[Demha]

Okay! I’m from Michigan and have just started my CPA journey today with the purchase of Gleim. I’ve been lurking on this site for quite sometime now and finally made a profile! I need some help.

I have a double major in Accounting and Finance and I am at the 150 credit benchmark. However, I did not take Governmental in undergrad and have signed up to take it with LSU ODL.

The thing is that LSU ODL doesn’t allow a person to take the final and complete an online course until 8 weeks has surpassed. So I started this class on November 25th and will be finished the week of January 25th. Then I must send that transcript along with my Undergrad transcript to NASBA to get my NTS. I’m a bit anxious about the whole process because I don’t know how long it will take for them to process my transcripts and if i’ll receive my NTS in time to take FAR before the Feb 28th deadline. In the state of Michigan you must have the Governmental and Not-for-Profit course completed in order to sit for the exam.

If anyone has any advice on what I shall do? I don’t want to end up studying for FAR until April. How long do you think it’ll take to process my application and send me a NTS so I can schedule before the Feb testing window is done? Is it too risky? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Gleim baby!
Grand Valley State University - '15
Accounting & Finance
FAR - 2nd Window '16

[ohiostategirlcpa]

Are you studying for FAR now, or are you studying the Gov class? It took me 4 months of studying FAR with Gleim, so between your study commitments, Feb 28 is pushing it anyway.

The best time to take the exam is when you are able (confident) to pass it, not when you schedule it. Therefore, it is not wise to even schedule it before then. So start your study now. Maybe everything will come together in Feb, maybe not. But even if you know FAR, there is AUD, REG and BEC to study for. You've got many months ahead of you, and the more you study (for any test), the easier the tests will be on test day.

F91 A95 R90 B94
CMA since 2015
(Gleim books/PDFs, MCQs, SIMS)

[Missy]

I wouldn't count on February (do you know from LSU if you'll have to wait after Jan 25 for a transcript, some schools take a few weeks after the final grade to get it transcript ready, some don't.) Even if you did get the transcript right away, and say you had your NTS within 2 weeks of that there is also the matter of finding an available appointment for an exam. Sometimes they open up last minute, sometimes the last day to test even gets pushed out a week if there are many center closings due to storms in January and February.

I'd hope for the end of February but be realistic that you're probably looking at April.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

When I took my classes through LSU ODL it was a couple years ago, so their process may be quicker, but it took at least a couple weeks to get the transcripts (I think more like 3-4 weeks IIRC). Combine that with the fact that appointments at the end of the testing window tend to fill up early and I highly doubt that you will be able to test for Feb 28. You may be lucky to have your transcript by Feb 28. So, I'd say work on your Government and Non-Profit class for now, get all the work done for it (except the final), then take a break for Christmas, then start working on FAR. Worst-case scenario, you can study for FAR for 3 months and take it Apr 1; best-case, you get your NTS by Feb 28 and take it after studying for 2 months. If you're prepared for FAR by Feb 28 but don't have the NTS, you could always do something like start studying AUD (since it overlaps a lot with FAR), then take both AUD and FAR the beginning of April. However, you'll know better whether that will work for you or not after you get into FAR and see how it's going for you. Some people are quicker at getting through the material than others, so once you start you'll know whether the 2 month timeline or the 3-4 month timeline will suit you best. 🙂

[Author]

Replies