[Namstut]

I wondered if anyone is in the same boat -except for my immediate family, no one else knows that I am studying for a CPA.

Here is my (sorry!) long story:

I have my Bachelors in Accounting & Information Systems, Masters in Accounting and Finance, plus almost 20 years of experience and this has always been enough…up until last year when I was up for a promotion but I was told that I “capped out” because I was not a CPA. This was a HUGE shock to me since the CPA has never been a requirement for an advancement within the company.

I busted my a** for 3 years to meet and surpass the goals that were set as a requirement to get the promotion, and at the end the management apologized for “over-promising”.

I realize that some of you might assume that the CPA was just an excuse to not promote me because I am a crappy employee. This is not the case. When received a job offer my company fought for me to stay, increased my pay to match the offer and bumped up my bonus (but not my title).

I figured I needed a CPA whether or not I decided to stay with the current company or look for other opportunities. Obviously, I am still disappointed (bitter) and I feel like I got royally screwed and I don’t think I will be there much longer because I can’t trust the management.

Anyone else, for any reason at all, not telling anyone they are studying?

You get a golden star if you’ve made it to the end of my ramble! 😉

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

All Done!!!

AUD 7/6/16 Passed
BEC 9/3/16
FAR TBD
REG TBD

[Anonymous]

Yay! I got a gold star!

I'm in the same boat. I recently got a new job and I decided I wasn't going to tell anybody about my CPA studies.

When I was at my old as staff accountant everybody kept asking me about my CPA. Unfortunately, I haven't passed any of the exams and it was very embarrassing to tell them. I keep getting low 70's in FAR and AUD. When I failed my last test with a 74 in Audit I decided to look for a new job as a senior accountant.

I honestly feel less stressed and pressured that no one is asking me about my exams.
However, at my interview for my current job my employer warned me if I want to advance in my company I need to be a CPA.

So here I am trying to pass this exam!! Lol We'll see how I do this time around without pressure from my coworkers.

At least you are almost done with your exams! Good Luck!

[shawn in VA]

All the CPA firms I have worked for in my 10 years require a CPA to be promoted to Manager. I have worked for like 3. I heard at some of the BIG 4 you cannot even make senior without a CPA. One of the reasons I am taking these exams is for promotion opportunity

AUD - 84
BEC - 81
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - 75

AUD - 84

BEC-  81

REG-75

FAR- TBD

[Namstut]

@shawn, my company is not a CPA firm so the requirements are whatever the hiring manager sets when we look to fill the position.

TXC – good luck!!!

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

All Done!!!

AUD 7/6/16 Passed
BEC 9/3/16
FAR TBD
REG TBD

[wanttochangejobbypassingcpa]

Thank you guys for sharing. Two of my friends I spoke to recently told me that CPA is useless and just three letter after your name (eventhough both of them passed CPA), I think they haven't realized how important it may affect someone's career in the future. I am in my late 20s, and my two friends as well.

[Goingallin]

Being in my 40s, I'll tell you it's most important when you are over 40 and having to compete with someone in their 20s with a few years of experience and a cpa. Usually the latter will win if all you have is a lot of experience and no certificate.

AUD - 87
BEC - 77
FAR - 75
REG - 82

donotgiveup!!

[Skynet]

I was getting the CPA secretly once, but had to have an intervention from both coworkers, family, and friends.

I was told that being a Certified Party Animal after work hours was just hurting my health and career.

Coworkers to me i reek of booze and friends and family members including neighbors complaining about strange women coming in and out of my home.

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[Namstut]

@skynet, thanks for the laugh!!

The funny thing is that I am convinced that my co-workers must think that I have a substance abuse problem!

I stopped working on weekends
I don't stay at work as late as I used to and I don't work from home but I always come to work tired
I can't tell them what I did over the weekend
I am avoiding social gatherings with work people
I look like crap and I lost almost 20 lbs in the last 9 months.

Conclusion: I am definitely doing something illegal…

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

All Done!!!

AUD 7/6/16 Passed
BEC 9/3/16
FAR TBD
REG TBD

[Ken]

I've read everyone's post in this thread about secretly getting a CPA. To put in bluntly (b/c I feel it's needed), It sounds like the problem most of us have working in the corporate world (which is the same type of stories I hear from my siblings working in other industries) that you can't trust management OR your co-workers for shi#.

Co-workers aren't your friends & will try to bring you down or discourage you from advancing your career b/c you're competition to them. Funny how that works. We're supposed to be on the same “team” at work, yet we're all really just playing office politic games against each other. It's what I dread everyday at work…the BS and fake mask we have to put on everyday to survive in the office. I told my mom once, that in today's corporate world, you have 3 types of people you encounter at work:

1.) The office bully (usually your boss or immediate manager who yells at you)
2.) The silent treatment co-worker. (Really wants to yell at you but too mature)
3.) The “too nice” co-worker (too mature to yell or give silent treatment, but really wants to either yell at you or see you fail.

Since remote work from home is challenging to find in accounting, I'm considering changing careers to learning to code and go into web developer. Where can I go to find remote work from home as a CPA?

