[Dan]

I’m enrolled in a Masters of Accounting program. I am planning to take the CPA exam in a year or two coming from a bachelors in history.

I noticed that my course listing to get my MSA is a bit unusual because it only requires me to take Auditing 1 for example and not Auditing 2. I would presume that auditing 2 would be an extremely important class to take in preparation for the CPA.

So far I’m completing Intermediate 2 and Auditing 1. I’ve passed the introductory financial, managerial, inter 1, and cost accounting courses. My question is what courses best prepare you for the CPA exam?

My guess is that the intermediate accounting courses prepare for FAR, auditing for AUD, and there are 2 courses in Business Law that I’m required to take. I presume those are for REG. I’m also taking the taxation course this summer.

Is this the “bread basket” of courses to prepare with? The rest of my schedule consists of advanced accounting seminars and research courses. Some other courses are computerized accounting and I honestly want to take only the courses that will best prepare me for the CPA first.

Thanks in advance.

AUD - 83
BEC - 91
FAR - 85
REG - 79

.

[govtec]

I think you already have the basics covered to prepare you for the CPA exam. If you are able to understand those concepts in auditing/accounting/blaw then you are as prepared as any candidate out there who graduated with an accounting degree. I wouldn't sweat too much about auditing 2. The auditing section in the exam is logical in it's theory and concept. Just make sure you understand the intro classes as it will come in handy since you are coming from a history background.

BEC - 12/13
FAR - 5/14
AUD - 8/14
REG - 2/15
Passed 6 of 6 CLEP Exam

[leglock]

i concur with govtec. I didn't have an accounting degree and needed the requisite accounting hours to sit for the exam.

I took:

Intermed 1 and 2

Personal Tax and Corp Tax

Auditing 1

Advanced Accounting

6 classes and that was all that was needed and covered pretty much all areas of the cpa exam of which you will need a review course for.

[y_u_no_pass]

I think you will have a good foundation for most, except BEC. That exam is based off of about 10 different general business courses. But it doesn't go too in depth on them. So it wouldn't be too bad, but your courses haven't prepared you.

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.

[jonescobbs]

I highly recommend a Gov/NFP class.

[Mamabear]

I passed with 1 tax course–individual tax, 1 audit course, 1 AIS course, 2 business laws (because it was required to sit), q cost accounting course, and 3 intermediate accounting courses. In all honestly they went into more detail than the test and I didn't look at any of my college stuff. The review books, notes, and test banks were way more helpful than the college courses. The one benefit college gave was in preparation for BEC, none of it was unfamiliar because I was a business major.

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!!

[jmhassell21]

@leglock

I took summer accounting courses in Inter Acct I, II, Audit, Advanced Acct, Tax, and Cost.

Worst summer of my life, but it put me in a position to take the CPA exam. Becker has covered any gaps left behind by taking only the basics. (Plus, the Inter Acct II professor used the same final as his regular semester courses! We all failed it.)

REG (4/2015)
AUD (5/2015)
FAR
BEC

"And I am reminded, it is not the billows, but the calm level of the sea, by which the heights and depths are measured." James A Garfield

[leglock]

@jmhassell21:

Those courses are the foundation of test, coupled with a review course, a candidate should be good to go. I had an instructor with a Masters in Accounting from University of Chicago (which is akin to an Ivy League school) who did not take any review course and passed the exam. I can't imagine passing the test without a review course.

[Anonymous]

Don't waste your coursework on the CPA exam. Look at the big picture, and use your classes to set yourself up for your career. Your review course will teach you how to pass the exam.

[Author]

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