[Anonymous]

Does anyone know someone how took the Certified Financial Planner exam after obtaining a CPA license?

[Anonymous]

i've always wondered, what is considered more prestigious / difficult.. CPA or CFP?

[Anonymous]

From what I hear a CPA is one of the hardest license to obtain. However, I have heard that it has been getting progressively easier to get a CPA license relative to 40 or 50 years ago.

[Anonymous]

On the other hand I've also heard on average a CFP make a lot more then CPA's lol

[Anonymous]

CFP's from what I've seen are pretty common and it seems relatively easy to obtain compared to the CPA exam but I have not tried to obtain one so its purely based on observation of others. Also people that took the CPA exam 40-50 years ago think its easier but in fact it is an easier testing format but has much more information and specific knowledge required that most of the aged accountants probably would not be able to pass. Also it use to be that any joe blow off the street could take the CPA exam and with the increased requirement of hours/work experience or both it has become tougher to get your CPA then previously.

[jeff]

eh…they may not have had the 150 hour requirement, but the reqs were still pretty strict I believe.

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Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[Anonymous]

That's not what I've heard about way back when but those are only things I've heard.

[Anonymous]

I wasn't trying say it was easy back then but the requirements were not as stringent and it was NOT harder to get your CPA back then.

[Anonymous]

I know Peter Olinto took it:-)

And I'm considering it myself, or law school… or masters in taxation.

My husband said: first decide what you want to do in life and then get an education for it… but how do I know what I like? I don't want to go to law school and then realize that I hate tax law.

[jeff]

winch – I write about the old v new CPA Exam in my book…check it out if you want…

https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-review-free-book.html

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[Anonymous]

Jeff- thanks I'll check that out. But just so we're clear you agree that it isn't easier now then it was?

[jeff]

It's different.

The exam experience was worse then…2.5 days in a huge conference room. They also didn't give you exact scores…you either scored a 69 or a 75…there wasn't any 71, 72, 73s.

Today – the breadth of the material tested is greater and then you have the whole adaptive testing thing.

All in all…the exam is as tough as it ever was and pass rates are in line with what they have been historically.

-Jeff

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[Anonymous]

That's what I was speaking of earlier when I said the testing format is easier. And now that I look at your book I realized that's where I'd seen that information before. Plus I've had the discussion with a few older CPA's about there testing process. But thanks again for your help.

[Author]

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