[markvillain]

I’m currently working at a CPA firm and have been here for the past 10 months. Prior to that, I was just working as an AP staff at a private company.

I’m scheduled to take FAR at the end of January for my first test, but have been struggling to find the energy to study after work because my commute has been about an hour going to and from work.

I obviously want to pass the CPA asap, but I’m not sure if I can effectively study while a majority of my day is at work. My fear in quitting is that I remember how hard it was looking for a job when I was unemployed. If I were to quit, I have enough money saved up to support myself for about a year. I just don’t want to leave a pretty decent job that took me quite a while to land.

[acamp]

Continued Employed > Unemployed + 10 months experience + exam done.

I'd evaluate your schedule to figure out how to squeeze more in. Plenty of people do public + exams, it really really sucks, but its doable. Anyway to take public transportation for that commute (study while commuting)?

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[markvillain]

Unfortunately there is no viable public transportation for my commute. It definitely does suck trying to fit so many things in a day. Just trying to evaluate my opportunity costs of studying full time vs working/studying.

[LKD CPA]

Have you looked into the Ninja audio? I also have a commute that is 1 hour + and found that it helped solidify the concepts. I listened to it so much that I had parts of it memorized (and so did my kids). Also, as acamp pointed out, the experience is a huge factor and may go further than you having passed the exams.

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

[mla1169]

If you want it badly enough you'll find a way to study. I hate to be blunt but most of us do this with a full time job, many of us also have kids and other obligations. I worked 50 hours a week at my full time job, another 10 on weekends, was taking online classes for my masters and had 2 kids literally the only time I had for CPA was 10p-midnight during the week and 6a-10a on weekends. It was exhausting but it was for 11 months beginning to end and I was done.

Don't quit a job whatever you do, a gap in employment is troublesome to potential employers.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[rp 12]

I did quit my job to pass the CPA exam. Have enough savings for a year. I have been in public for 20 months, and couldn't pass any exams (3 attempts). I think it is a good option if you can't juggle work and studying (like me). If I was you I would quit, and I will look for a temp to hire job until I pass my exam or try passing 2 or 3 tough ones (FAR, REG, and AUD), and then when am applying for full time jobs, I will try getting back to public accounting firm. Since there is a high turnover in public firm – there is a high possibility that you could be landing a job. It is a bold move, but if you are serious, and disciplined (while working or not working) it is doable.

My situation was similar to you. I have not passed any sections in more than 2 years since I started in public accounting, and I don't think so I will be able to pass if I was still in public field. I was mentally unhappy while working in public (not passing my exams or able to study).

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 67, 62, 77 (lost credit), TBA

FAR - 53, 48, 58, 62, XX

BEC - 53, XX

 

"Success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up, with goals so strong that obstacles, failure, and loss act only as motivation"

AUD: 68, 62, 77✔ (expires 10/31/16)
FAR: 53, 48, XX (retake 6/16)
REG:
BEC: 53

[Anonymous]

Don't quit your job. Depending on your state you may even need one year experience to get licensed and the CPA to sign off on it.

I can't pretend my situation is the same as I do have a few more resources than you but as @mla1169 (who is my new hero by the way) said, we all have a lot of commitments. Very few people here are able to study full time. Even look at the founder of this site, he has 3 kids.

You really can do this. Just set up a battle plan.

[Mamabear]

I leave my house at 6:30 every day to be at work at 8a.m. and don't usually get home until 7 p.m. and have 3 children ages 5 and under. I am a manager in corporate accounting so the first week of every month is basically off limits for studying. I started studying 18 months ago and am waiting for my last section release tonight. It can be done without quitting work. You just have to utilize your time. Study at lunch, get the ninja audio for the drive, stay up late or wake up early, and study all weekend every weekend. You can do it if you want to even if it takes a little longer than it does for other people.

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!!

[Mamabear]

@Brooks…jeff is on kid #7! 🙂

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!!

[Anonymous]

Don't quit. Its a lot slower while working and you may not be able to retain as much information as you know you could, but you can still pass. I've never felt fully prepared for an exam and so far have done better than expected on these exams. I work full time as well and I get all of the hard audit assignments so I'm mentally drained after 8 hours or more work plus 1.5-2 hours driving. I try to get 1-2 hours studying a night along with a workout (if I'm lucky) and really hammer down on the weekends.

There are some nights that aren't productive and others that are. I know I can get crazy high scores on this beast if I had the opportunity to study when fresh but life has made that option difficult. Like my boss says, “You don't need a perfect score to be a CPA.” It was a hard concept for me to understand until after I got my first score. I was thinking about dropping to part time, but am glad I didn't.

So I'd say keep your job and take a few parts. If your results are bad despite your best efforts, then reevaluate your options. You may also need to space your parts out to counter your work schedule. This is what I was forced to do because of time periods I knew I would be working insane overtime or being pressured to finish my assignment under budget.

[Anonymous]

What!?! My goodness…

[mla1169]

The “another71” refers to how many kids Jeff intends to have lol! He's gonna ditch us all for a lifetime reality series.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[super.senpai]

yea, definitely do not quit. Take it from me, “Mr. 47 on Audit”, passing the CPA is awesome and opens numerous doors but nothing beats experience.

BEC: 72,72, 77
AUD: 47, 63

[markvillain]

Thanks everyone for all the insight. I was really trying to see if passing the test faster vs. a slower process while working would have been worth it, but it looks like the job experience is well worth the slower route.

[mw798]

If you can't find time after work. Study 8 hours on Saturday and 8 hours on Sunday.

[Anonymous]

I'm in a little bit of a similar situation. I quit my job. Not just for the exams, though; it was an awful job with some of the most selfish people I have ever known. I took 3 months off.

I studied my brains out with Becker and only passed one of the four exams I took that cycle (Q3). Then I got a new job with much higher pay, a lot more downtime, and studied evenly throughout the day/night. The results have turned out much better – I passed two out of two so far here in Q4. Waiting on that third.

So I don't think your issue is really about the exams. It's about the job. If you're unhappy with where you are now, start to look elsewhere. If you're going for the CPA you are going to want to be somewhere where you can balance your time the way that you want.

[Author]

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