Latest Posts
State Boards of Accountancy Are Slowly But Surely Starting to Grant 18-Month CPA Exam Extensions
The current situation with CPA exam testing is difficult, you don’t need me to tell you that. In the 13 years I’ve been working in this industry I’ve never seen anything like it, and it goes without saying that it’s a fluid situation. That said, it’s excellent to see CPAs recognized as “essential” in the […]
Here’s Where You Can Check If Your CPA Exam Testing Center Is Open
Though Prometric re-opened for a handful of “essential” tests on May 1, testing centers across the country remain closed due to local restrictions on movement and other factors. It is expected that more test centers will be up and running by May 31, contingent again on local conditions and subject to Prometric’s discretion. Not sure […]
NASBA Is Actively Working With State Boards to Extend 18-Month Windows So Please Chill
This afternoon I sat in on a Becker webcast with peeps from NASBA, the AICPA Examinations Team, and Prometric so I can bring you the following information to report back. It’s important for those of you freaking out I hope. I’ve seen a lot of CPA exam candidates blowing NASBA up on Twitter demanding they […]
Apparently No One Knows What the F*ck Is Going On at Prometric
Most if not all current CPA exam candidates know this but for the rest of you playing along at home, allow me to catch you up on the situation. So, when the Rona panic first started in March, Prometric shuttered every location across this great nation of ours (along with others, but cuz ‘Murica, we’re […]
[UPDATED] Prometric Extends Site Closures For a Third Time, But There’s a Bright Side For Future CPAs
Ed. note: Updated with 4/23/2020 NASBA statement below So I have a little news on Prometric closures to share with you all, thanks to a tipster who obsessively refreshes the Prometric COVID-19 page each morning in hopes of an update. As we reported on April 15, Prometric announced just days before their planned April 16 […]
Here Are Your Elijah Watt Sells Award Winners For 2019 (And the Big 4 Firm With the Most of Them)
Celebratory news is in short supply these days, so maybe these 135 people can feel extra proud that their already-impressive accomplishment comes at a time when people are desperate for anything remotely resembling good news. As we have done as far back as I can remember — so far back, in fact, it started back […]
ICYMI: Prometric Has Extended Site Closures Until May 1 Due to Coronavirus
Tomorrow was due to be the glorious day Prometric centers across the United States threw open their doors, sprayed off their keyboards, and welcomed eager future licensees back into their loving embrace (figuratively, of course) after COVID-19 forced them closed back in March. As pretty much everyone knew would happen, that date has been extended. […]
Why Now Is the Time to Study For the CPA Exam and Why FAR Should Be First
Not sure if you’ve heard but the world is a little topsy-turvy these days. Many accountants who just a month ago were thinking about how to survive busy season are now adjusting to a new normal in which work is done from the comfort of home and in-person meetings are replaced by video conferencing. As […]
ICYMI: Eligible Candidates Can Now Sit For the CPA Exam In India
It would have been easy to let this news get drowned out by wave after wave of layoffs and other assorted COVID-19 news, but I figure y’all need all the good news you can get these days so let’s get right to it. NASBA announced this week that qualified CPA exam candidates will now be […]
And Now For Some Good News: Continuous CPA Exam Testing Is a GO As Planned, Says NASBA
While coronavirus is out here ruining everything from grocery store aisles to high school graduations we got some good news from NASBA this afternoon that I can’t wait to share with you. It’s the little things, ya know? We first learned of the plan to launch continuous testing in May of last year, at which […]
Second Quarter CPA Exam Testing Window Extended Due to Coronavirus-Related Test Center Closures
The Journal of Accountancy is reporting today that NASBA, the AICPA, and Prometric have made a joint decision to extend the second quarter CPA exam testing window due to COVID-19 Prometric closures. As it stands, Prometric testing centers in the United States are closed through April 16, though NASBA has said that period could be […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Fourth CPA Exam Score Release of Q1 2020
Hello and happy Thursday, everyone! I hope you are safely enjoying your home office or, as is usually my case, a comfy corner of your couch. Scores are out: On March 19, 2020, NASBA received and processed the following scores from the AICPA. pic.twitter.com/cpb4NM1Q1H — NASBA (@NASBA) March 19, 2020 Today’s score release means the […]
FYI, CPA Exam Candidates, COVID-19 Just Killed Prometric
Whelp it’s official, no one is going to be taking the CPA exam anytime soon. Prometric announced yesterday they are taking steps to close all testing centers in the United States and Canada for 30 days. Let’s check out the details: Within the past 24 hours, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have issued […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Third CPA Exam Score Release of Q1 2020
Is is already March? Why am I getting the sneaking suspicion 2020 is going to be one of those years that rushes by and next thing you know, you’re 40 and sipping an IPA in the same dingy bar you’ve been going to for years wondering where your life went. Oops, don’t mind me, just […]
