[NotAgain]

Ok fellow Ninjas, I have a question for you. If someone told you that they had taken the CPA exam and passed all four parts, but decided not to go forward and get their actual certificate/license because they didn’t want to bother with having to deal with the annual CPE requirements, what would you think? When I asked why they didn’t consider this before taking the exam, the answer was that it was more about “having fun studying with my study group.”

Truth or BS???

[mla1169]

If it is the truth, makes the person more pathetic than if it was BS.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[pikachu]

Some people are smart and dedicated enough they could pass multiple times I'm sure lol. My mom got her hair license and went back to doing nails I don't know why lol.

I'm thinking about passing mine so I can put it on my resume. I'm making a decent amount now, and I'm more in IT/Finance, so I'm not sure how I'll ever get the certified hours. It would be a nice resume conversation piece lol.

FAR: 2/23/14 77 (1 month studying)
AUD: 5/25/14 68
AUD: 7/13/14 72
AUD: 10/12/14 72
I GIVE UP

[NotAgain]

That's exactly what I'm thinking @mla1169…I mean really, doesn't everyone think that spending a couple thousand dollars on the exam and study materials, then studying for several months on end is fun??? HA.

[mla1169]

And I'm all for camaraderie and friendly competition between study buddies but for that price tag there had better be white sand, crystal clear water and a drink with an umbrella sticking out of it!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[M.O.D.]

I am studying business and accounting and taking the exams for fun. I never had the chance to study while working when young, and was good at making money, so there was no need to continue my education.

I am independently wealthy and can retire on my savings, at age 48, and have the money to blow on exams and school.

I may work in the field or I may not, depending on the chemistry.

So certifications and CPEs are not really a priority.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[mla1169]

M.O.D. But you have the intent of being able to say you're a CPA (even if you're just bragging on a beach lol) I thought? I knew this was just a personal goal and not career related but would you drop it at saying you passed?

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[M.O.D.]

@ mla

Well, I am an investor at heart, and if I get the CPA (and CMA) certifications, I will likely use them productively. I consider them as an investment. So, no, I would not just drop them when done. I see them as valuable assets, otherwise I would not pursue them.

But I do know a professor of business who told me he passed the CPA and CMA just to see what his students had to go through. He files some tax returns for his family, but otherwise never used the certifications.

Though, of course the certs look good on his academic resume too. And he did have to work for a CPA firm for one year to certify the CPA, so maybe his story about doing it just for his students is not completely true.

There are all kinds of smart people out there and some of them are eccentric.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[How many letters do you need]

I thought about doing something similar with the CFA in a few years. Of course there is no continuing education so I would hold it for life…but probably never actually use it. It's more about personal accomplishment. The CPA though? Being that I'm not independently wealthy just yet oh hell ya I'm going to use that sucker…

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Anonymous]

Anyone who would do that is just not wrapped tight. I understand that some people do take this route for several reasons, but not for the camaraderie of a study group. Damn, join a fantasy football league. Get a date. Get laid. Get drunk. There are so many other things that I could think of doing besides taking a train ride through hell.

[Anonymous]

Can you believe people are actually climbing mountains for fun and spending thousands on some kind of gear I assume, but nobody finds it strange? It makes so much more sense to pass CPA exams instead, there is a certain amount of excitement in it, sense of achievement and no risk of dying.

[Anonymous]

I ain't climbing any mountain except the mountain of work on my desk. I wouldn't swim with sharks either.

[M.O.D.]

And maybe he liked a girl in his study group and this was his way of staying close to her. So maybe there was a romantic interest after all.

It is not really fair to talk about him without knowing him or his side of the story.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[nicole2035]

lmao, i'd think you were crazy. I do understand some people learn for the fun of it. You'd be better off saying, you got licensed, and your certificate wan't renewed because u were short some credits for CPE and didn't realize

OR leave it off your reesume all together, would be the best bet. CPE isn't that much, it sounds like you probably couldn't qualify to get licensed, or you never really passed all 4 parts (i'm assuming they can't verify if you passed or didn't). I don't see what's the point of even bringing up the CPA if you never actually got licensed, because who cares if you passed all 4 ? There's other requirements like background check, related experience, credit, and they'll prob assume you couldn't pass a background check or lacked the credits

[Anonymous]

Fair point M.O.D. That makes it much more believable. Thank you for pointing that out to me. I did not think of that. I bet you are right.

[Anonymous]

Kricket, that is my point. Maybe passing CPA exams is a boring version of swimming with sharks for boring people, just a thought

[Author]

Replies