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

[Anonymous]

Thanks scarlet!! Good luck to you on your next exam!

[Author]

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