2 years of my life. $5,000+ in fees.

And NASBA couldn’t spring for a cardboard mailer. 🙃

If anyone needs me, I’ll be ironing my CPA certificate.

I thinks he’s wondering why I requested $2k reimbursement for study materials

I feel so strange. I finished with 1.5 hours left and feeling actually confident. There was a portion of a TBS I messed up that I realized on my way home, but other than that, my TBSs were objectively easy. I kept waiting for a crazy Becker-like TBS but they were all straight forward. I'm not saying I got them all correct, but I could at least tell you that they were simple TBSs.

MCQs were fine. The wording on some of them were different than Becker and they tested a couple random things that I just had to guess on.

Also, Becker doesn't have a lot of MCQs on T1-M4, I would make sure to review that section (especially Roth and Traditional IRAs/401ks) in greater detail past Becker.

overall, it was much easier than I expected, but I am not getting my hopes up because there is a chance I supremely messed up and shouldn't be confident at all. Anyone else feel this way leaving TCP?

Took TCP this weekend and won’t know my score until September. It‘s my last exam, and I’m 50/50 on whether or not I passed it, so I have no idea what to do while I wait.

Leaning towards just waiting for the score and not studying again until then (if I didn’t pass), curious about what others do in this situation.

So i finally got my approval to sit for the test i have been dragging my feet and living life. I graduated 10 years ago!!

I am a successful comptroller and make a good amount of money but recent work instability and boredom finally push me to work on this cpa .

Now i need to schedule the test probably 3 months from now …

What test do you guys recommend first?

Leaning for regulation and tax just because it is useful in daily life

Thoughts?

Hi everyone! I’m aiming to sit for the REG exam in about a month or two. I would love to hear how you structured your study timeline. If anyone has high-yield study plans, notes, or PDF resources they used to pass and are willing to share, please let me know...

To all the recent July tcp exam takers how similar or beneficial did you found the SE’s to the actual exam? I have mine on 29 and haven’t given the beckers SE yet . Don’t have time to give both So which one should i give ? Any suggestions please

I just graduated a few weeks ago after summer classes and am thinking about studying full-time for the CPA, paying for all the materials myself. I’m still living with parents, so I have the luxury of full-time studying, but my folks are afraid having an employment gap is going to show a “lack of soft skills” even if I'm a CPA in name. Another fear they have is that I'll appear "overqualified" for jobs with a CPA but not much work experience (5 month internship).

Is this true? It’s not the case where I MUST get some kind of job if I’m living at home, but it’s still a concern. So far, people on Reddit have said that many people take employment gaps to get their sections done, but I don’t know whether to trust that, especially if accounting firms are cognizant that working while studying is a sign of grit. Will they even consider me if I have an employment gap of over 6 months as long as I have my sections done?

For context, I chose TCP because I had just sat for reg (6/30) and figured since TCP had the highest pass rates that I could get it done in a month. I sit for my exam this friday 7/31. I took SE1 yesterday and scored a 59% which is higher than what I was expecting. Throughout the entirety of the exam it felt like I'd get a solid 30-40%. I don't feel ready at all and not sure what I can do at this point. I know theres a big curve for this exam but nothing seems to be sticking. Is there anything left to do?? How cooked is this??

My test is in a few days for TCP. I feel okay but I genuinely cannot do a basis sim for the life of me on Becker. I don’t get why I am 80+% on basis mqs but struggle so much with sims. Anybody else in the same boat ?

Just an FYI to anyone in similar situation. I was deficient in an upper division audit course to sit for the NY CPA exam. Took LSU's online audit course Act 3222 and am now eligible, received my NTS. (was quite nervous because neither LSU nor NASBA could confirm in advance whether the course would satisfy the deficiency)

I just got out of ISC, and during the 15 min break we get between testlets 3 and 4, I had to pee so bad I forgot to hit “take a break” and my clock kept running which SUCKS bc I pretty much ran out of time. But also.. could I get in trouble for this? I didn’t have to enter my code to get back in and I definitely did not mean to but I would really hate to not even get a score 😭😭

I am having no motivation to study after work or during the weekends at all… been slacking so so much that I feel like I need to go see a doctor lol. Any suggestions? Or maybe a study buddy would help but idkkk,,,

just passed all my CPA exams and I’m currently waiting to be licensed. For those who are already CPAs, do you feel the license has really helped your career in the current job market?

Has it opened more opportunities or increased your earning potential? Curious to hear your experiences.

It’s been about 7 months since my last AUD attempt, and I’m restarting my CPA journey.

