[Career] Time off to study and / or take the exams

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[Career] Time off to study and / or take the exams

21 posts from 14 voices

Started 2 years ago by pomo
Latest reply from wvCPAtoBE

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pomo

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Hi everyone, I work in a mid size NY firm with 30 accountants and I have been asking the partners to give us time off like a day to take each part and a day to study for each part total of eight days off to take the exams. He wants to know if any other firms give anything and what they give. I know there are firms that also pay for the review course. Please post the name of the firm, size and what they offer you.

Thanks

AUD - 85 / BEC - 73, 81 / FAR - 71, 76 /
REG - 81 expired :( retake 1/17/10 - 79 DONE!!!!!
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Posted 2 years ago #
atipton

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I don't work for an accounting firm. I work for a credit union where a CPA or MBA is strongly suggested in order to advance in their financial department. I had to pay for the review courses and my exams all out of my own pocket. I tried to take my exams on Saturdays so I didn't have to use vacation.

FAR - 79 REG - 73, 74, 83
AUD - 76 BEC - 71, 74, 80

Posted 2 years ago #
Anna

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I work in midsize in NY. We are officially given 28 hours off paid to take our CPA exams... hmm, I am not sure how it works with the day (if it's included in regular PTO or not) because I was sitting for them before employment. And REG I scheduled for Saturday.
I'll find out tomorrow and let you know.

BEC (82), AUD (86), FARE (75) => Becker 2009
REG (74),(74),(83) => Yaeger HS & Audio

Posted 2 years ago #
jaks

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I work in midsize firm in KS. We are allowed to code the time we take for exams as noncharge but to "professional development" time coding. AUD=4.5 hrs, FAR=4 hrs, BEC=2.5 hrs, REG=3 hrs.
Our firm doesn't pay for review courses but we get a $2,000 "expense reimbursement" (so it's nontaxable) when we pass. They also will pay for the whole courses & just withhold a portion of paycheck over 12 months (like an interest free loan) so we aren't hit with huge review course fees & then exam sitting fees all at once.

BEC-71, 72,75 expired, 75 FAR- 39, 57, 74, 82
REG-66, 73, 77 expired,87
AUD-67,60,73,67,71, 78

Posted 2 years ago #
Anna

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Paragraph from our employee manual: "Candidates sitting for the CPA exam will be paid up to the first 28 hours of examination time, which is equivalent to two sittings for all four sections. After 28 hour allowance is exhausted, candidates are required to use available PTO to cover the extended time off.
Employee CPA exam candidates are required to submit a copy of their examination grades to the Human Resources department after each sitting for the exam."
This is midsize public accounting firm, 200 employees, 50 partners.

Our firm gives us 50% discount for Becker material, and bonuses for passing: 4K first year of employment, 3K second years, 2K third year, 1K 4th year.
There is also 1K bonus for getting licensed, I think.

BEC (82), AUD (86), FARE (75) => Becker 2009
REG (74),(74),(83) => Yaeger HS & Audio

Posted 2 years ago #
pomo

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Thanks Atipton, Anna & Jaks. Hope to hear from other people as well.

AUD - 85 / BEC - 73, 81 / FAR - 71, 76 /
REG - 81 expired :( retake 1/17/10 - 79 DONE!!!!!

Posted 2 years ago #
Anita

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I was at top 10 accouting firm, they pay you for Becker, all 4 part once and if you pass during I beleive first year of emplyment - 3K, also 1 study day before exam and 1 day at the day of the exam (8 in total). Now I am working in small (30 people) firm, they pay and give nothing, just FIY

Posted 2 years ago #
The Wolf

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I was at a very small firm (3 partners, 3 staff, 2 receptionists) and there were no perks...no days given, no set "bonus" if passed, and no help with prep or review classes.

Now I work at a very large private company. I was reimbursed for the cost of a review class and get reimbursed for each test when I have a passing grade to show them. I am also given a free day off on the day of the test, but only for the 1st sitting. So if I fail a part where I took a free day for, then when I retake it needs to either be on a Saturday or I need to take a personal day. Overall, I am more than happy with the policy of my current company.

I'm very curious to see what most companies offer.

Posted 2 years ago #
Hopeful_in_NC

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This particular topic has been very interesting to read. I work at a small public firm. I am not reimbursed for any review materials or exam fees. There is no paid time off to study or to take the exams. I had no idea that other firms help foot the bill AND give you time to study. I'm in awe. I've always been told that the financial responsibility is just "part of the deal."

Posted 2 years ago #
Anna

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In my company October - December are dead months for auditors, at least for first year staff. And everyone is just sitting and studying, no even need to go home. I'm not assigned for any engagements for two weeks, I'm sitting in my cube with Yager lectures and books, and all people around me are the same way.

