[rham243]

Hi all, was hoping to get some feedback on my tentative CPA testing schedule. What do you think? Curious to hear your input, experience, or a similar study plan that worked for you. Thanks!

Study now through August

FAR late August

Study September through November

REG mid-November

take some time off for December (always busy)

Study January through February

BEC late February

Study March through May

AUD in May

Retakes in July/August and October/September testing windows

I work full time and have 3 kids so I figure spacing it out like this will be better for me. My goal is to be completely done by December.

FAR 10/3/16
REG 11/22/16
AUD TBD
BEC TBD

"Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm" -Winston Churchill

[Anonymous]

My only concern would be that some of the study periods are long enough that it may be easy to forget things from the start by the time you get to the end, so make sure you come up with some good review strategies to keep old concepts fresh while you're learning new strategies. However, that should definitely be enough time for you to be able to learn the CPA study materials thoroughly as long as you don't forget as you're going.

How many hours per week do you plan to study? You'll probably want to set yourself a goal if you haven't already, so that you have something to hold yourself to and can make sure you don't have the issue of thinking in September that you've got plenty of time till mid-Nov REG, and then getting to Nov 1 and realizing you've hardly studied…cause that can be way too easy to do, for all of us. 😛

[suzieemac]

Your plan sounds very reasonable and definitely doable. We're on a very similar path. I hope to be done by December as well.

I am studying for AUD right now, been studying for about a month and I plan to take it in August, once I can get past the NASBA evaluation system =\. Then, FAR in the Fall, take a study break for tax season, pick it back up in May and finish by December. I haven't decided if I am going to do REG or BEC first, but probably REG.

I work full time and I'm still completing my MS in Accounting part-time in order to get licensed, but I have an MBA and plan to sit with the 120 sit rule that NY has, but the application/review process seems never-ending.

I just realized you left windows open for retesting. Something that I should probably consider as well. So, thank you for that. =)

AUD - 8/12/16
REG - 10/7/16
BEC - 11/18/16
FAR - TBD

#300before30 - Pass the CPA exam before my 30th Birthday.

[nadroj]

That seems reasonable. I studied 7-8 weeks per exam section. I took a break from studying from Thanksgiving through the second week of January, to enjoy the holidays… and have time for crazy work hours for year-end. 🙂

[Missy]

I tried a more accelerated exam study schedule (2 per testing window) and each window failed one and passed one. Your time schedule is exactly how mine worked out start to finish without the added pressure of trying to cram one in every 6 weeks.

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

[Andyred04]

With 3 kids and a full-time job, looks like you've spaced out your exams enough to not have to put in too many hours a day so you can spend time with your kids in the evenings.

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

[.]

Looks good except if you have to do a retake, better to do it sooner rather than later. The longer you wait for the retake, the more you will have to relearn.

FAR - June 2016 - 88
REG - July 2016 - 89
AUD - Aug 2016 - review phase currently
BEC - Sep 2016 -

Wiley CPA Excel & Ninja MCQ

[waffle_house]

Plan and study for one exam now and once you pass plan for the next exam. I know no one expects to fail but with these exams you never know. You can do all sorts of planning but I find it better not to stress about other exams because life happens or the subject is much harder than you expected.

[ultrarunner]

I agree with waffle_house: plan and study for one at a time. I didn't expect to fail (but I failed) 🙁

My original plan was 4/15 FAR, 7/15 AUD, 10/15 Reg, 1/16 BEC, and I ended up with 10/15 AUD, 11/15 FAR, 4/16 BEC, 5/16 Reg. But I am very happy about the result. I work full-time with no kids.

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[Sang]

I think you should prepare a backup schedule, assuming that you will fail each exam once.

FAR: (05/24/16) | (07/15/16) | (10/22/16)
AUD: (09/07/16) | (11/29/16) |
BEC: TBD
REG: TBD
Using Roger CPA Review + Ninja (MCQs, Notes, Audio)

[rham243]

Thank you all for your input! I really appreciate it.

Suzieemac, best of luck to you! Yes, I think the retest windows are important. Someone mentioned it here, no one expects to fail but it's good to be prepared for anything.

Lilla, with my busy schedule I plan on studying 2-3 hours during weekdays and 5 to 8 on weekends. My goal to study at least 15 hours per week or more for 6 to 8 weeks per section

FAR 10/3/16
REG 11/22/16
AUD TBD
BEC TBD

"Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm" -Winston Churchill

[Author]

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