[4EverInDebt]

Thank you @JFKGY & @monikernc for all the great suggestions. I'm not so sure though I want to do all that transferring process but I'll look into it to weigh in my options. I'm in the sunshine state, FL. So they give you 3 yrs to get your license from the time you passed your last exam. It's been stressful because I'm very eager to start working but when I'm asked “so tell us why do you want to work for our firm?” or “why did you choose us” LOL I'm like, BECAUSE I NEED TO GET THE EXPERIENCE TO GET MY DAMN LICENSE! LMAO. Of course I don't say that. I just smile and give them what they want to hear.

As for why I don't consider AR or AP accounting experience, it's not that I don't, it's that since my work experience has to be signed off by a CPA, when I worked in those positions, my supervisor was not a CPA. And most of the time working in any private company, they won't have a CPA supervising those positions. Many times they'll even have a CPA outside of the company doing their taxes.

I'm definitely not giving up. I've come so far, so I can't give up now. Thank you for the encouragement.

p.s. That's the document that needs to be filled out (in FL) by your immediate supervisor who needs to be a CPA
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/cpa/documents/DBPRCPA32VerificationOfWorkExperienceForm.pdf

AUD - 76
BEC - 78
FAR - 78
REG - 76

4EverInDebt

[4EverInDebt]

I'm in this same boat and it's so frustrating. It was hard enough for me to pass those damn exams (I repeated 3 of them) and all I need is the damn experience. I only have experience in AR/AP with like 6 months exposure to tax prep (basic tax prep) using quickbooks and doing mostly the tedious work like bank recs, a few journal entries, filling out tax docs, etc and now this pandemic. Not to mention that I've been out of work for 4 years. From studying for the CPA exams to taking care of personal issues, etc and now a year into my masters I still can't find a job to work under a CPA. I passed my last CPA exam in June 2019. So the clock is ticking…
I've been to a couple of interviews. I've been told that I'm likable that they like me etc….but of course no luck yet. It's probably the fact that I've been out of work for 4 years but hey shit happens, everyone has their life problems. I guess I just have to keep looking and hopefully one day I'll land a job working either for a small CPA firm or a bigger one.

I know I can get a job working in A/R, AP, bookkeeping, but this damn requirement is making it so complicated that I refuse to start working in those areas. I even had to turn down a job offer (before COVID) in AR because I was made to belief by the employment agency that it was an accounting position…yeah sure that's what they always call it.

Good luck to everyone on their journey to become a CPA!

AUD - 76
BEC - 78
FAR - 78
REG - 76

4EverInDebt

[4EverInDebt]

Hello to anyone out there with the same sort of worries as I had when I first posted this question.

Just wanted to give an update as I'm almost done with my first year doing a masters in accounting. And I will say that it has been EASIER than my bachelors and WAY EASIER than studying for the CPA. Lots of writing though in a few courses but I've gotten better with time and have gotten better grades writing long essays or papers that involve research. I've always hated group projects, but so far have had great team members, and the discussions on Canvas have been great as well. Some courses have exams or quizzes but also have been really easy. FR, many times I find myself asking is this for a masters program?! lmao. It's not an ivy league school so perhaps that's why it's easier but still a good school in terms of business and accounting in South Florida.

So for anyone out there unsure about doing a Masters in Accounting because you think it may be too hard, go for it, you'll be surprised!

p.s. good luck studying for the CPA exams and stay safe!

AUD - 76
BEC - 78
FAR - 78
REG - 76

4EverInDebt

[4EverInDebt]

Hmmm I think you have to wait for the NTS to expire before you can register for that exam again. So you would have to take the other 3 exams AND wait for the NTS to expire plus maybe a couple of days or so before you can reapply. I'm not 100% sure on that because I didn't register for all 4 exams at once but when I registered for two and I failed 1, I took the 2nd one AND I had to wait until NTS expired in order to reapply for the one I failed.

AUD - 76
BEC - 78
FAR - 78
REG - 76

4EverInDebt

[4EverInDebt]

@Jay, I prefer accounting thought than MBA. But thanks for letting me know grad school was easier than studying for CPA

@RollForwardSpecialist, was this for masters in accountancy or an MBA?

