[jamalpody]

The New Jersey State Board of Accountancy voted to extend the date to June 30, 2018, for those CPA candidates who unsuccessfully took the exam and were scheduled to lose parts of their CPA exam at the end of Q2, Q3 and Q4 of the 2017 testing periods.

[kdcpa]

@rencpa thank you so much. I wish you good luck. The entire process is quite overwhelming. I have to pass FAR and Audit. Have Audit coming up in the 2 weeks. Hope for the best.

[Ana]

Texas gave candidates until end of the year?

[rencpa]

@kdcpa I know this is a lot, but try your best. You may laugh, but I love studying for AUD. Somehow, I have passion for Audit. My suggestion, look at the audit from a big picture and think how you can explain to someone. Read the question carefully, stop, and think at which phase you are (beginning, testing, ending). They can get extremely tricky! Please do NOT underestimate other topics!! English is the key to pass audit (as per my instructor).
Speaking about FAR, it was easy for me, but I would not like to be retaking! Hope you have been studying for FAR. It takes time to review even the easiest topics. Good luck!

@Ana. Yes, TX granted to the end of the year.

BTW, I got in touch with my instructor about the NJ State Board extension… I was told, “Unfortunately, each state has jurisdiction and control over the licenses. I really do not think a petition would help” I am going to stop thinking about it and keep studying harder!

Good luck to everyone!

[kdcpa]

@rencpa please advice me on preparing for simulations. I get so nervous when I face them on the actual exam especially while Audit and FAR. I do practice them a lot. I am conceptually strong. But I get lost when I see those documents.

[rencpa]

@kdcpa Hmm… not sure what to tell you. Why? I had zero problems with AUD and FAR. However, the first thing that come to my head is make sure you understand the material well. What do I mean by that? For me, I always try to think if I can explain the concepts to someone else. Picture yourself as a teacher/tutor.

Personal experience: I practiced simulations once (the most, but do it). Why? In my opinion, simulations are a different way of testing the same knowledge. If one knows the material, it does not matter how he or she gets tested. It is my personal opinion. I took FAR in 2016. Cannot recall all the details, except the fact that they were reasonable (I considered them to be easy only because I truly feel strong about financial accounting and I got tested on the material that I knew well) My AUD did have some documents all over. HOWEVER, my suggestion… 1) read the question(s) in order to eliminate the junk they are going to let you read 2) Don't panic!! Read carefully and answer the questions 3) make sure you leave enough time for reading all documents/enough time for simulations (being behind can influence your performance, especially with all this additional documents of the new exam)

I don't know your studying habits. But if I could really advice anyone, I would say, “understand the material then apply it to your MCQs and Simulations.” This is why I suffer with BEC. I have gaps that I need to work on in order to prepare myself for the exam (and it is not easy to eliminate them)

FAR is easier in my opinion, AUD can be tricky. Be really careful with AUD. If you look at MCQ answers, sometimes, all of them are the correct audit procedures. HOWEVER, as I said before, read the questions carefully… what stage you are? It applies to all engagements (audit, review, and compilation) “Memorize” the reports with intelligence… you may see them on your simulations, if not, for sure in MCQs. Personally, I “memorized” by writing them a certain way (memorizing like a poem or prayer does not work in my case) You really need to know the wording in and out of reports… Read Engagement Letters etc. Believe me, after you put all the puzzle together, AUD will make so much sense.

If you hate AUD as much as I hate TAXES… think this way, “I need to study a lot, so I will never ever have to see that again” Find anything that works for you!

Good luck. FIRST step for you, believe in yourself (but make sure you prepare yourself well). Then relax. Go and pass!

[kdcpa]

@rencpa thank you so much for taking time and explaining so well. I noted down all your suggestions and I definitely will work on it.

[SGood]

Unfortunately, the State Boards do not work for NASBA, so NASBA does not have the authority to set/regulate each state's specific regulations.

[Ana]

if NASBA sets the release and has candidates wait 10+ weeks for a release then they should also make a universal rule to provide an extension and not leave it up to 50 f***** states. They totally dropped the ball and half assed this implementation. Makes no sense that one group sets the rules and the other has say over the concessions.

[rencpa]

@Ana I completely agree with you. Please do not take me wrong, but let it go. Use your energy and valuable time for preparing for whatever exam you need to take this testing window (I think it is FAR) You are a smart woman, I am sure you are going to finish this testing window, just keep studying! Don't worry about the BEC credit. Try to get in touch with your CA Board after you pass all the exams and ask them again for extending your BEC. Why?

#1 I asked someone in the accounting field who truly cares about each of the CPA candidates more than anyone. I got the answer to drop it. It was hard for me to accept the bad answer, but I did. I understand you do not know the person, but try to trust me.

#2 I personally believe each single Board is trying to make more money on “cleaning up” the mess of Q2

#3 I want you to study! And study! And study!

I know this is the worse thing I am going to say. Just in case you need to retake BEC… You passed the exam once, it should be easier to pass again. I am saying this by thinking about myself. I would rather retake AUD 5 more times than take BEC once (or REG). Hope it is not going to happen in my case lol

Please forgive me if I said too much.

[Ana]

@ren I'm with you 100% on everything you said. I'd also rather take AUD (having been an auditor) than BEC. I come to this forum to vent since people in life don't understand how this exam works. Trust me that I'm studying. I am sacrificing everyday to be home to study and putting my lucrative career on hold. But that doesn't take the pain, distrust, and unfairness away. I don't want to go into too much detail but life doesn't hold during this process and I'm missing/unavailable for crucial family and husband life events that will have lasting effects.

[MeanJoe]

I am looking for further clarification. I have already emailed the NJ Board but have not heard back yet.

This only benefits people who had credit expiring for Q2, 3 & 4 of 2017?

If I have a test that I possibly could lose credit as of Q1 2018. Would I benefit from an extension to 6/30/18?

I was just as affected as people who would lose credit for Q2, 3 & 4 2017.

[Author]

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