1. 

   emandtea
   

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   I'm not sure if someone has asked this before, I did a search and did not find anything.

   Is there a difference in license between Pathway 1 and Pathway 2 besides the requirements? I'm assuming there isn't any differences. The problem is I have about ~140 semester units of education and have worked more than 2 yrs in a cpa firm. So I qualify under Pathway 1, but I don't want to lose out on any opportunities under Pathway 2.

   What got me thinking about this is the sentence in the Licensure Handbook posted on the CBA website "Applicants applying for licensure under Pathway 0 or Pathway 1 will not be able to change to Pathway 2 once a license number has been issued and the approval notification is mailed from the Board."

   Since it says once a license number has been issued, that means you're already approved as a CPA, why would someone want to apply for Pathway 2?

   Thanks.

   CPA 2010
   CMA 2011
   Planning for 2012...

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   Posted 1 year ago #
2. 

   italianCPA
   

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   Under pathway 2 you can apply for a license in another state.
   Pathway 2 is generally recognized in other states (you still have to apply for a license in that state though).
   I suggest you take about 10 credits at a local community college and go over the 150-hr.
   Who knows what they will change in the future!

   FAR - 7/26/10 - 95
   AUD - 8/10/10 - 88
   BEC - 8/31/10 - 88
   REG - 10/15/10 - 95

   Posted 1 year ago #
3. 

   potatogun
   

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   Plus you will be more valuable to your firm or future firms. CA is suppose to be phasing out the 120unit pathway in the near future anyways. A lot of firms in fact pressure new hires to go with the 150 unit pathway now. Just take some city college classes as italianCPA recommended. That's what I have been doing and I needed like 35 units (on a quarter system so 225units total).

   FAR 92 - AUD 91 - REG 94 - BEC 86

   Posted 1 year ago #
4. 

   emandtea
   

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   What if I apply for Pathway 1 to get licensed now and go back to school in the future to finish off the 10 units? Would that work for other states as long as I completed 150 units? Or do they really care about which pathway I choose in CA?

   I just took my last exam on Monday, so if all goes well I want to get licensed in 2010 instead of going to a CC to take classes and wait until early 2011 to get licensed.

   CPA 2010
   CMA 2011
   Planning for 2012...

   Posted 1 year ago #
5. 

   Iwillpasswithalife
   

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   How do you find out how many units the CA board approved for you. I am on the borderline of the 150 and I've taken 3/4 exams already, but I have no idea what pathway I'm on. If I have to make up a few units, I would have to do that before I pass the ethics exam or can I pass the ethics exam after I pass all 4 of my parts then take the classes I need to hit my 150.

   I know I'm very close to 150, just not sure how many units I'm off. I actually could be over 150 units as well. It really depends on what they approved.

   REG - 67, 76 (Q4 2009) - Used CPAExcel first time, Used CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
   BEC - 83 (Q1 2010) - CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
   AUD - 89 (Q2 2010) - CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
   FAR - 81 (Q4 2010) - Roger CPA + CPAReviwForFree

   Posted 1 year ago #
6. 

   potatogun
   

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   The additional units to reach 150unit do not need to be special classes, just from an accredited school. If you were able to sit at all you had enough units for accounting and business in your application transcripts. You just simply need 150 units for the pathway 2. Obviously check transcripts to figure out what you have, that's what you would have sent from the schools to the CBA anyways.

   I believe you decide the pathway when you apply for your licensure. You don't need the 150 units before finishing the testing or experience, just when you have everything all together for getting your license processed.

   FAR 92 - AUD 91 - REG 94 - BEC 86

   Posted 1 year ago #
7. 

   Iwillpasswithalife
   

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   I have all my transcripts and they add to over 150, but I have some remidial class I took at Community College that I'm not sure they would count. If they count those I am over 150, if not I am under.

   I guess I can't really visit the issue until after I have all 4 parts done + ethics exam?

   Also, I have never taken any on-line courses. Am I able to take on-line courses at my community college and they will count? I know a few people just took dance or gym and got a few units that way lol.

