[Jrahm]

Do you feel that years of experience in the profession helps you to do better on the exams?

[Anonymous]

Nope. LOL I have been working in fund accounting my whole accounting career. I am an assistant controller. I cannot tell you how dumb and incompetent this process makes me feel. I knew AUD was easy for me because I deal with auditors 6 months out of the year and a lot of the process and procedures was familiar and made sense to me. REG? BEC? Even FAR is completely foreign because fund accounting is a very narrow specialization. I mean I know my debits and credits and generally being familiar with financials and how they work helps, but specifically? No!

[Jrahm]

I took exams in 2012-2013 prior to getting my first job in the profession. Unfortunately i failed them at the time. I now have 5 years of public accounting experience under my belt and I’m contemplating trying again.. I’m not prepared to feel humiliated if i still struggle so many years later!

[Anonymous]

I don't think your work experience will help with all 4 exams (unless you wear all the hats in your company).

However if you work in tax, I'd say the concepts would be easier to grasp. Same with audit.

So yeah, I highly doubt any position out there will prepare you for all 4 sections. Too many topics.

[Missy]

I've been in general ledger accounting for 20 years. I passed FAR the first time doing nothing but free MCQ questions I found on the internet (thousands of them), no book, no study material. FAR was my wheelhouse, its where I live.

AUD? Yeah three attempts two review programs, read wiley cover to cover twice…probably 500 hours TOTAL for the three attempts.

So it may help on a section or two but not on all 4 by any means.

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

[Tim]

I think it helps me to understand the material and learn it as I can apply the concepts to actual things I've done at work. But I also think the whole process would have been much, much easier if I had taken the exams right out of school rather than waiting 4 years.

[Josh]

@Jrahm it's mostly an academic exam, but the reviews should help you get there especially if you're disciplined.

[Author]

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