[Ryan]

If you are upset about the 18-month exam expiration rule and would like to help get rid of it, sign this petition!

https://www.change.org/p/national-association-of-state-boards-of-accountancy-eliminate-the-18-month-exam-expiration-rule-for-the-cpa-exam?recruiter=774519130&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition

[Namstut]

I didn’t read all of the post and I am sure that someone had already brought up this point – the exams are changing to align with new rules and regulations, so if you take more than 2 years to pass all of the exams your knowledge becomes obsolete.

In regards to the young people versus old people with kids. I have 2 kids, a husband, a full time 60-something hours a week job and I passed just fine in 9 months. It’s doable and if you get off your ass and make sacrifices (mostly sleep) you can get it done in less than 18 months. Yes, there are life circumstances but you can probably get an extension in some cases.

Cheers!

AUD 7/6/16 Passed
BEC 9/3/16
FAR TBD
REG TBD

[Anonymous]

@Namstut – your knowledge is not gonna be obsolete in 2 years. Come on. The exams don't change that much. Seriously, there are exam questions that appear on these exams that have been around for decades. Or, with very small revisions. I've seen them myself.

It always bothers me when I hear people say “make sacrifices and get off your ass.” In a perfect world, everyone would get through the exams with zero ordeal. But, this world is far from perfect. If it was so easy, the average pass rates would not be what they are. They'd be far higher, and they'd have to graduate more new CPAs. They don't wanna do that. There are plenty of roadblocks. The people who can tear down the roadblocks quickly are the ones they want. But not everyone has the stamina to do that…quickly.

[West55]

“the exams are changing to align with new rules and regulations, so if you take more than 2 years to pass all of the exams your knowledge becomes obsolete.”

Ha! If that's the reason for the 18 month rule, then they need to revoke the license of anyone who passed the exams before November of 2015. You should tell your managers at your 60-hour a week job that their accounting knowledge is obsolete because they passed the exams 30 or 40 years ago.

What do you think CPE is for?

[Son]

I am constantly amazed by folks here staring facts in the face and just blatantly ignoring them.

It's not “my chart.” There is no need to make “educated guesses.” This is official, based in hard facts reality published by people who administer the exams.

It's completely ok to struggle and fail some or several sections. The only reason why I'm chiming is on this conversation is because this forum has lead me to believe that the CPA exams are pure hell on earth. That attitude hurts people's confidence and adds a lot of unnecessary stress to candidates' lives. If I was told from the start this is not such an outrageous undertaking as many here make it out to be I would have approached the exams with a much calmer mind and would have been much less nervous going in.

AUD - passed
REG - passed
BEC - passed
FAR - passed

[Son]

Oh and why increasing the window by 6 months will hurt the profession.

Extra 6 months won't help those 70% who pass on the first try or fail once or twice. It will only help borderline candidates, the ones who have failed each section multiple times and are lingering somewhere between passing with lowest possible scores and giving up altogether. I want as little of those folks with CPA designations as possible. The higher average aptitude is across the board for CPAs, the higher is the certification valued. That means higher paying jobs and better perks for the ones who did get licensed.

AUD - passed
REG - passed
BEC - passed
FAR - passed

[Anonymous]

It's all about what you do with your CPA license. There are bonehead CPAs out there. Just because someone lacks a CPA license doesnt' mean they don't know their shit as well as a CPA does.
My boss worked in public for many years. So, she makes like $140K a year instead of $180. So what? I'm sure the AICPA appreciates everyone who is so in favor of those idiots who can't pass the “easy CPA exams” staying clear of the profession though. True, they make the exams rigid enough so that it will weed out those who squirm and fidget on the SIMs or blank out on the MCQ.

And yeah, that “graph” is misleading because it only considers everyone who has passed.

These exams are “hell on Earth” for some but not others. Those whom it is hell for usually have legitimate reasons for it being hell. They've sat 10 times but only had a pass or two, despite their efforts. Plenty of people on here are posting on the I Passed, I'm Done threads, so obviously, lots on here are passing.

[Anonymous]

BTW – 18 months, 24 months, 36 months…I don't think it really matters. Here's why.

The general public isn't a stupid crop of brainless idiots. Most people have average intelligence…intelligence enough to know that CPAs had to pass a test and have work experience to get licensed. A surprising number of them also know that the AICPA (although maybe they don't know the specific name of the regulating organization) allows for multiple failures of the CPA exam.
People know this. Seriously guys, you would be surprised. They laugh about it, too. People get their taxes done by CPAs. If they have a bonehead CPA or somebody who they feel is screwing them, they'll try another CPA. I hate to say this, but the CPA isn't as prestigious as many make it out to be. It's prestigious in that you can get a very very good job and have a nice comfy life if you are one. Etc etc etc. It's more respected in the business world than it is outside. CPA is not PhD or Doctor of Accounting.

