Any CPAs around here?

cjwilli2

Soooo I'm starting my plans into CPA-hood.  

I don't have all the educational requirements for certification yet (still need four more classes to get to 150hours) but I'm thinking of sitting for the four parts of the exam within the next 12 months.  Then I'll get my courses done and apply for certification...does it make any sense to go this route?

Any advice from those who have gone through this mess?  I'm really stressed about it! 

xxSOMMERxx

Don't know anything about it but a good friend of mine is planning on getting her CPA certs this Summer.  From what I hear it is not easy, so best of luck to you!

cjwilli2

xxSOMMERxx:

Don't know anything about it but a good friend of mine is planning on getting her CPA certs this Summer.  From what I hear it is not easy, so best of luck to you!

Thanks  Yah, I'm preparing myself for brutality! 

imshell

Well the hubs here got his CPA ages ago.  He thinks it might be a req to already have the classes?  He says 'verify first' in his very CPA way :P

Next, he thinks it depends on what classes you're missing. He's saying a lot of mumbo jumbo...

If you are eligible to sit without the full 150 units, then consider a review course (these are so his words, I'm anti review anything-lol)--depending on your job-they may pay for it?  I just told him you work for non-profit...

 Consider self-study if nothing else.  blah blah blah (I can ask him specifics if you like)

He took it while he was taking his final hours, to get the experience but way back in the CPA stone ages you had to pass the whole thing at once. 

Ok, I think you can totally do it--you have a nice big brain. 

 

cjwilli2

imshell:

Well the hubs here got his CPA ages ago.  He thinks it might be a req to already have the classes?  He says 'verify first' in his very CPA way :P

Next, he thinks it depends on what classes you're missing. He's saying a lot of mumbo jumbo...

If you are eligible to sit without the full 150 units, then consider a review course (these are so his words, I'm anti review anything-lol)--depending on your job-they may pay for it?  I just told him you work for non-profit...

 Consider self-study if nothing else.  blah blah blah (I can ask him specifics if you like)

He took it while he was taking his final hours, to get the experience but way back in the CPA stone ages you had to pass the whole thing at once. 

Ok, I think you can totally do it--you have a nice big brain. 

 

LOL thanks Shell!  

The requirements are different for the exam and cert now.  The exam you only need something like 24 accounting courses (12 upper level) whereas for certification you need 36 accounting (30 upper level).  I have 25 (18).  So there aren't specific courses I need to take, I just need 12 credits upper level accounting for certification.  Oh and 3 other credits of whatever I want in order to hit 150.  

I'm thinking of doing Becker Review...man it's $3,000!  But I need the review BAD.  Heck, something like 10% of people pass all four parts the first time...I need to be one of those people since the exam is expensive too!

My organization does tuition reimbursement...so I'm going to find out if this will apply to the review courses...since they are "courses" you know?

Much thinking is going to happen in the next few days, but I need to do this.  

I'm getting together with my CPA mentor on Tuesday (the boss who hired me for my internship, my first accounting position and found my current job for me) because I'm in need of massive mentoring right now.   

imshell

ooh ooh Becker was part of the mumbo jumbo!  He's all for that.  I'd ask him some more, but he went to get Gman.  He did say he took like every single upper level accounting class-the nerd.  

Tayrusso

You have to have your masters degree/150 credits prior to taking the exam.  My co-worker is currently studying/testing.

I was planning on completing the CPA exam, until I found out about the credit requirement.  It used to be bachelors degree, they recently increased it to masters degree b/c AZ is a desirable place to live.  I absolutely refuse to spend more time in school than I have to. 

cjwilli2

Tayrusso:

You have to have your masters degree/150 credits prior to taking the exam.  My co-worker is currently studying/testing.

I was planning on completing the CPA exam, until I found out about the credit requirement.  It used to be bachelors degree, they recently increased it to masters degree b/c AZ is a desirable place to live.  I absolutely refuse to spend more time in school than I have to. 

The website still shows that you only need the 150 for certification, not for the exam.

http://www.azaccountancy.gov/Exam/FAQs.aspx#Q2

and here is from Becker's site

http://www.becker.com/accounting/cpaexamreview/arizona/index.cfm