Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

California CPA Under the Impression That CPA Exam Is Still an Infernal, Multi-day Event That Drives You to Drink

If you haven't heard of William Setterlund, he runs something called the Accounting Academy which offers a certificate in being a good little worker bee for the reasonable price of $7,400. The Academy purports to offer "training the old-fashioned way using manual sets of books & 10-key" among other things but apparently CPA exam tips or prep is not on the curriculum list.

Setterlund, a CPA since 1970, apparently did not get the memo nearly a decade ago that the CPA exam shifted from a two-day nightmare to a take-parts-when-you-want-over-18-months adventure. I thought everyone knew that but I guess I was wrong.

Check out his interview in the San Diego Reader:

In the end, your students graduate with what kinds of degrees or certificates?

It’s a certificate program, not a degree program. It’s not a license of any kind. The only license you can get in accounting is a CPA license, and in order to get that, it’s quite a challenge. You have to have a four-year degree with a major in accounting before you can even sit for the exam. And the CPA exam is equivalent to the Bar exam for attorneys. It’s two and a half days, and it’s very tough. I think the failure rate is 50%. In our program, it’s a certificate in small business accounting and bookkeeping.

For $7,400, I will personally offer Mr Setterlund a quick primer on the CPA exam in its current state, not the old-fashioned, paper and pencil relic it once was. You're welcome in advance, bro.

Latest Accounting Jobs--Apply Now:

Have something to add to this story? Give us a shout by email, Twitter, or text/call the tipline at 202-505-8885. As always, all tips are anonymous.

Comments are closed.

Related articles

business guy with a bullhorn

Now’s Your Chance to Tell NASBA How You Really Feel (About Extending the CPA Exam Window)

The following message is for current and aspiring CPAs: it isn’t often that anyone asks your opinion unless it’s a client trying to get free work out of you but there is an issue in need of your immediate attention and feedback. NASBA is soliciting comments on a proposal to extend the CPA exam window […]

big ole stack of books

MNCPA to Educators: “We Do Not Need New CPAs Who Have Additional College Credits; We Need More CPAs, Period.”

Minnesota Society of CPAs has sent a message to educators in the state regarding legislation that would introduce an alternative pathway to CPA licensure and the message to these stewards of the next generation of accountants is clear: no one is trying to eliminate MAcc programs. As you should well be aware, MNCPA wants to […]