Is the C.P.A designation really worth it?

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    Topic
  • #193810
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I am sure many of us have asked ourselves this question before. Please share your reasons, comments as to why you believe in the C.P.A designation and how it has changed your life?

    I am a C.P.A Candidate. Scheduled exams below. First Timer!

    BEC-5/28

    REG-7/25

    Thank you

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 29 total)
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  • #667946
    mhueycpa
    Participant

    See post on the following thread. https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/does-the-salary-justify-the-exam-process.

    For me personally, I want my own firm preparing taxes and doing bookkeeping, as well as audits should I come across businesses needing auditing services. So for me, CPA is must. I don't love money, I love the things it allows me to DO! Same for CPA license, its a b*tch to get, but once you've got it, it opens many doors (owning your own business, promotions within existing firms, etc.)

    THE 300 CLUB WILL DO JUST FINE!

    #667947
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Honestly it depends.

    If you go into Public Accounting, it's a requirement. You will not advance without it.

    Personally I'm in a job where it's not required but it's respected. That was my motivation. I'm a strong believer that the CPA License adds integrity to the profession. When I know that someone has their license, I take them a bit more seriously because I know what they went through to get those letters.

    But there are many Corporate Accountants without their license who will never get it and never need it. They're fine without it.

    #667948
    waffle_house
    Participant

    @ Attagyal You didn't tell us your reasons first.

    AUD - 80
    BEC - 75
    FAR - 84
    REG - 76
    Exams started Sep 2014 -Exams done Mar 2017

    Texas CPA

    I put in work, it was evident

    #667949
    y_u_no_pass
    Participant

    Well it has been good for me. I got a promotion and 27% raise. Plus it looks cool!

    Florida CPA!
    Took final exam 2/25/15.
    Sent in Application 3/12/15.
    Issued License 3/20/15.
    Used CPA Excel solely for all exams.

    #667950
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Thank you for letting me know your reasons and experiences much appreciated. My reasons for going for the C.P.A designation are for:

    1.Career Advancement/Job Security

    2.The Respect that comes with it

    3.I want to be able to afford a good life for my family (hubby and two toddlers a boy(2) and girl(3).

    4.C.P.A is just the next step.

    Wow this is the first time I have written my WHYs down. I had them in my head all this while.

    I have a B.A in Political Science, Master of Science in Management, and a Master of Science in Accounting.

    I received my Master's in 2010 and while pursuing that degree I never heard much about the CPA designation perhaps because I was an online student. While working as an Accounts Payable Specialist in 2014, is when I realized that my Master's in Accounting alone wasn't going to allow me the type of opportunities I was dreaming about. That's when I started researching about the C.P.A designation. And come to find out I was pretty much eligible minus needing a Federal Income Tax course which I took before getting my approval early this year.

    This is part of my story. So this year it's all about taking the exams and see where this journey takes me so help me God.

    #667951
    Skynet
    Participant

    Being a Certified Party Animal was great and all but it didn't pay the bills. Plus I got a little tired of waking up to unknown women the next morning and being soaked in drinking alcohol was not a really great smell.

    I felt that that going after the Certified Public Accountant would be a better choice. At least it will be stable. So I decided to give up the other CPA lifestyle.

    AUD - 90
    BEC - 78
    FAR - 84
    REG - 87
    World Domination Plan

    Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
    Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
    Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
    Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
    Phase V : TBD

    BEC : 78
    REG : 87
    FAR : 84
    AUD : 90

    World Domination Plan

    Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
    Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
    Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
    Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
    Phase V : TBA

    #667952
    Martin
    Participant

    mhueycpa, a friend of mine makes around 150K just doing taxes and write up work. He has around 120 clients between small business and individual tax returns. According to him, he would be making 300K or more if he had the time to take and pass the CPA exam. He gets a lot of inquiries to do taxes for small to medium size companies,but they dont go with him once they know that he is only an enroll agent.

    Through God all things can happen!

    “You never fail until you stop trying.”
    ― Albert Einstein
    When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
    “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

    FAR= 72-84
    Audit= 73-82
    BEC= 74-75
    Reg=77

    #667953
    Skynet
    Participant

    Martin – Wow $150k for just doing mostly taxes. Plus it really stupid for small companies to not go to him for taxes because an EA can be just as qualified as a CPA to do taxes.

    AUD - 90
    BEC - 78
    FAR - 84
    REG - 87
    World Domination Plan

    Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
    Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
    Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
    Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
    Phase V : TBD

    BEC : 78
    REG : 87
    FAR : 84
    AUD : 90

    World Domination Plan

    Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
    Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
    Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
    Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
    Phase V : TBA

    #667954
    Martin
    Participant

    Skynet, he does both taxes and write-up accounting work for his clients. He says that owners of bigger companies who do not have a CPA under their payroll want a CPA to do their books and taxes. How are you doing with Audit?

    Through God all things can happen!

    “You never fail until you stop trying.”
    ― Albert Einstein
    When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
    “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

    FAR= 72-84
    Audit= 73-82
    BEC= 74-75
    Reg=77

    #667955
    Skynet
    Participant

    Martin – I have 3 more weeks for AUD. Right now it's cumulative review and working on weak areas practicing Sims to reinforce what I have studied.

    As for the small companies only wanting a CPA to do their taxes and books makes no sense. I have personally known EAs who do both taxes and bookkeeping and do a good job of it since some of them were prior Controllers.

    AUD - 90
    BEC - 78
    FAR - 84
    REG - 87
    World Domination Plan

    Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
    Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
    Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
    Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
    Phase V : TBD

    BEC : 78
    REG : 87
    FAR : 84
    AUD : 90

    World Domination Plan

    Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
    Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
    Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
    Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
    Phase V : TBA

    #667956
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Most definitely. Especially once you start to get experience, CPA + experience = HUGE advantage over other job candidates that don't have those three letters. So it may or may not help you get a job to begin with if you are right out of college, but if you are staying in the accounting industry for the long-haul I believe the CPA will pretty much always be worth it.

    #667957
    ipasscpa
    Participant

    You keep your self up to date with accounting.

    Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.

    Kofi Annan

    CPA- VA

    #667958
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Why not do it?! The process is SO much fun! I can't think of a single thing I would rather spend my money or time on.

    #667959
    Determined CPA
    Participant

    It better be worth it =)

    Skynet you crack me up everytime!

    A - 75
    B - 78 God is good.
    F - 77 Answered prayers.
    R - 84! Done!!

    Paperwork sent - waiting for license!!
    Still on a cloud and in shock. Through God, all things will happen.

    #667960
    mhueycpa
    Participant

    Martin: May I inquire as to where your located? I'll move there once a Certified Pain in the Ass, and pick up the companies not taken by your friend!! Skynet is living proof that some accountants have personality!

    THE 300 CLUB WILL DO JUST FINE!

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 29 total)
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