[topenga87]

So I became eligible to take the exam Jan 2011. This is also when I started full time at a Big 4. I was on crazy clients with YE’s of 3/31, 6/30, 9/30 and 12/31, so I was basically on a continual busy season. I attempted testing over the 2 1/2 years I was there but it didn’t work out with my work and travel schedule.

I got a job in 2013 that didn’t require a CPA but I thought, hey, I worked this hard, might as well — but with no pressure it just never motivated me to put my head down and study.

Last year I started working in Internal Audit, again not required, but much more support from the company to take it now and it will help my career here.

So here I am, wanting to get this done before the dreaded 2017 changes. Realistically, if I put my head down and did the work I could pass this. So what’s a realistic time frame for someone who has done real life work and knows the benefits and has seen the material before?

Started studying in 2010, life got in the way majorly.
Starting over Dec 2015
FAR
AUD
REG
BEC 6/7/16 - 67 Retaking on 9/7

[wombataholic]

If you're willing to carve out regular study time for 7-ish months, it's very doable, but it takes commitment. I knocked all 4 sections out in 2 windows on the first try without any real world experience to speak of.

Licensed CPA
Passed each section on the first try with Ninja Notes/MCQ/Audio

[MaLoTu]

I agree with wombataholic. If you can really bear down and study then you should be able to complete one exam a quarter … try BEC by the end of February, I am assuming you can get an NTS pretty quickly. It is better to have some or most of them done by 2017, at the very least.

[Tncincy]

Well, This is a great time to jump in. Keep your future opportunities up front. By dedicating time, effort, and money to this exam, you will reap a lot more in the future , while you're young, I might add. Don't add regrets to your life by not getting the license and then wondering how life would be with it. Get it and be glad that you did.
Ninja have good study materials if you are looking to get to the point and not get too wrapped up with over load of information. I personally have the notes,books, flash cards, audio and the mcq's. This is your chance don't let it pass. I don't use the books or the flash cards a lot but the audio, notes and mcq's narrow things down even more for me

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Missy]

I'm not sure how much real life work, knowing the benefits or seeing the material (even if a few months ago) cut time off this process. I've been in the workforce over 20 years, and did the exams while finishing grad school. I think I studied on an even pace with people who were fresh college grads and with people like me who had tons of experience.

I sat for my first section on 10/29/10 and my last one on 10/19/11. Took one exam Q4 2010 passed. 2 exams Q1 2011 passed one, failed one. 2 more in Q2 passed one, failed one. One exam Q3 2011, failed. Retake Q4 2011 pass.

I think its most realistic to pass one per window while working full time but if you're trying to beat the 2017 changes you may end up having to take two in the same testing window if you have to retake a section.

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

[Sand Wraith]

It all depends on you, a girlfriend of mine passed the whole sections within six months so is it doable? Yes it is but you need to commit and put your life on hold for the coming six to eight months. Is it worth it? Hell yeah!

AUD ... Passed
REG ... Passed
FAR ... Passed
BEC ... Passed

I'm Done!!

[monikernc]

if you start today you can knock one out this window if you hustle and get the others done in the remaining three windows this year. if i recall, the exams don't change until second window 2017. though there are some minor changes coming in the latter half of this year. either way, you have plenty of time to get them done if that is what you really want to do.
good luck!!

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[Jdn9201]

You have time as long as you get started soon. I started studying in Aug 2015 and *crossing fingers* depending on my AUD score and passing FAR in April/May, I plan to be done by Memorial Day. I work full time, but it hasn't been quite as bad as I expected. I purposely chose BEC and REG first because I figured those would be the easiest for me. Also, if I ran into a brick wall with AUD or FAR, I'd rather have easier credits expire than harder ones. As others have said, if you are willing to dedicate the time, you can do it. Here's how I've attacked it:

1. BEC – Began studying 8/1/15; took exam 8/29/15 and passed.
2. REG – Began studying Mid September; took exam 11/14/15 and passed
3. AUD – Began studying 12/1/15; took exam 1/4/16 – awaiting score
4. FAR – Plan if I passed AUD – begin studying 2/15/16 – take in late April, early May 2016

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[Anonymous]

I've been working in public accounting since 2008, and became eligible in 2010 , just after my first child was born. Between work and family, i couldn't see how it would be possible to do this. Then I had my second child in 2011 and was drowning all the way around. I finally started the process at the end of 2013 and finished last month. I thought it would somehow be easier as the children grew up but it was only harder. At some point I realized that you just have to dig deep and do it.

There were good times (i didn't lose any credit) and bad times (i failed 5 times). Once you are done, you'll never have to think about it again. If you don't do it, it will drive you crazy.

[Author]

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