Accountant Careers

A prerequisite to becoming a Certified Public Accountant is passing the CPA Exam. Each state has different rules for the exam and applicants should review their state’s Board of Accountancy website for any particular rules regarding the test for that jurisdiction.

While some people may be able to pass the CPA exam without taking a review course, it is rare. Most candidates choose a CPA review course and study it extensively before taking the exams.

There are four parts to the CPA exam: Auditing, Regulation, Business Environment and Concepts and Financial Accounting and Reporting. These consist of a combination of multiple choice questions and practical testing simulations. Each exam will take between three hours to more than four hours.

The first two months of each quarter are available for taking the exam. Every third month is used to evaluate the exam and for scoring. Of course, you will need a score of 75% to pass the exam. Before you assume that that is an easy accomplishment, know that about half of all people fail each section during each testing window.

Each time you sit for the exam, it will cost between $100 and $300, depending on your state. With the low pass rate and the high costs, you should dedicate a significant amount of time and energy to studying. Use these tips to study effectively and efficiently.

Don’t study for too long at a time. Take two or three breaks per hour. A lot of the CPA Exam Reviews are online or use a computer. So, for your break, do not check email, log on to Facebook, or play a computer game. Give your eyes and back a rest and go outside for a quick walk. It is very important not to stare at a computer screen too long as it will hurt your eyes.

Do not skimp on your sleep. In fact, getting a good seven or eight hours of sleep each night will keep you alert and studying well. You will not do yourself any favors by studying late into the night and getting up early to do it again.

Make short term goals to keep you on track. Spend a few minutes and create your task list for the next day. Don’t ignore your responsibilities to your friends and family. Your spouse and children are certainly making sacrifices to allow you to study, so make sure that you include time for them during the day. Scheduling small, daily goals will help you achieve that long term goal of earning the CPA!

These CPA exam tips will keep you on track to quickly earn your Certified Public Accounting license!

Find more CPA Exam Tips. There are many sites that include CPA Exam Sample Questions to help you pass today!

Preparing for the Certified Public Accounting exams is time-consuming and laborious. Fortunately, there are many free CPA exam resources available for applicants to use.

You commonly hear people referring to the review process as “having to learn topics a mile wide and an inch deep,” referring to the vast array of subjects that you must be familiar with. Sure, you don’t need to be an expert in everything, but you need to thoroughly understand all of the relevant areas in order to be successful with the CPA exam.

Odds are you are contemplating buying a professional CPA exam review course. If you don’t live in a major metropolitan area, your course may be limited to books and CDs. That’s alright until you have a question on a topic and are having difficulty understanding it. The company’s customer service representatives may be able to help you, but talking to a person over the phone may not be ideal. Another great idea is to look for tutorials or courses online regarding your particular question.

One of the best resources around is hidden in plain view. YouTube has a tremendous amount of videos relating to accounting topics. You will find subjects ranging from tax deductions to the role of the Board of Directors. This is a great resource for you even if you don’t have any perplexing questions. It also serves as a great refresher course right before you take the next exam.

Lastly, look online for CPA Exam Sample Questions. There are many repositories of questions that used to be on the exam or are styled in a similar manner to those that are on the exam. There is no better preparation for the exam than to practice, practice and practice. You will learn a tremendous amount from these free sample questions including a familiarity with the questioning style of the AICPA.

Free CPA Exam Questions are abundant on the web. Stop by to find CPA Exam Sample Questions for Free!