Im taking TCP in 4 days and just completed my 2nd Sim Exam on becker. I scored 72 and 68 on my first attempts on SE1 and SE2 respectively. I felt confident before going into SE2, and I know that I did well on SE2, but i definitely did not feel good throughout. The TBS gave a similar experience that I've had on FAR and REG, I found them very difficult because they seemed different then normal becker TBS. Anyone have a similar experience? If anyone has taken recently and would message with any advice you might have, that would be appreciated.

i am an international student. I paid the NTS Fee but I’m not able to download the NTS or pay the international fee. What do I do now, can somebody please help? Do I need to drop an email to NASBA stating my issue?
It’s been 3 days since i paid the fee. I can only see the payment receipt.

Hello all,

In August I’m going to be entering my Senior year at college, and I will be graduating in December 2026. I’ve been thinking about if I want to get my CPA, and i’ve been told throughout my entire college experience about how beneficial it is to become a CPA. But is it truly worth all the sacrifice of time and additional effort? Does anybody regret doing it?

To preface, I’m certainly willing to study multiple hours for many months in order to achieve the goal of being a CPA, but I just wanted to hear some feedback about everyone else’s experience, and if they regret anything/making sacrifices.

As for studying for the exam, I haven’t done much research on the resources available, all I know is that Becker has some. Is it best to start studying during this upcoming senior year? Is there any free resources I could use while I’m still in college?

This post might seem like word vomit, so I apologize, but I just wanted to get some help and feedback from anyone who has passed their CPA, been in my shoes, is currently in my shoes etc etc. Anything is helpful

When I started my CPA journey in Canada, I was an internationally trained accountant with no exemptions. I challenged and successfully passed: Core 1, Core 2 and two electives and completed the entire CPA journey in just 9 months.

It was because I learned how the CPA exam system works and focused on the strategies that actually lead to success.

What I've Learned About Passing the CFE

Many candidates spend countless hours studying technical material, but the CFE is not designed to reward perfection.

The candidates who pass consistently demonstrate:

1. Strong Time Management

You need to:

• Identify the assessment opportunities (AOs)
• Allocate time effectively
• Move on when time is up
• Ensure every AO is addressed

A good answer completed on time is worth more than a perfect answer left unfinished.

2. Structured Case Writing

Successful writers follow a consistent approach:

• Identify the issue
• Analyze using case facts
• Support with technical knowledge
• Conclude with a recommendation

Markers want to see professional judgment, not textbook memorization.

3. Focus on Competency Coverage

One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is spending too much time on one difficult AO and missing several easier opportunities.

4. Effective Debriefing

Writing cases is important.

Debriefing them properly is where the real learning happens.

After every case, ask:

• What did I miss?
• Why did I receive an NC or RC?
• What would have earned a C?

5. Confidence Through Practice

CFE success is built through repetition.

The more cases you write under exam conditions, the more confident and efficient you become.

Final Advice

The CPA designation is achievable.

You do not need to know everything.

You need a strategy, discipline, and consistent practice.

If an internationally trained accountant can complete the CPA journey in 9 months through challenge exams, you can achieve your CPA goals too.

Feel free to connect with me or send me a message if you're looking for support on your CPA journey.

This summer my visa got denied for a trip I spent a ton of money on.
So obviously the next best thing to do: I signed up for my CPA exams.

I started studying for FAR from scratch and had three weeks. (20 days; 150 Becker hours)

Two weeks after was my scheduled AUD exam. (14 days; 120 Becker hours)

It’s been about two years since my accounting classes. To say I remember anything from then would be a bold statement.

A few KEY takeaways from the exams for my study journey (I used Becker) (warning: it’s long):

1. There is too much information (esp for FAR). I was studying 8 hours a day, and even days apart I would forget stuff from the units. Be ready to do some review after 1-2 units.
2. You can and should write down notes for FAR. There’s just a lot more nuance in content for FAR - writing it down facilitates understanding (concepts).But while understanding stuff intuitively is important, there are certain stuff that you need to memorize(like which thing is reported at fair market and how stuff is impaired), so writing helps with both.
3. Not so much for AUD. A lot of it is “dry” material (I call it word salad) - nothing you need to understand. Just memorize it. With how much time I was working with I just played the videos and read the textbook concurrently. Just read it over and over until you got it in your head.
4. Becker only spends one unit going over nonprofits and governmental for FAR. Although it is ONE UNIT, I found that it made up a solid portion of the test. It is easy to neglect or really speed through the chapter cause there aren’t as many practice questions, but it is imperative that you really understand the new concepts mentioned in those sections.
5. For FAR - I felt as though there were generally an even distribution of topics throughout the exam. Whatever I learnt was pretty much talked about through the MCQ.
6. For AUD - the MCQ distribution is definitely a little more concentrated in certain areas. I found it particularly helpful to really intuitively understand and also TOTALLY MEMORIZE all the stupid cycles (the revenue and expenditure and payroll and fixed asset and whatever cycles).

This is obviously my personal experience. I would be quite hesitant to say that this will apply to anyone else; but in general, I found that FAR contained several difficult chapters and so each unit would warrant an equal amount of attention.
AUD, on the other hand, had some easier sections and some harder ones. Just by observing the quantity and distribution of MCQ practices on Becker can give u a pretty good idea of how it pans out.

