[Kairos]

So far, i’ve only passed FAR and i’m close to finishing up BEC with my exam coming up soon. I’m hoping to squeeze another one in but not sure which exam to choose before the 2017 changes?

I hear REG is getting the 2nd most amount of changes this coming April so should I stick with that?

How is audit right now and how much more difficult will it be with the exam change?

[Anthony]

Probably audit considering that amount of material that REG has. Unless you are strong background in tax or retaking REG, it's going to be difficult to cram everything in before the end of Q1.

[Missy]

I'd think at this point with 12 days left to test it would be a huge fear to find a test date let alone study for an entire section.

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

[Kairos]

Well long story short, I actually went through all the becker lectures on REG until someone told me to start with FAR so if all goes well, it should just be a refresher. I'm also worried about the timing and like you said, one month would be tough to drill down all the MCQs. I'm also worried that audit might get significantly harder and it might be more worthwhile to get that one out of the way first.

[Kairos]

i know the changes are coming this april but are they taking out part of the month of march to test for Q1?

[Anonymous]

I WISH I could've done BEC and AUD before the changes were made. Hindsight is 20-20. Ohhhh welllll.

[Missy]

There is typically no testing whatsoever in the third month of every quarter, otherwise known as blackout months. The q1 testing has been extended from a 2/28 deadline to a 3/10 deadline but 3/10 is the absolute last day to test in Q1.

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

[Anonymous]

In my area (Los Angeles) the testing centers booked up solidly in December 2016 and March 1-10. I did hear that they're doing more of those extra 10-day windows in the future…not sure if that's true or not.

[Missy]

I think they extended every quarter in 2016 by ten days and I imagine they'll do the same in 2017 but there won't be testing after March 10 to get another exam in before the changes.

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

[VDP]

Q2 does not have extra test days included, but Q3 and Q4 are each extended by 10 days. Obviously that's after the changes to the exam though.

https://www.aicpa.org/BecomeACPA/CPAExam/Pages/cpa-exam-announcements.aspx

[jeff]

This may help…

[Anthony]

If you find a spot open, I would hop on REG ASAP for an overall review/refresher if you have already went through the materials before.

[jereumie]

I may be wrong, but I heard BEC and REG are with most changes. REG is hard to cram, but BEC is crammable. I also crammed AUD in just 12 days.

[Kairos]

Hey thanks for the help everyone and thanks Jeff! Don't know why I completely forgot about the blackout period for March but looks like i'll just be taking the newer version of the exam. Really hope it's not too overkill like FAR.

[Author]

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