@Jennifer, I actually have more than 120 credit hours. Looks like all I need is a couple of courses and that's it. I'm still thinking of accepting my acceptance into grad school though. I figured in the end, I'll owe more money but hopefully I'll be getting paid more where I can bring my debt down. But in the event that I change my mind, I don't have to complete my degree but still be able to get my CPA license.

@Ne'O, what kind of hurdles if you already had 177 credit hours? how long did it take for you to get certified from the time you applied? Based on what a lot of people on here and elsewhere have mentioned, looks like grad school is just a lot more work but not harder than studying for CPA.

@Yfz, yeah I hear that a lot that, there's no point if I already passed CPA exams but idk I think my best bet right now is to enroll in the first couple of courses and then decide from there if I want to continue and actually finish it or just be done with it after the first semester.

Iwantthiscpa,”heartless soul sucking” LOL FR!! Thanks for letting me know that CPA studying is harder than grad school.

AUD - 76
BEC - 78
FAR - 78
REG - 76

4EverInDebt

[4EverInDebt]

74phoenix, thanks for sharing. So did you become a CPA? As for the master classes, I'm sure they will be manageable. One of my flaws is that I start stressing about stuff way in advanced and start getting anxious. I know I can do this, I'm just going through this process.

Recked, thanks too for the input. Btw those are really admirable scores! I wish I was that smart. I remember taking AUD and I had studied so much (of all AUD is what I like most) I even finished the exam 30 mins before and I felt so confident I was getting above an 85 or even thought I could get a 90. I was so confident. I get my score back and I got a 78!! My confidence dropped so much, I felt like a total failure. I've struggled ever since. No matter how much I study and stuff I know, come exam time, it's like a blur. But I got those out of the way so I'm looking forward to the next chapter in my life.

Turo9992000, good you did that. I love sciences and wish I could've taken more but just couldn't afford to nor had the time.

Tyler, I mostly hear from people, at least the ones that are currently doing a masters that it's so worth it because it will look good for their careers and for future jobs. At least down here in FL it's so competitive. Most people I know in the field that are certified all have their masters and if they don't they are working or will be working towards that degree.

MaLoTu, thanks, I hope that too. That since I passed all 4 exams that going through the master courses will be easier.

MiChan, I'm in South Florida. But I haven't responded to the university that accepted me (private). I'm waiting for the other one (public) to then make my choice. I think I will get accepted, and if I do, I really don't know which one to go with. You would think I should pick the cheaper one, but for some reason I keep thinking that I like the private program better. They both have more or less the same but idk why I'm leaning more towards the most expensive one. Ugh, decisions, decisions…I don't want to regret this after.

Iwantthiscpa, so even after completing your masters you found the CPA exams harder? I just thought it would make it easier rather than harder.

Thanks again everyone for the input.

AUD - 76
BEC - 78
FAR - 78
REG - 76

4EverInDebt

[4EverInDebt]

Thanks for the input but if one graduates from undergrad with the usual 120 credit hours, how is one supposed to get 30 additional credits by any other means than enrolling in a master's program? I mean if I'm going to take that many credit hours to reach 150 credit hours, then I should get a damn degree after for the hard work. I guess I haven't researched what other ways to do it. I'm assuming taking classes as a non-degree seeking student but idk if that's going to be cheaper or in the end be more or less the same.

I was hoping to get an answer on my original questions as far as work load and difficulty of a masters's program, compared to having studied for the CPA exam. What was the hardest thing?

But I do appreciate your advises and suggestions. Just not sure I want to make such a decision when I'm days away from committing to it. Classes start next month so it's not like I have more time to decide. I just don't want to make a decision I will regret later. But if enrolling, and getting those first courses in is enough to get my certification then that's another option. Better to have my foot in the door than reject it and then not be able to take any courses.

AUD - 76
BEC - 78
FAR - 78
REG - 76

4EverInDebt

[4EverInDebt]

Appreciated Chandler. But I cannot get my CPA certification unless I meet all the requirements. I realize every state is different, but I am in FL so I have no choice but to complete the 150 credit hours by enrolling into a Masters Program. Most graduate programs are between 30 and 36 credit hours if you already have the undergraduate required courses. The one university I'm waiting on is one of the cheapest but still at 25K.

AUD - 76
BEC - 78
FAR - 78
REG - 76

4EverInDebt

[Author]

Replies