[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am currently trying to apply for the CPA via the old Pathway 1 which requires 2 years of experience. I passed the CPA exam in 2013 and have been trying to fulfill the 2 years of experience ever since and I have until 12/31/2015 to submit all necessary paperwork to qualify for the old Pathway, so I am panicking a little bit right now. I started working at my current firm since the beginning of February 2014, so if i’m not mistaken, I am missing one month to fulfill the 2 years of work experience. Lucky for me, I worked part-time at another accounting firm in 2011 and I believe those time should fill the gap. The issue is the supervisor and manager I worked under when I was there are no longer with the firm, can I still obtain my work experience from someone within that firm even though I didn’t work under them? I have no reliable way to find either of those supervisors now given how little time I have until the end of the year. Am I screwed? Please advise. Thanks.

[sdguy]

This sounds like California. The experience form requires 2 signatures: 1.) One from the CPA, and 2.) One from the owner, if the CPA is not the firm owner.

So the answer to your question is no. You can't do it without a CPA signature.

AUD: 83
FAR: 77
REG: 86
BEC: 86

[silvermoon]

You sound like me. Definitely in CA. I actually passed the CPA exam way back in 2013 as well, passed PETH in 2014, and put off the application forms until last month when I realized the grandfather clause was set to expire at the end of this year. But I did have the experience so it was more that I lacked the urge to finish things.

I agree with sdguy that you generally need both a CPA and the owner/partner (w/ CPA license) to sign off unless you can get just the owner/partner to sign. I actually recommend contacting the HR department ASAP to see if any owners/partners (with CPAs) at your old firm would be willing to sign off your form. You might get lucky, and someone will agree to sign off. I think this is how they do things at the bigger firms like the Big Four since retention is always an issue.

I think you are running out of time though. CA CBA has made it clear that in order to qualify under the old pathways, they have to consider your application complete (i.e. have everything) by 12/31/15. You will definitely have to make sure that anything mailed is received on time. That includes the experience form. Is there any chance you can qualify under Pathway 2 (do you have 150 credits)? I chose that pathway as it allows better reciprocity with other states if I ever need it in the future. Also, because I was paranoid about meeting the deadline, I certified mailed everything. Good luck!

Results from cramming every single time:
AUD - 76 (05/25/13)
BEC - 74 (11/30/12), 84 (10/05/13) [Note: Retake because I didn't finish written portion...]
FAR - 77 (08/17/13)
REG - 86 (07/06/13)

Ethics [CA PETH] - 96% (11/18/14)

[Anonymous]

that's what I did before December 31,2015. Certified mail everything. Hope get figure crossed before January 31, 2016!:) Good luck everyone!

[Author]

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