   REG - 67, 76 (Q4 2009) - Used CPAExcel first time, Used CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
   BEC - 83 (Q1 2010) - CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
   AUD - 89 (Q2 2010) - CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
   FAR - 81 (Q4 2010) - Roger CPA + CPAReviwForFree

   Posted 1 year ago #
8. 

   potatogun
   

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   Well send your transcripts to CBA because they can file them to your record before you apply for the full license, I believe. But you can always ask. But, yes, I take online classes from De Anza. And actually that's what I have been doing in totality for all my "extra" units.

   FAR 92 - AUD 91 - REG 94 - BEC 86

   Posted 1 year ago #
9. 

   Iwillpasswithalife
   

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   CBA has my transcripts. I sent them in when I first applied for the exam to take my first section. I'll try giving them a call this week. I figured they would tell me how many units I have after I applied :-/.

   REG - 67, 76 (Q4 2009) - Used CPAExcel first time, Used CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
   BEC - 83 (Q1 2010) - CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
   AUD - 89 (Q2 2010) - CPAExcel + CPAReviewForFree
   FAR - 81 (Q4 2010) - Roger CPA + CPAReviwForFree

   Posted 1 year ago #
10. 

    CAcpahopeful2010
    

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    So for someone in CA who has over 150 units, pathway 2 is the best way to go? doesnt matter if i still havent decided tax or audit route (more likely i;ll go tax route).

    Passed REG, FAR, BEC.AUD. Struggling ETHICS. CALIFORNIA

    Posted 1 year ago #
11. 

    MJP
    

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    re the ethics exam, when should it be taken? Is there like a required time that it should be taken before applying for a license?

    Thanks!

    BEC - 85 | AUD - 92 | FAR - 95 | REG - 87 | Done with the Exams! :)

    Posted 1 year ago #
12. 

    xcing1030
    

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    The ethics exam should be taken 2 years or sooner before you apply for licensure.

    My application is under the "review" process, they have everything they need to make a decision. Does it really take 90-120 days???? its a pretty unreal wait, especially if you find out your application is deficient.

    Thanks!

    FAR 77, AUD 78, REG 75, BEC 76

    Posted 1 year ago #
13. 

    potatogun
    

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    2 years before you apply? What if you haven't even spent 2 years total taking the exams and getting experience? That doesn't seem to make sense. I thought you just needed to send in a copy of you passing the ethics exam from the issuer of it to the CBA...

    FAR 92 - AUD 91 - REG 94 - BEC 86

    Posted 1 year ago #
14. 

    MJP
    

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    i agree with potatogun. doesn't seem to make sense. Is that like a stiff rule?

    BEC - 85 | AUD - 92 | FAR - 95 | REG - 87 | Done with the Exams! :)

    Posted 1 year ago #
15. 

    financeguy
    

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    maybe he meant no sooner than 2 years before you apply. Meaning don't take the ethics exam and then 5 years later apply for the license...

    AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
    Done!

    Posted 1 year ago #
16. 

    emandtea
    

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    Here's what I think you may do. Finish taking all your exams first. If you have met the work experience requirement already, then take the ethics test after you finish your last exam since there's the long waiting period to receive the results anyway. You submit the answers for the ethics exam online so you will receive results in a week, I believe.

    If you don't have the work experience and you have passed all parts, then take the ethics exam right before you hit your work requirements. The license application takes about a month to complete by CBA so by the time you're done submitting all the applications, you'll have the work experience and the ethics done.

    CPA 2010
    CMA 2011
    Planning for 2012...

    Posted 1 year ago #
17. 

    kiea
    

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    I'm about to grad in May with my undergraduate in accounting. I currently live in the state of VA, but I plan to move to CA and fulfill the licensing requirements of pathway 1. Mainly because I'm not entirely sure if I'm ready to commit to a Master's program, and I do not want to waste any money. I have two questions: (1) Can I take any courses (eg non-business related courses) to fulfill the 150-hr requirement? (2) If I were to move to CA and become licensed under pathway 1, is it definite that I will not be able to practice in another state, or is that decided on a case by case basis?

    Posted 1 year ago #
18. 

    potatogun
    

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    I can't speak for how other states will handle your pathway 1 license but I can tell you that the units for CA to reach 150hrs can be in anything from an accredited school.

    However this will change in 2 years I believe where the extra units must be business/accounting related. Get them done now to do pathway 2 so you can just take any collection of city college classes.

    FAR 92 - AUD 91 - REG 94 - BEC 86

    Posted 1 year ago #

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