[tjg5152]

I’m looking for some advice on how I should list the CPA on my resume. I passed all 4 sections of the CPA but no longer work in the accounting industry. Would it be misleading if i put the CPA on my resume but “(unlicensed)” or “(Unregistered) after?

[Anonymous]

Yes, it would be misleading.

[Andyred04]

I guess I'm not really understanding why you wouldn't get licensed. You worked so hard to pass the exams and now you don't want to get licensed? That doesn't make any sense. Then again, who am I to judge. I agree with dhums15, it would definitely be misleading. Maybe just put a note on your resume stating you passed all exams because you're not a CPA if you're not licensed so even putting the letters on there would be misleading. You could also just state it in a cover letter if you don't have room for it on your resume.

FAR 80
REG 87
BEC 87
AUD 96

Primarily Gleim, supplemented with Ninja Notes & Ninja MCQs

Missouri CPA as of January, 2017

FAR: 80 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
REG: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
BEC: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
AUD: 8/27/16

PA Candidate

[Anonymous]

You can add it to your resume as you would an objective line.

For example, instead of:

Objective
To get a job at XXXX

You could replace that section with:

CPA Exam
All 4 sections of the Uniform CPA exam passed. Working on license (or omit if not).

[Peterman25]

If you are not a licensed CPA then it is unethical to present yourself that way. Passing the exams does not equal CPA. You still have to complete an ethics exam and everything required by your state to be a licensed CPA. Passing the exams is the biggest hurdle.

I think that best you can do is list that you have passed all four parts of the exam. However, that should prompt people to ask why. Why did you go through all that work and then not complete the licensing process? It could sour some people looking at your resume.

BEC 7/14 - PASS
FAR 10/14 - PASS
AUD 1/15 - PASS
REG 4/15 - PASS

AZ license - Official 8/20/2015

[Spartans92]

@tjg, I agree with everyone else it will definitely be misleading to call yourself a CPA. I just dont get it though..passing the exams and not get certified. I mean I understand some dont like public accounting so they go into private and become inactive. What made you take the exams in the first place? Your situation is quite interesting IMO. I do not have any intention to offend you, so please dont take this the negative way.

BEC - 76
REG- 67, 85
AUD-63, 74, 80!!
FAR-65, 62, 57, 79

3 down 1 more to go. BEC is on the Line 🙁

BEC- PASS

[TheHoundThatRides]

I started taking the exams when I was unemployed out of college. I ended up getting a great job in government and by that time I had already passed two sections of the CPA. I have no intention of leaving my position to work under a CPA though.

Personally, I'm taking the exams just so I can have a bit of job security down the road if worst comes to worst at my current position. Also, for the personal satisfaction of knowing I took down such a huge monster of an obstacle.

I'm going to list the exam on my resume as a bullet point under education. “Successfully completed all four parts of the Uniform CPA exam.”

There are states where you can get licensed just by having any year of financial work experience. You don't have to be a resident. I will consider getting licensed that way if I really want to call myself a CPA.

BEC - 78 (August 2015)
FAR - 80 (November 2015)
AUD - 73, 67. (Ok I gotta confess I was even more lazy this time around)
REG - August 27th, 2016

[Spartans92]

@thehoundthatrides, I thought having experience in governmental accounting satisfies the requirement. At least that is what I have been told by many of my professors in my state. I also plan on working in government in the future so thats why i asked.

BEC - 76
REG- 67, 85
AUD-63, 74, 80!!
FAR-65, 62, 57, 79

3 down 1 more to go. BEC is on the Line 🙁

BEC- PASS

[marqzho]

Spartans92

It all depends on the state and the govt. agency.

REG 90
FAR 95
AUD 98
BEC 84

[tjg5152]

I do not plan on getting licensed because i am 10 credits short of 150. I started my career working in corporate finance but shortly left to work as a buyer for a online retailer. My new employer does not pay for license fees so i didn't feel like it was worth the annual fees for the CPA and CMA. I have no intention of putting the letters behind my name but wanted to list it under certificates or accomplishments and specify that I was not certified or pending certification. If a company really wanted to hire me because of the CPA, i could always just take 10 credits quick and pay the processing fees since the exams do not expire.

[TheHoundThatRides]

@Spartans92

Yes in my state, California, you can work under a CPA in government doing any financial work and it counts as experience. Sorry I was unclear. My position is in government budgeting. My issue is that I do not work under a CPA and do not think I will in the short term future.

BEC - 78 (August 2015)
FAR - 80 (November 2015)
AUD - 73, 67. (Ok I gotta confess I was even more lazy this time around)
REG - August 27th, 2016

[CPA50]

Because my suspicious brain works this way…
If I saw that on a resume, I would immediately think that the writer had a serious enough felony conviction in their past that they were not able to be licensed. It would be a huge red flag for me.

AUD - 80
BEC - 77
FAR - 80
REG - 80

3 years

+ 16 tests

+ 2 expired sections

= DONE FOREVER!

AUD 88 (expired), 80 retake
FAR 64,69,67,73,67,73,73,73, August 3
REG 75 (expired) September 7
BEC 72, 77

The adventure continues...

[TheHoundThatRides]

@CPA50

Is that in response to writing “unlicensed?” What about simply stating “passed the CPA exam” on a resume?

BEC - 78 (August 2015)
FAR - 80 (November 2015)
AUD - 73, 67. (Ok I gotta confess I was even more lazy this time around)
REG - August 27th, 2016

[jpowell31]

If you don't plan on switching jobs anytime soon, I wouldn't worry about it for now. It's definitely something you could bring up in an interview where you could provide background on how you've spent your recent months/years to show determination/commitment but putting it on your resume may just trigger questions…ones that you can bring up on your own terms in an interview, rather than either raise flags or be misleading (depending on who's actually reading your resume). If, however, you do apply for a job where the CPA would be appropriate, you may want to include a line that's not misleading by emphasizing that you're not licensed and including a couple more sentences in your cover letter.

-__-

[CPA50]

In my opinion (and it's truly just that), as an employer, I want to know what the intention and movement is behind the passing. Tell me what your next step is – Passed all exams and applied for license. Certification pending. I want to know that you are still on the journey, that taking the exams was not just a lark you did for sh*ts and giggles. I want to see the story of your career spelled out plainly, even if it has zigs. Some people just simply like to take exams with no intention of doing anything more with it. If that's the case, be prepared to explain why. “I enjoy beating myself up and taking CPA exams for fun.”
Relevance – that's the key. How is what you did (pass the exams) relevant to you, your career, your path, and to your employer.

Ok, enough ranting. I'm signing off until after my exam tomorrow 🙂

AUD - 80
BEC - 77
FAR - 80
REG - 80

3 years

+ 16 tests

+ 2 expired sections

= DONE FOREVER!

AUD 88 (expired), 80 retake
FAR 64,69,67,73,67,73,73,73, August 3
REG 75 (expired) September 7
BEC 72, 77

The adventure continues...

[taxgeek83]

“…since the exams do not expire.”

Are you absolutely sure of that? My state has a 3-year rule, and there are some states that will keep your scores indefinitely. If you've already done your due diligence though, put the exams on your resume if it will be helpful, but leave that CPA title off of it. 🙂

[Author]

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