[skmt57]

I was working as an accounting clerk/accounts payable for a little under 2 years before I resigned to focus on passing the CPA exams. I am currently working on my 4th exam which I am planning to take at the end of July/early August. I was just wondering how likely is it for me to be able to find a job to get my hours in when I have no actual experience as an accountant. At my previous job, I mainly did bank reconciliations, accruals, cut checks, data entry. One of my friends said that it’ll be hard for me to find an accountant position with no experience. The best I can do is maybe find an accounts receivable position and move from there. I’m just wondering if I’d even be able to find a CPA to sign off on my hours if I’m working as AR or AP and not an accountant. And I think CPA exam scores expire 3 years after you have passed all 4 exams. I will be studying abroad for a semester after I finish my exams, so after I come back, I will only have 2 1/2 years left to obtain that one year of experience. I think it just makes me nervous after reading how some people have been having a hard time finding a job after passing all their exams. Any input? Thanks.

BEC 75 Oct 2013
REG 73, 93 Jan 2014
FAR 84 May 2014
AUD 81 Aug 2014

[overapplied]

>>I think CPA exam scores expire 3 years after you have passed all 4 exams.

Check with your local State board of accountancy for their policies in regards to this. They do not expire in the state I live in.

>>One of my friends said that it'll be hard for me to find an accountant position with no experience.

For me it was the opposite experience. Passed the exam, month later, recruited into firm. (I'm still working on the experience requirement but it is soooo close.

Your experience actually sounds a lot better than mine was for accounting before hiring.

For the experience requirement (including the work you have done prior) that also can vary by state. In my state it is any experience worked in a accounting related position. Here if you can find someone willing to sign off on the work experience requirement, the more power to you.

AUD - 75 - 07/06/2012
FAR - 72, 74, 82 - 05/30/2013
BEC - 84 - 01/16/2013
REG - 60ish, 84 - 08/16/2013

CISA - Passed

[AScott89]

I know in NC your scores don't expire once you've passed all four.

--
B - 65, 74, 2/26/18
A - 72, 68, 84
R - 72, 82
F - 55, 79

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[Anonymous]

I passed the CPA having almost no direct experience in accounting. Then again, “accounting” was never my end-game — the CPA title was more of a cost effective way of demonstrating I had some technical skill-sets and a lot of motivation. I will say that from a salary perspective, I definitely got low-balled initially and had to prove my value to a much greater extent than others. Strangely, in the long run, this actually ended up benefiting me in my current role.

Definitely an interesting topic — I'll be back later to share a bit more.

[fuzyfro89]

skmt57:

Yes, finding ANY job without experience is tough. This is made even tougher if you aren't in a city that has lots of need for accounting professionals.

Congrats on making it through 3 exams! You are almost there!!!

Don't make the mistake of taking things 10 steps at a time. You can't plan your entire life out. Things change. Industries change. Cities change. Concentrate on getting past the final exam, and then start networking, contacting firms/recruiters, reach out to friends/family, headhunters, etc. You need to get a feel for what's available, and go from there.

[Author]

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