After You PASS the CPA Exam

Five Things to Do After Passing the CPA Exam

04. Dec, 2008 28 Comments

Many candidates like myself who have spent hundreds of hours studying over the course of several months (or years) and finally passing don’t really know what to do with themselves or their newly found free time. Here are five suggestions to help pass the time:

5. Peruse the internet and treat yourself to an item costing around $350…which is the cost of the new NTS you’re used to paying for plus two rescheduling fees. Your bank account is used to not having it anyway.

4. Now that you have time do to such things, pour a cup of coffee and reflect upon the irony of the AICPA testing the concepts of timeliness and real time data processing.

3. While you don’t really want to do so, grab your Regulation book and spend a few hours reviewing it so that you can answer your relatives’ tax questions over Christmas. The prospect of free CPA advice will be enticing to them and this will be the last Christmas you remember anything about taxes.

2. Put off applying for your license until after you file your tax return. This is the last tax year that you can be liberal with your tax deductions without the professional consequences of doing so.

note – criminal charges may still apply. Consult your local CPA.

(…this is tongue-in-cheek for everyone out there with the IRS Tipline on speed dial…)

1. You’re going to need a new excuse for skipping family reunions and other gatherings you would rather miss. “Sorry, I have my exam in two weeks and I need to study” will not cut it anymore. It’s time to think of a new one.

another71.com 19. Dec, 2008 at 1:04 pm

Funny you should mention that! I just bought an LG Lotus phone and I’m buying a Traeger BBQ grill (expensive) to reward myself

Thanks Jilly
Anonymous 19. Dec, 2008 at 9:45 pm

All my motivation and intelligence went out the window after passing! My brain has turned into a frat-boy, partying pile of mush. Oh well…
Anonymous 25. Feb, 2009 at 9:41 pm

I thought drinking would be the first thing on the list. It will be on mine…
TXwannaB 18. Jun, 2009 at 9:15 pm

As for needing and excuse, there is always that Continuing Education.

As for me, I am probably going straight to rehab. Between the sleeping pills (study until 10), the wake-up pills (begin again at 5) the pain killers and muscle relaxers for reading and stairing at the screen, the blood pressure medication etc…

Yep, rehab is probably it.
Anonymous 22. Oct, 2009 at 6:43 pm

does anyone know how long it takes to actually get licensed when all paperwork has been filed with the state board?
gigi 08. Dec, 2009 at 4:15 pm

i just pass 4 parts of the CPA exam. Can anybody tell me what is the next step? What paperwork should i fill out?
Thanks.
Bee 22. Jun, 2010 at 4:33 pm

I received a notice that I had passed the 4 sections of the exam but i can not figure out what the next steps are. I am in NY. Any proud CPAs in NY want to offer some advice? Thanks!
Dumb 26. Jun, 2010 at 3:39 pm

For those who passed the exam and do not know what to do next, simply contact your state board or research their website. Each state may have different procedures.