If the AICPA really wanted to be hardass about it, they'd be keeping careful track of social security numbers and would limit them to maybe 10 sittings before telling them “Sorry, you're all done, you don't have what it takes. Good luck with your life!” You can flunk out of grad school. You can flunk out of med school. I don't know how many times you can fail the BAR or the board exams for med school, but it's not an infinte number. The AICPA is happy to keep taking anyone's money who wants to keep trying.

Point made. Yeah, 24 months might be nicer. But, it isn't going to change, because there's no great need for it to change.

So what's everybody doing for T-day? My significant other and I might get pizza and Chinese food like we did a couple years ago. Much as I love turkey, I eat it every day (I don't eat red meat hardly at all) so T-day is no real great shakes for me. Last T-day I went to the home of someone who had lechon (you Filipinos know what this is, but I'll translate for those who don't)…it's a big roasted pig with an apple in its mouth!

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to chime in. These exams are pretty close to “hell on earth” – no lie. Anyone who disagrees is a very smart candidate with a solid background in the various disciplines covered by these exams.

Each exam is very tough in its own way. But, passing all 4 exams within the 18 month window is what makes this process “borderline hell.” But, as Ive stated before, complaining will do nothing for me. I just pick myself up and study my ass off and really work in areas that give me problems.

Goodluck everyone.

[Pork Flavored Bacon]

I think the 18-month rule is fair. Back when the examination was paper-based (from around 1995 through 2004 or 2005), it was only administered twice a year and you had three years to pass all four parts. In NY, you had to pass at least two parts at once to gain credit at all the first time you take the exam. Say you took FAR and AUD and scored a 99 and 74, respectively. You would have received zero credit. You were forced to study for, at minimum, two parts at a time and you didn't have a choice what days you took the exam. They packed you into an auditorium and you sat with a thousand other people.

Now, with this 18-month rule, you can take one part at a time and, like the old exam, have six windows to pass the test. Is the exam harder? Some people say it is. But hey, you only have to study for one part at a time for the first credit now. I think that makes up for it.

FAR - 75 | REG - 87 | AUD - 82 | LAW - 81

[ultrarunner]

Removed.

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

[Missy]

The 18 months is no more or less than a barrier of entry. You can say all you want that you don't like that barrier or that its inconvenient but the truth is if you get off your butt and do it ANYBODY can do it regardless of their situation. Yes its easier for some but if you want it badly enough you'll figure out a way.

Its amusing actually that the ones who find the time to reply upwards of 8 times just to this topic are the same people who say it offends them when people tell them to suck it up. Wonder how many MCQ could have been knocked out in the time spent bantering over something that isn't going to change? Do you want to know how I finished all four in 12 months with far more going on in my life than 99% of the people here? Grit. It wasn't easier for me, I'm not smarter than anybody but I had no time for pity parties or whining during those 12 months. Every disposable second I had was used for a flash card or mcq. I started the process knowing it was ALL IN or a waste of everybody's time. And I made a lot of sacrifices, its called adulting.

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

[mad max]

In retrospect these threads are kind of funny. As the above poster said, if you are using this forum 50x per day and complaining about studying at the same time, you should reconsider your time management skills.

Short of one or two posts just to vent, I only used this forum a few times for legitimate questions. I passed in just under six months while working full time (from start to finish, at six weeks per section). I agree extensions should be made for people who lost scores due to the delayed score release, but on a case-by-case basis, only giving one extra sitting. Everyone here, for better or for worse, has to pass under the same set of rules (except in extreme cases that may require special accommodations.) Don't complain about six extra months you don't have– use the eighteen months you do have to pass all four exams.

[Anonymous]

Yeah some people just like to complain I guess. Shame on them. haha Everyone has their own way of getting thru the CPA exams. Some people take longer than others. They burn out, or they aren't really serious about it and are just kind of playing around to see if it actually does suit them, or they just aren't that smart to begin with so they have to beat their head against the wall for a longer time, or any number of a zillion other possible reasons. As I say, 18 months, 19 months, 23 months, 39 months, 47 months….you can still take the exam as many times as you like.

[TommyTheCat]

ha this is funny

[jeff]

As someone who lost their FAR credit (Passed FAR … took a year off celebrating as if I had passed all 4), I am fine with the 18 month window.

It puts pressure on you – similar to scheduling an exam…it's easy to put it off, but when faced with a deadline, it forces you to get to work.

[Author]

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