[nekkid]

- Two years of general accounting experience supervised by a CPA with an active license

Where did you look to fulfill that requirement?

I want to have part of that experience done before I graduate in June 2010. I'd hate to wait 2-3 years after graduation to get my CPA. I want to have it as soon as possible.

Since I don't have my BS yet, where should I look? Will any accounting related job hire me while I'm still in school? Any other advices to what I should do to get experience?

Lastly, what exactly does a person do with an accounting BS, but without CPA?

[Childlike Faith]

Most people do two years working at one of the Big 4 and then take their CPA exam.
I'm planning to do some work at a family friend's small firm.

You can still do a lot of things with a BS in accounting, the certificate just makes you more credible in the eyes of others.
You can work with corporations, become a tax personnel, do internal auditing...
For me, I'm looking into becoming a corporate accountant.


Well... I just declared my accounting major last week, there are probably other people out there who know more than I do...

[CoCoGirl886]

^What made you decide to pick and stick with accounting?

I'm in my 3rd year right now and I'm on the path of an accounting major. However, I've never had an actual job in accounting yet so I don't know how it's really like in the real world (I heard it's really boring, etc). I'm considering switching my major to something else like marketing since it's a much broader field. Does anyone have any recommendations?

[Hax]

- Two years of general accounting experience supervised by a CPA with an active license

Where did you look to fulfill that requirement?

I want to have part of that experience done before I graduate in June 2010. I'd hate to wait 2-3 years after graduation to get my CPA. I want to have it as soon as possible.

Since I don't have my BS yet, where should I look? Will any accounting related job hire me while I'm still in school? Any other advices to what I should do to get experience?

Lastly, what exactly does a person do with an accounting BS, but without CPA?

Most people look to their full time job to fulfill that requirement. First, you need to pass your CPA exam which, if approached in a normal speed, will take you at least 6 months to pass if you pass it on your first try. Becker claims only 10% of people pass the CPA exam on their first try, so it may take longer. Once you pass the exam, you can worry about the years of experience requirement. I'm not sure why you want to get your license as soon as possible though. You typically get hired into a good accounting firm without a CPA, so for at least 4-5 years, you are safe without a CPA.

Most people do two years working at one of the Big 4 and then take their CPA exam.
I'm planning to do some work at a family friend's small firm.

Not quite. Most people take their CPA exam before they start work and while they are working. They don't work two years and then take the exam. I plan to take all of the CPA exam before I start working.

^What made you decide to pick and stick with accounting?

I'm in my 3rd year right now and I'm on the path of an accounting major. However, I've never had an actual job in accounting yet so I don't know how it's really like in the real world (I heard it's really boring, etc). I'm considering switching my major to something else like marketing since it's a much broader field. Does anyone have any recommendations? unsure.gif

It's a solid field to go into. It's true though, real accounting is not that fun. The thing with accounting is that there are other things to dabble within accounting. Within the big4 there are advisory branches, tax, audit, etc. If you don't like it, you can always move somewhere else and if you are coming from a big4, that experience will launch your career.

[f0reveralways]

i work for an accountant. it's been about 1 year.


but i'm pre-pharm. lol.



i got the job cause my neighbor came up to me and told me her sister (the CPA) needed some help.



ps: its really boring.

[marrymehyori]

The Big 4 firms will pay the cost of the Becker course, so if you want to work Big 4 you might want to wait to take the exam. Otherwise the review course is very expensive. Also, they should reimburse the cost of the exam, and give a bonus if you pass it in a timely manner. The firm I worked at paid for the Becker class up-front, not a penny out of my own pocket. I had to pay for the exam, but they reimbursed after I passed it. Bonus ($5K!) several months after that. That's approaching $8,000 in value at firm expense. That's a really good deal, otherwise you're going to be out thousands of your own dollars if you take the exam outside of an accounting job.

I've also heard that only 10% of the people pass the exam on the first try. I'm one of them
Just got my educational evaluation in the mail last week saying I'm good on that front. Just waiting on the experience requirement.