[HoosierCPA]

@namstut I attempted to go 100% secret but it became impossible. My coworkes were always wondering why I was taking days off in the middle of the week and I like to study during my work hour so they could see I was up to something haha. Anyway one day one of my co-workers just flat out asked and its been constant badgering ever since…if I could have kept it a secret that would definitely be my first choice. I did manage to keep it a secret from my immediate family (opposite of you). They actually think I've been studying for the CMA for 2 years now lol. I keep making excuses that I just put it on hold for now with having kids it became too much–so the questions have basically stopped. I still haven't told my family even after passing last Thursday. I am trying to plan something to get them all together and make an announcement. I know it sounds egotistical but I'm about 110% sure this certificate means more to my parents then it does to me! lol. When I married my wife who has a doctorate they tried to tell me my wife would leave me if I didn't have a CPA…wtf! lol

AUD - 80
BEC - 82
FAR - 78
REG - 89

...

FAR - 78
REG - 72,74,71...please just go away REG nobody likes you!
BEC - 82
AUD - Aug 16

[Ken]

I have to ask (and please don't take my questioning the wrong way as rude or trolling) but I'm not understanding…It's okay to let your family think you're studying for the CMA but not the CPA? There's not much difference between those two certifications, why not just tell the truth outright. Wouldn't it be less stressful if you didn't always have to be hiding your study books and videos playing and easier on your conscious to just be open and honest that your studying for the CPA?

[Ryan – Just Another Dollar]

I would definitely recommend keeping your CPA pursuits on the d/l if you don't plan to pass quickly. Personally, I felt like I needed the pressure/accountability of coworkers and managers asking me how the progress was going (I gave it everything I had and passed in 7 months). I work at a firm now where only about 40% have CPA and everybody is constantly talking about studying/testing/scores, and I feel bad for some of my co-workers who can't hack it (aka aren't giving up enough).

B - 88 (2/16)
A - 84 (4/16)
R - 73 (6/16), 82(7/16)
F - 67 (1/16), 84(4/16)

Ethics - 93

Roger course & Ninja MCQ - HiYa!

[jereumie]

It makes sense for the public firms, because the whole CPA thing is about signing off on the letter. You cannot attest under your name without CPA

Working full-time and taking all 4 parts in one window.

If I can do it, you all can too.

 

FAR 81 - 1/9/2017

BEC 78 - 1/28/2017

AUD 80 - 2/10/2017

REG 81 - 4/25/2017

[livealittle]

I read your post all the way through so I get a gold star! yay!

I hear you on the secret thing. I sorta wish I had kept it quiet, but the firm I work at seems really interested in helping staff/everyone succeed. Management knows I am working toward certification. They have been very encouraging including when I finally passed FAR, coming by and telling me congratulations. They gave me time off this month (and took work off me) so I could study, not stay late so I could study, etc.

We can also work from home if needed. Not all the time, but our IT department has set it up where we can remote access all our software and digital storage system. That way we can do outsourced accounting, create work papers for financials, etc. from home. You are expected to be in the office most of the time, but can work from home if you need to. so to your question of where can you do accounting from home? maybe not full time, but at least some of the time – it is out there.

BEC - 8/8/16
REG - 66, 77
AUD - 81
FAR - 9/8/16

[HoosierCPA]

@mobfn good question haha. First, in my parents mind they are not even close to equal–when I told them I was taking the CMA it was almost disappointment rather then excitement that I wasn't trying for the CPA. The CMA is a fairly new cert (relative to the CPA) so a lot of old school people have no clue what it is. My boss who's in his 50's and a CPA thought it was a class and had no clue it was a certification.

I started sitting for the CMA in late 2013 got married in 14 had a kid in 15 and another in 16 so it was easy to just make it sound like I was too busy and just dropped the CMA. From time to time they will ask where I'm at with it and I'll just say oh I am thinking about picking it back up. Had I told them I decided on the CPA I think I would have gone crazy, I probably would have gotten questions daily about it. I guess without being my shoes it would be hard to fully understand.

And to add there is no hiding of study material I haven't lived with my parents for some time lol. They rarely come over so that isn't an issue.

AUD - 80
BEC - 82
FAR - 78
REG - 89

...

FAR - 78
REG - 72,74,71...please just go away REG nobody likes you!
BEC - 82
AUD - Aug 16

[cwlanders]

I have been secretly getting my CPA for about a year now. I am two weeks away from my last exam potentially and it will be a huge relief once that is over. All of my coworkers just think I am not very social. I skip all happy hours, get to work early, and leave work early in order to study more. I also always look tired because I study until 10pm and then wake up to study at 6am before work. Last year I also used 12 of my PTO days for study/exam days so those were usually falling on weird days.

The only people that know are my family, only because I want them to know there is a reason I am not visiting as often, and my fiancee, which it would be impossible to hide from. I actually did have one coworker that recognized my becker textbook, but I told him i didn't want people to know, so assuming he hasn't shared he is the only coworker.

People at work have definitely commented on it and asked why I don't come to the events but I usually just give some excuse about other plans. I hadn't really thought about it until this thread but just based on my behavior people probably think I am hiding something and I would assume their guess isn't studying for the CPA. As miserable as it can be at times, I do like knowing that while they are out having fun, I am working towards bigger and better things.

BEC- 91
AUD- 74, 74, 79
FAR- 74, 83
REG- 84
Ethics- 97

BEC - 91 (2/29/16)
AUD- 74, 74

[Author]

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