[Anonymous]

Hi,

So I am awaiting the March 21st score release to see if I have officially passed the last part of the CPA exam. I am beginning to pre-plan for the next step of taking my State’s ethics exam that is required to get the CPA license. Since it is self-paced, self-administered I would imagine that it is open book.

I am wondering how long, if at all, people who have taken this exam have studied or if you simply “search” for the answers in the book as you are taking the exam. Any advice helps. Thanks in advance!

[Trele6]

If you are taking the AICPA one that most states use I would budget 1-3 hours total. It was open book, actually the test is in the book to write all of your answers on and then you go online and enter them and they give you your grade.
I'd say 40 of the 46 questions were in the exact order of the material in the book. Reading the test and screening the chapters will get you the bulk of your answers. For the more difficult ones I used the index a lot. All told I think I put 2 hours into it.

First go at the CPA! Only using Becker
Reg / Nov 2015 - 87
Far / Apr 2016 - 79
Bec / May 2016 - 80
Aud / Aug 2016

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot, I appreciate it! I am also from NM, so I will be taking the same test as you. Did you do the e-book or the physical copy? Also, how long did it take for you to get your NM license after you submitted the application?

[Trele6]

I did the physical copy because I heard on the e-book it doesn't allow the search feature. So I just thumbed through the pages of the book.

My license in the mail took about 1-2 weeks I guess. I had an email from them before hand saying everything was approved. All in all the people at the NM board are very nice and pretty responsive. The longest delay was waiting on finger prints/ background check to come back to them. I spoke with them on the phone before they had that and said I was good to go once that came in. They cashed my app fee check on Nov 28th and I was officially licensed on 12/02. It went very fast all told.

Now the license you get in the mail isn't very nice. Supposedly you get the nice one when you do the swearing in ceremony. I am flying into NM for it on May 15th so if you get everything done before then maybe I will see you there.

I have a photo of the license you will receive in this thread. Once I get the nice “display” version I will update for everyone to see.
https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/physical-certificate-disappointment/

First go at the CPA! Only using Becker
Reg / Nov 2015 - 87
Far / Apr 2016 - 79
Bec / May 2016 - 80
Aud / Aug 2016

[Anonymous]

One more quick question. Did you submit your application after you checked your score on the score release date (final score) or did you wait for them to send you a congratulatory letter?

[CPA2BEE]

Ethics is tough, don't underestimate it. I spent about 8 hours on my ethics exam and squeaked by.

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[Trele6]

As soon as I knew I had passed all four parts I started the process. I immediately started filling things out and did the finger prints etc. (Background check was the longest hold up for me, so maybe do first thing.)

They will know you passed also, at least it seemed like they knew I did if I remember correctly.

If you struggle with ethics any just let me know. I think I still have the test/answers around if you want to bounce any questions off me.

First go at the CPA! Only using Becker
Reg / Nov 2015 - 87
Far / Apr 2016 - 79
Bec / May 2016 - 80
Aud / Aug 2016

[Anonymous]

I sort of jumped the gun on the whole process, and I did my background check and bought the ethics exam last week before finding out (I know, it was gutsy). I found out Monday that I passed REG. I took yesterday off to work on the ethics exam and passed with a 98. I was just a bit concerned because I didn't get the score release email from NASBA like I usually do the day after the scores are released. I checked CPA central and, sure enough, all my passigng scores are posted. I actually got this post update as I was dropping the completed application package into the mail, but I feel a lot better knowing about your experience. Thanks for all the help man, and see you at the swearing in ceremony.

[Author]

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