[Anonymous]

I stopped paying my annual membership fee for AICPA and Washington State CPA membership recently. I saw no benefit of membership; it simply seemed like a ploy to gother revenues and offer no benefits. Both memberships called me to inquire why I did not renew. I asked why I should renew and the only benefit they could muster was discounted CPE…..that’s it. Some bable about discounted group life insurance, additional death and disability but those insurance products are already well priced on the open market. I get enough CPE through work (paid for) and have found enough affordable CPE on the web that there is no justification for membership. Maybe people like listing it on resumes? I don’t know….Just wondering if any others are out there.

Also, check out the CGMA requirements (CMA equivalent with no teeth offered by CIMA/AICPA)…

Pass the CPA exam

Get your license

Become a VOTING MEMBER OF THE AICPA

Have the requisite work experience.

Seems like a clear ploy to generate revenue as more people abandon AICPA membership. Thoughts? (stole some of that rant from a previous post; CPApending)

[Anonymous]

I'm not a member. My firm will foot the bill after I get my CPA. I'll join then if it's on their dime.

I am a member of PICPA. It was $25 and required to apply for a CPA exam scholarship.

[Anonymous]

My firm paid for the AICPA and WSCPA membership but I declined simply on principal….It seems like such a waste of money.

[missjones513]

I'm not because my job doesn't cover the full fee.

REG - 5/29/12 (64), 10/1/12 (74), 5/20/13 (75, expires 12/31/14)
FAR - 8/14/12 (64), 8/5/14 (75)
BEC - 11/19/12 (70), 2/25/13 (72), 11/21/13 (73), 1/21/14 (73), 8/30/14 (72), 11/24/14 (75)
AUD - 4/22/13 (65), 10/12/13 (79)

I'm done!!!

Ethics - Pass

[krokofilen]

What's the annual fee?

Surely your employers would pay for this?

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[taxman89]

my account prof is college left the AICPA because she didnt like some of the decisions they were making. Never actually asked what those were (prolly should have done that lol). but she was proudly not a member

AUD - 75
BEC - 77
FAR - 78
REG - 82

AUD: 61-67-75 (Thanks ninja aud)
BEC: 77
FAR: 78
REG:69-73-70-82

Aud-75 3x I knew i never liked you
Bec-77 1x being in the bubble is stressful
Reg-82 4x its not me its you...and no we cant be friends
Far-78 1x easiest section

[gt5717b]

Not a member. The benefits just don't justify the fees.

REG - 89
FAR - 84
AUD - 73, 86
BEC - 89

GA Licensed CPA

[Valerie_Jo]

@krokofilen You'd be surprised what companies will NOT pay for….

FAR: 84
BEC: 88
REG: 33 (winged it, bad plan), 77
AUD: 72 ,72, 81 FINALLY DONE!!!!!!

WI Ethics Exam Passed - 92!!!!

Licensed CPA in WI

[krokofilen]

Valerie_Jo: Hmm OK, must be a U.S. thing, over here any company would pay the fees to maintain your professional licenses.

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[Valerie_Jo]

^^ I asked my employer last year if they would pay the Student Rate for membership in the WICPA (which is like $30-35) and they got all weird about it….they paid it, but they were kind of jerks about it. I won't even bother asking them to pay the professional rate. But I'm sure there are many that would pay it without hesitation.

FAR: 84
BEC: 88
REG: 33 (winged it, bad plan), 77
AUD: 72 ,72, 81 FINALLY DONE!!!!!!

WI Ethics Exam Passed - 92!!!!

Licensed CPA in WI

[005]

I feel like, theoretically, the fees are justifiable because the AICPA (and similar organizations) are there to protect the CPAs industry when legislation is passed, and in certain other aspects. Mainly aspects that have an impact on job growth and how profitable the CPA license is…

However, how effective of a job they're doing, I'm not informed about…

BEC - ✔
REG - ✔
AUD - ✔
FAR - 11/29/14

CPAExcel, Ninja MCQs, and a sh*t ton of coffee

[mena je twa]

My company pays for all dues, thats why i am a member.

I would not pay from my pocket, its a gimmick, this membership stupidity!!!

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[tomq04]

They are fighting for us!

The problem is they are likely fighting for things I don't agree with. Like keeping the tax code insane.

Simplifying the tax code would be great for everyone. CPA's might be “hard hit” for a year or 2, but we are all very smart resourceful people that will figure out how to keep charging ahead.

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[Anonymous]

I'm not a member of either. The CPA isn't necessary for my current position and doesn't really benefit my employer in any way, so there's no reason they'd pay for it. And…for myself, there's not enough benefits to justify the cost at this point in my career – my budget's too tight to be paying them out of it! Sometime in the future I'd like to join, though.

[Sir Study Alot]

While the tax code could be more simple I doubt we are going to see a total rehaul in the next 10 years. All of the 900 or so codes are seperate laws that had to pass multiple branches of government to become law. Every special interest in America would be affected and many Senators and Congressman are not smart enough to tackle a task that large while weighing in on the potential economic and political consequences. Half of the complicated tax laws benefit democrat interest and the other half republicain interests. Who's going to give?

The budget balances on our tax system and a complete rehaul would have unpredictable economic consequences. The AICPA is only one of the 1000's of special interests that would be affected. Things will probably get more complicated over the next decade as our country becomes more liberal. We will need to create tax incentives for keeping jobs and corporate money in this country, while creating higher taxes and disguised penalties for Corporations who are outsourcing. On the flip side the “right” pushes a simplified tax system, so that both the poor and rich will pay a flat tax of 25%. A simplified tax system is simple until people are murdering each other on the street to feed their children. Of course I am sure a balanced approach to a simplified tax system exists, but no one in government is smart enough to figure it out. I could go into a whole speal about the inefficencies of Congress but I should probably study or something. AICPA is the least of our worries..

Passed all 4 exams in 2014!

[krokofilen]

What's the membership fee?

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[Author]

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