[saucesah]

For those who are taking the exams while working in public or industry, do you feel like your experience has helped you? If so, how much would you say contributed to your success in studying and taking the exams? On the contrary, how much has it hindered your ability to study (busy season, etc.)?

Today, I became a cool kid.

AUD - Passed
REG - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed

[taxgeek83]

It's rough as far as trying to get quality study time in, but definitely helps as far as the material goes. I've worked in tax for about 7 years and have REG in two days – I definitely still have to study, but don't have to spend nearly as much time on the tax stuff as others do. Conversely, I've heard of folks not having to study as much for some of the other parts by virtue of their experience in those areas, whereas I've had to study more to get that material down.

[taxgeek83]

It's rough as far as trying to get quality study time in, but definitely helps as far as the material goes. I've worked in tax for about 7 years and have REG in two days – I definitely still have to study, but don't have to spend nearly as much time on the tax stuff as others do. Conversely, I've heard of folks not having to study as much for some of the other parts by virtue of their experience in those areas, whereas I've had to study more to get that material down.

[Hammer]

It definitely helps and it definitely sucks. Working full time in public and studying at the same time is the worst thing ever. Who wants to go to work and do accounting for 8-9 hours then come home and do 2 more hours of accounting and then put in 10-15 hours of accounting in on the weekend. Wayyyy too much accounting. But it definitely helps, it gives you a really strong base level of knowledge to start with.

FAR - 70, 81
AUD - 83
BEC - 77
REG - 70, 78

Licensed in Ohio.

Now what the hell do I do?

[Hammer]

It definitely helps and it definitely sucks. Working full time in public and studying at the same time is the worst thing ever. Who wants to go to work and do accounting for 8-9 hours then come home and do 2 more hours of accounting and then put in 10-15 hours of accounting in on the weekend. Wayyyy too much accounting. But it definitely helps, it gives you a really strong base level of knowledge to start with.

FAR - 70, 81
AUD - 83
BEC - 77
REG - 70, 78

Licensed in Ohio.

Now what the hell do I do?

[Anonymous]

I feel like it helped me out with entries a little bit.

(I work at a small local cpa firm)

but for the most part, not really

[Anonymous]

I feel like it helped me out with entries a little bit.

(I work at a small local cpa firm)

but for the most part, not really

[saucesah]

I've been working throughout my exam experience and feel that it has helped to a certain extent similar to what @taxgeek83 mentioned previously. Studying for NPO and Govtl wasn't as bad as some people mention, but perhaps that's because a handful of assignments are those types of clients. I thought basic concepts helped in REG, but doing actual calculations was a joke… does NASBA not know there are tax programs that do the calculations for us?! Having plenty of audit assignments at work helped in audit – again, basic concepts and what not… Work experience is not applicable to BEC, nor life in general, IMO.

But, I agree with @MCHammer, studying through busy season, or attempting to study is brutal. It leaves you brain dead and a not-so-happy spouse. Your house becomes a mess, you no longer have clean clothes nor clean dishes… your life is basically a complete sh!t-show.

Today, I became a cool kid.

AUD - Passed
REG - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed

[saucesah]

I've been working throughout my exam experience and feel that it has helped to a certain extent similar to what @taxgeek83 mentioned previously. Studying for NPO and Govtl wasn't as bad as some people mention, but perhaps that's because a handful of assignments are those types of clients. I thought basic concepts helped in REG, but doing actual calculations was a joke… does NASBA not know there are tax programs that do the calculations for us?! Having plenty of audit assignments at work helped in audit – again, basic concepts and what not… Work experience is not applicable to BEC, nor life in general, IMO.

But, I agree with @MCHammer, studying through busy season, or attempting to study is brutal. It leaves you brain dead and a not-so-happy spouse. Your house becomes a mess, you no longer have clean clothes nor clean dishes… your life is basically a complete sh!t-show.

Today, I became a cool kid.

AUD - Passed
REG - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed

[taxgeek83]

Ha – I agree with the BEC part. I'm sure some of it is applicable, especially if you're in the manufacturing sector, but as far as the IT stuff?! If I'm on the phone with clients telling them that their tax return hasn't been filed yet because my entire computer system just went kaput, I'm pretty sure my telling them what a hot and cold site are, what sort of network I have (LAN, WAN, who cares?!) and whatever else was in that section are going to do little to nothing to appease them. They just want to know when their tax return is going to be filed, and I'm going be on the phone with a wonderful IT expert who is going to make that happen! End of story.

[taxgeek83]

Ha – I agree with the BEC part. I'm sure some of it is applicable, especially if you're in the manufacturing sector, but as far as the IT stuff?! If I'm on the phone with clients telling them that their tax return hasn't been filed yet because my entire computer system just went kaput, I'm pretty sure my telling them what a hot and cold site are, what sort of network I have (LAN, WAN, who cares?!) and whatever else was in that section are going to do little to nothing to appease them. They just want to know when their tax return is going to be filed, and I'm going be on the phone with a wonderful IT expert who is going to make that happen! End of story.

[Author]

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