[Mary 2496]

I have been curious about the general age range of those who take the CPA exam. I am 41 and sometimes feel like I am an old person taking the exam. Any thoughts on age — are you just out of college and in your 20’s or is anyone here a bit older, like myself?

[Anonymous]

@Mary thanks – i have taken AUD, BEC & REG. Missed AUD by 3 pts it was so depressing and made me lose motivation. studied my behind off for BEC and came up short, tried to squeeze in REG also came up short but scored better than BEC. Trying to remember what i did for AUD that made me go from 48 to 72 LOL. The people that know of my journey are quite supportive so i have that going for me.

Best of luck to you too.

[Tax lady]

I'm 36. Did things a bit backwards. Started out going to a community college after high school, then got married and had kids. Then realized an Associate's degree wouldn't cut it and went back to school for my undergrad and graduate degrees. Now pursuing the CPA…..I wish I had known 20 years ago how difficult things would be trying to do all of this later in life with a family, but then again, 20 years ago I thought I wanted to be a nurse! When you are young it's sometimes difficult to decide what you want to spend the rest of your life doing as a career.

AUD - 80
BEC - 75
FAR - 85
REG - 82

CPAExcel, Ninja MCQ's

REG 8/15/14 (73); 11/13/14 (82)-expired 🙁
AUD 5/30/15 (80)
BEC 11/28/15 (75)
FAR 7/30/16

Studying with CPAexcel and Ninja notes/MCQ's/Flashcards

[TNCPA16]

I started the CPA exam right out of college, but wasn't committed to it at all. I got really frustrated because I was failing everything (and I was NOT used to that!) So I gave myself a nice, long break, got an MBA and passed the CISA exam, and now I'm back at it with a new attitude 🙂 I'm hoping to have it all done before I hit the big 3-0 in a little less than a year.

[juuustin]

@Chezhead – Central Maryland

MD Candidate: 10/1/14

FAR - 87 (11/23/14)
REG - 87 (1/30/15)
BEC - 89 (4/19/15)
AUD - 98 (5/30/15)

Ethics - 100

Experience - In Progress!

[jbisdamon]

Took my first exam a week after my 22nd birthday. If I finish by November I will be so excited, but I seriously doubt that happens as I've been slammed at work lately and studying time is getting slimmer. I feel like a lot of people go into accounting late in life.. It's a solid career, and I think when people look for stability where they didn't previously have it, accounting is a good answer.. I'm just a weird person who knew I was going to do accounting when I was 15 and never changed my major once.. working on being a 3rd generation CPA in my family lol.

BEC - 76 7/22/14
AUD - 84 8/30/14
REG - 75 10/16/14
FAR - 87 11/24/14

[umkcfuturecpa]

I will be 30 this December, received a bachelor's in a non-accounting field in 2008, masters in accounting this May, hopefully finishing my last two exams this month, and starting with a firm later this month.

I think people of all ages can benefit from more education, as long as it is thoughtful as to why they are doing it.

REG - 87 (Becker)
AUD - 96 (Becker & Ninja MCQs)
FAR - 85 (Becker, Ninja MCQs, Audio and Blitz)
BEC - Last one! Waiting on score release 11/24!

Remember: a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

[Anonymous]

I am 46 and am taking the exam now. I did three years in public accounting out of college (graduated 2011) and now work in finance at a public bank. I am also working on my MBA with finance. You can do anything you want, doesn't matter what age you are. That number can only hold you back. Think of all the stuff you already went through when you land a sweet job. I think being older makes it easier because alot of things are already out of your way, ie. kids, house etc. I did all of that and now it is my turn. I still have to work for another 20+ years so why not do what you enjoy. Go for it.

[CPA50]

Hi Mary!

