Every year, more than 100,000 accountants-to-be try their hand at the CPA Exam. They cannot bring anything to the 15½-hour, 2-day exam except a no. 2 pencil and all of the accounting knowledge they possess(they are given calculators at the exam for certain sections.) The exam, prepared by the Board of Examiners of the American Institute of CPAs, has been given for more than 80 years, though its contents are updated every year. In order to become a certified public accountant, all four sections of the exam must be passed. The CPA exam can be an intimidating experience, a time when one's professional future hangs in the balance. So what do test-takers do to increase their chances for success? Many take a CPA review course.
CPA review courses often last several months (some span more than 20 weeks). The material covered throughout the courses is built around actual questions from past CPA exams, and covers all 4 aspects of the national test: Business Law & Professional Responsibilities, Auditing, Accounting & Reporting and Financial Accounting & Reporting. Many available courses provide a mix of live, on-line, video, audio and print instruction, providing students with the chance to learn necessary material in a classroom environment as well as on their own.
So does all of this studying and learning in a class really improve your chances at passing the exam?
"Yes, CPA review courses do help," says a representative from the AICPA. The Yaeger Lambers CPA Review, a program in the Washington, D.C. metro area, advertises an 81 percent success rate for its students. The AICPA reports that the national average of passing grades is only about 30 percent.
Students at Becker Conviser, a national CPA Review company, pass at double the rate of students who don't take the Becker Conviser classes, according to the company website. And the students themselves applaud the classes they have taken. Mark's CPA Review Course, a California-based program, posts a growing list of testimonials on its website from past students.
"In my opinion, Mark's CPA Review Course played an essential role in helping me to achieve my goal of becoming a CPA," said one student.
When preparing for a test as significant and comprehensive as the CPA exam, it only makes sense to go beyond regular college accounting classes and personal study plans. CPA review courses provide a valuable benefit: the advantage of learning from someone who has been there before-and has been successful.
If you would like more information about CPA review courses, visit these websites:
Becker CPA Review - www.beckercpa.com
Bisk Publishing Company - www.bisk.com
Borra CPA Review call 301-365-7525
CPA Exam Review - www.cpaexamreview.com
Custom CPA Review - www.cpacourse4u.com
Gleim Publications - www.gleim.com/Accounting/CPA
Hoyle CPA ventures Inc. - www.hoylecpa.com
Kaplan CPA Review - www.kaplancpareview.com
Lambers CPA Review - www.lamberscpa.com
Mark's CPA Review - www.markscpareview.com
(California-based)
Rigos Professional Education Programs - www.rigos.net
Tutorial Group, Inc. - www.tutorialgroup.com
Wiley CPA Exam Review - www.wiley.com
WiseGuides, Inc. - www.wiseguides.com
Yaeger Lambers CPA Review - www.yaegerlambers.com
You can also visit the following websites for more information on the CPA Exam:
American Institute of CPAs - www.aicpa.org
National Association of State Boards of Accountancy - www.nasba.org
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