Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
September 30, 2023

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

a runner on pavement

CPA Exam Candidates: You Better Hurry Up and Apply For BEC Before It’s Gone Forever

Once again @profjackc has tweeted a very important reminder for current CPA exam candidates and once again we’re here signal boosting said reminder because it’s important information. If you are a first time BEC section exam candidate most states will stop processing your NTS after next Monday, Oct. 1. Do not delay! Get in your […]

illuminated lightbulb on a table with keys next to it

Opinion: On-the-Job Experiential Learning Credit to Meet the 150-hour Requirement Makes Sense

Ed. note: the following is by Joseph P. Petito, Esq. Joe currently serves on the Maryland State Board of Accountancy and the board of directors of the NASBA Center for the Public Trust. Full bio at the bottom. I love accounting. Though an attorney and not a CPA, I’ve spent over 30 years in and […]