Congrats on taking the exam 🙂

I graduated with a BS in Liberal Arts in 1985. Worked in Marketing – hated it! Realized I was an introvert and didn't find enjoyment in large groups. Got married at 28, had daughter at 40, went back to school for Accounting, got my CFE at 42 and am finally taking the CPA exam. Turned 50 this year, our daughter turned 10 and we celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary. I love being a Forensic Accountant and working in my own tiny office with lots of quiet thinking time and my own hours.

We all do things at our own pace for our own reasons. When I think how hard the test is at 50, I realize that I wouldn't have necessarily been prepared at a younger age. And as someone said, this is for me now and that's what motivates me.

I love how this forum brings us all together to share experiences and motivation. Big congrats to everyone here! We can do this together 🙂

AUD - 80
BEC - 77
FAR - 80
REG - 80

3 years

+ 16 tests

+ 2 expired sections

= DONE FOREVER!

AUD 88 (expired), 80 retake
FAR 64,69,67,73,67,73,73,73, August 3
REG 75 (expired) September 7
BEC 72, 77

The adventure continues...

[LongShot]

Finished my MBA right after turning 26. Just finished CPA exams this summer and turn 29 next month. Ages for this exam run all over the place, but from what I've seen I'm pretty much right at the overall average age for passing the CPA exams.

FAR - 75
AUD - 72; 87
REG - 64; 74; 84
BEC - 88

Done!!

[ymmit]

24 yrs old taking last part in November

Licensed CPA!

[smitty94]

I'm 38, and should have my license before my 39th birthday. I was in industry for 6 years, went back to do my MBA, then got a job with a big 4. As a first year associate I was older than the senior manager, and ten years or more older than the senior associate on the main client I worked on. I don't think it's ever too late. The way I look at it – I will turn 39 either way, I may as well turn 39 with a CPA license.

AUD - 64, 87
FAR - 81
REG - 65, 69, Nov 22
BEC - 88

[Anonymous]

I'm 27. Taking first exam later this month. Graduated with my BS in Accounting in 2010 and started working in the accounting department for a private company. Just worked for a couple years, then decided to finally get back in school in 2012 to get credit requirements to sit for the CPA exam. Could have done it a few years sooner, but hey, that's life. It's never too late to work for what you want in life.

[LKD CPA]

Things are a little backwards for me and very much dependent on my roller coaster of a ride life. I am 33, married, 3 kids and was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years until I started working 10 months ago. Because of my husband's job we have moved frequently (11 times in 14 years) and it has made it difficult for me to finish anything in life. I finally finished my undergrad in 2011 and immediately began working towards my masters (online) since I knew we would be moving. Now that we are likely to be in one spot (for at least 2 years, here in NC) I decided I would get my CPA exams done so I don't have to transfer from state to state.

In 4 years my husband will retire (he will be 37 at retirement) and then I will become the primary support person for the family. At least that's grand plan right now.

FAR: 74, 83
REG: 76
BEC: 77
AUD: 89

[Iggy1985]

I turn 29 this month; accounting was my second degree.. first was something totally different

FAR - 89 (8/19/14) Wiley TB, Wiley Book, Books from School, Ninja Audio/Notes
AUD - 92 (10/14/14) Wiley TB, Wiley Book, Ninja Audio
BEC - 82 (5/8/15) Mostly Ninja MCQ, sprinkles of Becker lectures and Ninja Audio
REG - (8/14/15)

[Mamabear]

@Tax Lady–We're in the same boat!! Should have done this earlier!

Graduated with Bachelors of Business in 2002, MBA 2004, started working in accounting in 2004. Moved around, switched to financial analysis, promoted to Accounting Manager in 2011 with the promise that I would get my CPA. Started taking classes to meet the requirements of 24 upper level accounting classes in 2011. Started testing in August 2013. 3/4 done. Had a couple of kids before and while taking all those accounting classes. Ready to be done. Should have done this while I did the MBA. The kids sucked out my memory retention. Grrrr. Never too old to better yourself, either for personal or professional reasons! Turned 35 in August. Still have to take 4 more upper level accounting classes for licensure requirements after I pass this test.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Author]

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