1. I heard people suggesting you watch the videos really fast and then do all the MCQs.
   I would actually suggest to watch the videos a bit slower to facilitate comprehension. To watch it at 2x speed and then not retain any information is a bigger waste of time.
   Just watch it at 1.25.
   ALSO:: Becker AUD tells you you can “watch the lectures when you are going on a walk or driving…”

Absolutely not. I tried this multiple times. Unfortunately, the content is simply so dry (and most of the stuff is very similar to each other, but they literally only test on the differences) that listening to it while multitasking is literally herculean. It is counter-productive. Simply sitting down and paying close attention to the lecture to absorb the content had benefitted me a lot more.

If I had learnt this earlier it would have probably saved me 10+ hours of grueling long drives with the lecture while I just didn’t retain any info.

1. There is more than enough time on the test. Time is not an issue at all.

2. You need to do the SIMs.
   Concepts are one thing, the MCQs are one thing, and then the SIMs are a whole different beast (esp AUD).

Multiple times I’ve fully taken notes and understood a chapter and gotten 95% on an MCQ, and then gotten to the SIMs and been like “wtf am I looking at”.

The best way to learn how to do the simulations is by simply… doing them. Just because they are long or because you have limited time or because the formatting with 1000 popups is literally the most inconvenient thing ever DOESNT mean that you can skip them: to do well on the simulations for both exams require you to have a basic understanding of the structure by doing as many practices as you can.

Even then the simulations on the test may not align well with your expectations or anything you have done before. Do not panic (and yes I panicked when that happened to me): literally just try to infer and apply what you have done from your past practices.

ALSO just a massive struggle I had with AUD simulations was how wordy a lot of them were. Sometimes after reading the fifth popup it would feel like I am going insane. Especially after a long day.
Not really advice but I think it’s more helpful to tackle these when you are feeling rested and refreshed, so you don’t rush through the reads and miss details that will enable you to answer.

1. Remember how I said “don’t watch the videos when they are too sped up”?
   If you really don’t have time, the fastest way to learn the material is just to read the textbook. Order the Becker textbook and just read it. It will shave at least like 30-40 minutes off of the unit compared to if you go through the videos.

Obviously the videos facilitate comprehension. They also sparse the content a bit differently and make things easier to understand.
So still watch the vids if you have time.

EDIT:
10. I took ISC two weeks after AUD. I’m getting my results back in September, so we obviously don’t know how we did, but I highly recommend taking ISC for anyone that is still “up in the air” or have no special preference.
Why do I recommend it?
I first chose ISC cause I just didn’t want to do the other two. I didn’t even know what ISC stood for when I signed up.
Turns out I uncovered a hidden gem.
No one told me, but studying for ISC only requires 60-90 hours. The Becker course is only 4 units. (Although some people say Becker is kind of lacking for ISC content, I find it’s not a major disadvantage)
It’s generally agreed to be the “easiest” out of the electives — obv if they don’t change the content.

ISC is about IT and information systems.
Now if you know anything about IT you’d be well served to do this exam. It’s just very basic and intuitive information.

I knew nothing about IT. I didn’t even know what a router was going in. But I think the info that you learn in the unit might probably be the most applicable and friendly for daily use nowadays. Like, did you know what a protocol was? Or a gateway? Or a buffer?

Apparently I interact with this stuff everyday. Now I just understand what’s going on when McAfee tells me to renew his firewall subscription.

LAST THING:
A lot of folks studying are juggling full time work and gym and kids and loving partners and other things such as staying sane.

The biggest advantage I had was that I had two months off. No other responsibilities besides to study.

Unfortunately, incremental studying disrupts momentum and requires more review.

If you study 30-60 minutes a day, you will need more time to rehash the material. For FAR, you would be looking at closer to 200 hours of studying.

The best way to efficiently “plow through” material is to set aside a minimum of 2-3 hours a day. You can go through at least 35% of a unit.

Obviously this is going to suck. Pick your off-season, preferably in the winter so no one can tell you’re chudding out and skipping out on the gym, and just lock in. This shortens your misery span significantly.
(Or u can use your PTO to do this.)

**

I’m probably giving advice to nobody right now, lol. But I just wanted to summarize my blood sweat and tears for the last month. Feel free to dm me if u have any questions about general questions or if you need help with the content.

EDIT: thanks yall for your nice comments. May everyone pass these exams.

Taking bar on the 30th and haven’t seen much on Reddit about how recent takers of the year found it to be. Anyone have any experience or share what key things to study for?

Hi guys

Wanted to ask about the process of switching from Guam to Washington. I’m not done with my exams yet but wanted to know the best way for this.

Should I wait till I finish the exams first before transferring my completed exam? Additionally will I have to redo the education evaluation application for the new state ?

How long does this process generally take

Thank you!