The key to studying for the exam is reviewing everything repetetitively. For me, I read a text book relevant to the exam even before the Becker class started. Also before the class started I would read the book, watch the video, work the homework problems, for ALL chapters of the review book. Then a day or two before each lecture, re-read the chapter, and after the lecture rework the homework problems. Once all the lectures are done, work the practice exams and simulations. Then the week before the exam, skim through the chapters one last time, one or two per day, and review all the flash cards.

To be brutually frank, for those lacking extensive experience in the accounting field (i.e. most of the people taking the CPA exam for the first time), if you are not prepared to apply yourself to that degree, you aren't ready to take the exam and almost certainly won't pass. It makes your life hell for six months, but then you're done and never have to worry about it again. That's a whole lot better than to still be studying two or three years after you failed your your first section... Be serious about it right off the bat, get it done the first time, move on with your life.

[Hax]

The key to studying for the exam is reviewing everything repetetitively. For me, I read a text book relevant to the exam even before the Becker class started. Also before the class started I would read the book, watch the video, work the homework problems, for ALL chapters of the review book. Then a day or two before each lecture, re-read the chapter, and after the lecture rework the homework problems. Once all the lectures are done, work the practice exams and simulations. Then the week before the exam, skim through the chapters one last time, one or two per day, and review all the flash cards.

Good tips . Gonna mimic it in a way. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by all the information there is in the review books. I feel like I have to know every bullet point or something. I forgot my CDs at home so I can't do the problems before the lecture, but when I go home I'll be sure to address the practice exams, simulations, etc.

[marrymehyori]

Hax, the amount of material is overwhelming, that's why reptition is so critical. Of course, you do only have to make a 75% of the exam, and it's adaptive, so the harder the questions get, likely the better you are doing. Becker's homework problems are *not* adaptive, however.

The homework problems are ultimately more important than the readings, but the readings help you understand why the answer to a homework problem is what it is. Understanding the answer is also important, so you can't skip the reading just to do homework problems only.

As to the 2 year experience requirement, double check with your state board of accountancy. Here in Georgia the experience requirement is being reduced to 1 year come July. Also some states require an ethics exam in addition to the CPA exam. Make sure you actually know ALL the requirements for your specific state (by which I mean the state you expect to practice in, not the state you are attending school in).

[Hax]

One of the reasons why I find it overwhelming is I am planning to take all 4 parts within 1-2 months. When I study for a part now, I get overwhelmed because there is so much information and when I consider I need to study for 3 other exams and retain all that knowledge, I get worried. I can't imagine studying for the CPA and working so I really want it out of the way. At the very least, studying from now until September/October should allow me to pass a couple parts before working, which isn't too bad either.

[dtp]

Do you guys think it's better to have a degree in economics with an emphasis on accounting? or a degree in business with an emphasis in accounting?

[Hax]

I'd go with business over economics.

[Childlike Faith]

I think it depends on what you want to do too.

I picked accounting because it's a practical career to go into. Mostly, I'm looking into the tax field because that's what interests me.

Not quite. Most people take their CPA exam before they start work and while they are working. They don't work two years and then take the exam. I plan to take all of the CPA exam before I start working.

Oh, really? That's interesting! Most accounting majors I asked were taking that route, so I thought the majority did that.

What kind of work do most do? Do most work for the Big 4?
What would be the difference between taking the exam after versus before working?

Should you take the exam right after college? I heard it was easier that way?


Thanks, marrymehyori, for the advice!!

[Hax]

A fair amount of people work for the Big4. At least in my college they do.

The difference between taking the exam before you work and after you work is mostly convenience. Try to work 40 hours a week and go home to study and see how easy it is. If its not bad, good. You may be able to take your exam after you start. I find it hard to do that and the Big4 is going to be more than 40 hrs, so I really want to pass ASAP.

Everyone at the Big4 will tell you to pass the test ASAP. If you can get 2 out of the way before you start, it really goes a long way.