[Earla Riopel (NYCARE)]

I started my US CPA journey since the late 1990s. My son wasn’t even born when I got accepted in the State Board of Washington as a US CPA candidate on September 24, 1997. He’s an adult now.

Timeline:
Oct 1985 – Graduated from Bachelor Degree in Commerce – Major in Accounting
May 1994 – Commencement of ICABC – School of Chartered of Accountancy – Graduate Admission Program
July 5, 1997 – Last Transcript from ICABC
Sept 5, 1997 – Foreign Education Evaluation.
Sept 24, 1997 – Acceptance of Education by the State of Washington Board of Accountancy.
May 1999 – Commencement of University of British Columbia – DAP
Aug 1999 – Took York University weekend CPA review – using Wiley Textbook
Nov 1999 – Passed BLaw (77%) section (currently called BEC)
Feb 2000 – Worked for KPMG for the tax season.
Apr 2000 – Completed credits for the Canadian Chartered of Accountancy (CA) evaluation (mandatory CA internship to advance further).
May 2000 – Becker CPA Review – Student Rep.
July 2000 – Grandfathered by State of Washington Board of Accountancy
Aug 2001 – UBC DAP completion for credential – (Graduation Day – May 2002)
Jan 2008 – Becker Student.
Feb 27, 2010 – Lost credit on AUD.
Aug 27, 2010 – Lost credit on REG.
2009-2015 – Writing FAR exams on and off – keeping ‘active US CPA candidate status’.
2016 – Present – took FAR (6x); AUD (3x); BEC (3x); REG (3x)
Aug 2017 – Passed AUD again.
Dec 2017 – FAR (57%); BEC (54%) REG (52%)

With my above credentials, any suggestion for a new state board of accountancy. I know when the door is closed on me at WA. Two decades of patience is very hard to ignore. I am not stupid!

[Earla Riopel (NYCARE)]

Just bumping it up for the ‘replies' record.

[ixlr82day]

Not sure why you are applying to a new state board?

[Recked]

I assume you only have 120 credit hour degree.
NY is out as you were only grandfathered if you sent in the application under 120 hour path prior to August 2009.
NYS does have a 15 year pathway but you need to work under a NYS licensed CPA for 15 years, then no education requirement.

I think maybe NC or SC still allow licensure with only 120 credit hour degree.
That might be an option for you.

Has WA officially disallowed your grandfather'ed status?

[tncpa2018]

Earla, have you tried taking one part a time. I think you will have better chances if you do. You are taking all your remaining parts at once and I think you are over-whelmed. You are not stupid, but admit it or not, you are also not getting any younger. Our brains can only take so much. You and I are not very different, I graduated in the early 90’s, and that’s the last time I had open a textbook related to Accounting/Finance. I have been working in a non-financial field for so long and afraid to change job (I am a single mother with 3 kids – what if it doesn’t work-out?). But now it appeared, circumstances is forcing me to find another job anyway. Since my degree is Accounting, I prefer to move to Accounting as next “career” if I have to change. Hence, my sitting for these exams after a long absence. There is no possible way that I can pass any of this exam if I have to take all of them at once. My brain can only retain so much – and very little at that. My cognitive thinking might have gotten better due to maturity, but data retention is the size of a pea. That’s another reason BEC scares me the most, it has vast number of different topics all squeezed into one exam. I don’t know how I will be able to handle it. Just hoping for the best, and taking a stride at a time. Baby steps. By taking only one exam at a time… I’m giving myself a better fighting chance.

I cannot tell you what to do, but try studying for just one exam next, and see how it goes.

Good Luck and best wishes.

[Earla Riopel (NYCARE)]

@ixlr82day, my husband forbids me to take any more exams at Mountlake Terrace. Since losing my AUD & REG credits in 2010, a few things happened at that Prometric center, especially in 2017 Q1/Q4, that I rather not say.

@ReckedRacing, As to “Has WA officially disallowed your grandfather'ed status?”

Not really. And even after my July 2000 ‘grandfathered status' granted, I received my Diploma in Accounting Program at the University of British Columbia in May 2002. A professional degree program, designed for professional accounting designation seeker, like the US CPA. The following was taken from UBC FAQ site:

“Will a UBC Diploma in Accounting prepare me for a CPA (US) designation?
Yes. The pre-requisites and eligibility requirements vary from state to state, so interested students should contact the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) for more information.” ~ University of British Columbia

@tncpa2018 As to,
“Earla, have you tried taking one part a time. I think you will have better chances if you do. You are taking all your remaining parts at once and I think you are over-whelmed. You are not stupid, but admit it or not, you are also not getting any younger.”

I did, especially for FAR, between 2009-2016. Tried to take an exam every 12 to 18 months. All taken at Mountlake Terrace, a 3-hour drive from my home (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada).

Lastly, @ixlr82day, @ReckedRacing & @tncpa2018, thanks for taking time and replying to this post. Appreciate your advice.

[tncpa2018]

You can take the exam at any Prometric in the United States without changing the State Board.

I’ve taken AUD from the Prometric closest to my house. I’m scheduled to take BEC in Orlando, Florida in January. My sister is taking my kids to Disney for a weekend, while I take my exam. And I probably will be taking one exam in Dallas sometime in April due to work related travel.

[Earla Riopel (NYCARE)]

@tncpa2018 Thanks. I took a few in Las Vegas for Q3 2017. Managed to get AUD. Studied for a few days.

For my next exam, probably, it would be on another vacation related, during late summer of 2018. Likely, my husband and I we'll be flying.

Recently reached my US CPA exam spending budget until Q2 2018. We spent 15k-20k for related CPA exams/vacation trips, in a span of two(2) years, it's a bit too much.

Also, I have three (3) adult kids who are all attending post-secondary in 2018. Though my eldest is graduating next summer 2018 from her BA degree, which is exciting for all of us.

So, as always, family comes first.

Would try to finish all sections before the 18 months expired. But if I need to go back for AUD exam, I'll be fine.

If ALL fails after two(2) years, and nothing to show for, I would change career, probably Computer Science or IT related. I love computers & the Internet, especially the research and collecting of data.

At 51, if I get a good 15-20yrs of a career, I am happy.

Anyway, again, thanks for your time.

[Missy]

I understand the challenges you've faced but still don't understand what you hope to accomplish by changing state boards? They have nothing to do with the exams or passing them.

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

[Author]

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