BEC (82), AUD (86), FARE (75) => Becker 2009
REG (74),(74),(83) => Yaeger HS & Audio

Posted 2 years ago #
connieCPAin2010

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My story is a little different. I work for a CPA and his wife is the office manager. I'm the only employee and I work part time, 3 days a week - 4 days during busy season. He has encouraged me to get my CPA because he "doesn't want to work forever"...... When he found out how much I was paying for Becker, he and his wife gave me a check for $1,000 as professional education! I was thrilled because I wasn't expecting anything.

Also - he's very flexible with my schedule so if I need days off before the exam, he's ok with that. No pay of course but that's fine with me. Being able to work part time, and having support and encouragement are enough.

BEC 79 (1/05/10)
REG 80 (3/05/10)
AUD 82 (5/28/10)
FAR 79 (8/27/10) I'm DONE!

Posted 2 years ago #
Inspired

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Your part time of course its flexible. Cool gig for now.

Posted 2 years ago #
dmjid0005

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I work in a small firm and use vacation time to sit for the exam. However, when things are slow, I can whip out the Wiley Book and Yaeger lectures to my hearts content.
I was offered a 2k bonus for passing the exam, but renegotiated for the firm paying the exam fees and reimbursing for the review courses. That worked out better for me than a 2k bonus.
It's interesting to hear all the different offers and so forth.

REG - 82, BEC - 80, AUD - 76, FAR - 8/27/10

Posted 2 years ago #
Lee_IN

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Anna, I am in awe of your situation. However, I cannot complain about mine either, I think it is pretty sweet. I work for the Department of Defense, Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), a very large organization with locations at 7 cities across the United States. Where I work in Indianapolis there are approximately 3000 employees that work for DFAS. Of course, not all are accountants and I could not even begin to estimate how many but the CPA designation is being pushed very hard by senior leadership. They paid for the Becker Review Course and Flashcards and provided training time during work to do the Becker classes that are normally taught in the evenings around town. They reimbursed the CPA application fee, registration fees and exam fees when you pass. Of course if you fail, it is all out of pocket. I get Administrative Leave for each exam day and my boss always lets me take personal time off the day prior to the exam. Of course, there are no bonuses for passing, only the personal self satisfaction of accomplishment.

Becker - FAR 80, AUD 73, 81, BEC 76, REG 81 (2010) DONE!!!! IN LICENSED CPA

Posted 2 years ago #
Inspired

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That's great Lee, why don't they hire some of us, that have passed the exams...

Posted 2 years ago #
TNcandidate1

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Hey, Lee. I am going to be at DFAS next week. Would love to meet you to discuss our great CPA journey. email me at barry.collins@us.army.mil if you get the chance.

REG 75, BEC 77, AUD 66,74,80 FAR 62,71,85 feels good to be done!!!!!

Posted 2 years ago #
Anna

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Lee_IN, who needs bonuses, - this satisfaction of accomplishment you mentioned is the best thing!!! I passed three of my exams before full employment when I didn't even know that we get any reward.
Your company also gives you a great deal - mine doesn't pay for any exam fees.
Best of luck to you and to all of us here:-))

BEC (82), AUD (86), FARE (75) => Becker 2009
REG (74),(74),(83) => Yaeger HS & Audio

Posted 2 years ago #
jaks

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My dept also allows us to study at work if we have no work. Our rule is charge work first, noncharge deadline stuff 2nd and then can study at work. I've even had managers hand me charge work while I was studying & they say "this can wait until after your exam" if my exam is in a few days.

BEC-71, 72,75 expired, 75 FAR- 39, 57, 74, 82
REG-66, 73, 77 expired,87
AUD-67,60,73,67,71, 78

Posted 2 years ago #
pomo

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I need some more responses. The ones here won't get me far.

Thanks

AUD - 85 / BEC - 73, 81 / FAR - 71, 76 /
REG - 81 expired :( retake 1/17/10 - 79 DONE!!!!!

Posted 2 years ago #
tyra828

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I work for one of the Big 4 Accounting firms and even though I wasn't able to take advantage of all they offered here is what they have:

1. Paid for our study materials (used Becker and had a choice to do online classes or self-study), flashcards, and depending certain circumstances paid for the cram sessions.
2. Provided time off to study as long as it wasn't during busy season (we had to use our leave days but time off is time off).
3. Provided flextime or an alternate work scheduled/flextime. For example, work 10 hour days for 4 days and take the 5th day off.
4. If we you are unassigned you were able to study at the office.
5. Offer bonuses but only within a certain timeframe from your hire date.

AUD(80 lost) 76, BEC 81, REG 81, FAR (76 lost), 74, 78

Posted 2 years ago #
wvCPAtoBE

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Mid-sized firm that offers us the day off to take the exam, an interest free loan for Becker, and a bonus dependent upon how quickly you pass all four exams.

BEC 8/27/2009 - 87 REG 11/9/2009 - 84
FAR 10/5/2009 - 87 AUD 11/23/2009 - 85

Posted 2 years ago #

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[Career] Time off to study and / or take the exams

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