Here’s Everything You Need to Know About How Coronavirus Might Affect CPA Exam Testing
Earlier today Bramwell and I were shooting the shit in Slack and both of us wondered why they haven’t just postponed CPA exam testing altogether until this whole coronavirus thing blows over. I mean, I don’t even want to think about the cooties that live at Prometric during normal times, much less during a global […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Second CPA Exam Score Release of Q1 2020
You know, my colleagues and I had a discussion last year right around the time continuous testing was announced whether or not we should keep posting these open threads. I mean … surely everyone is on Twitter, aren’t they? That or obsessively refreshing their score. I mean look, there’s someone on Reddit who likely won’t […]
Rumor of the Day: PwC No Longer Pays Out a $20K Elijah Watt Sells Award Bonus
I mean, it’s on Reddit so it must be true. Let’s take a look. Seen talk of this within the last half year and thought I should make a thread to let people know. You can still get a CPA pass bonus of 6k (or 5k, apparently it depends on line of service), but they […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the First CPA Exam Score Release of Q1 2020
Is it just me or does this seem kinda late to be the first CPA exam score release of 2020? Whatever, it’s on time so there’s that. On February 4, 2020, NASBA received and processed the following scores from the AICPA. pic.twitter.com/KMPQWdl8yg — NASBA (@NASBA) February 4, 2020 The NASBA graphic says 19Q4 but surely […]
Here’s How Candidates Performed on the CPA Exam In 2019
So I’ve been over here waiting patiently for the AICPA to update their website to reflect the final pass rates of 2019 but as yet, I’m still waiting. Gleim CPA Review claims pass rates have been released despite not appearing on the AICPA site, so we’ll go ahead and supplement this chart with what they […]
There’s an APB Out On This Guy’s Missing CPA Exam Score
Imagine the worst possible thing that could happen to a CPA exam candidate. Getting snowed out on the last day of testing in the fourth quarter when you have three passing exams expiring in January? Forgetting your ID at home when you live two hours from the nearest Prometric test center? How about waking up […]
Mark Your Calendars, Here Are Your 2020 CPA Exam Score Release Dates
Everyone hyped for a brand new decade? Well you BETTER BE, because now we know when to expect CPA exam scores in the first half of 2020. Testing Window: January 1 – March 10 (20Q1) If you take your Exam on/before: …and the AICPA receives your Exam data files from Prometric by 11:59 p.m. (EST) […]
The CPA Exam is Changing Soon, Here’s What We Know
Last week, we caught you up on the latest goings-on with the CPA Evolution process, an ambitious effort by NASBA and the AICPA to tweak the CPA exam to ensure the licensure model is meeting the profession’s demand for future-proof CPAs. This week, we’ve got news that a separate but related effort is underway to […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Fourth and Final CPA Exam Score Release of Q4 2019
Welp, that’s it. It’s over. Whatever your CPA exam plans were for 2019, I sure hope you got done what you wanted to do because there are no more chances left for the year. December 10 was the final testing day of 2019 and this on-time score release yesterday bears the distinction of being the […]
Here’s What You Need to Know About the New Proposed CPA Licensure Model
As you may recall (or not, as I barely do), last summer NASBA and the AICPA reached out into the abyss hoping to get feedback on a new CPA licensure model. You see, the future is coming and fast, and in atypical fashion, The Powers That Be realized maybe it might be important to test […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Third CPA Exam Score Release of Q4 2019
Is it just me or did this year fly by? Maybe it’s because it’s like 60 degrees and rainy here in the Old South but it really doesn’t feel like December to me. I mean, it has to be because Alexa says so but this is the least December-y December I can recall in a […]
California CPA Exam Scores Were Like Really, Really Late But It’s All Good Now, Brah
This morning I planned to let you know about an ongoing situation involving the California Board of Accountancy and hordes of angry CPA exam candidates, but wouldn’t you know, just as I fired up the ole CRM to write the post, the situation was magically resolved. I figured I’d go ahead and update anyway in […]
Go Grab Your Free CPA Exam Questions From the AICPA While You Can
From now through December 31, 2019, you can grab 40 AUD, 25 BEC, 50 FAR, and 25 REG MCQs used on previous CPA exams directly from the AICPA. These questions “represent a onetime release of exam content to the general public intended to provide examples of the types of MCQs used on the exam,” meaning […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Second CPA Exam Score Release of Q4 2019
Another day, another CPA exam score release that has arrived exactly when NASBA promised it would. Isn’t that nice? Really gives me hope that they’re going to do an amazing job when they’re ready to unveil continuous testing, which as far as we know is still on track to make its debut sometime next year. […]
Let’s Have a Pissing Match Over the Best CPA Exam Schools in the Nation
Many years ago, I used to get TPTB to fork over the $200 for NASBA’s Candidate Performance book and share all kinds of stats on the exam like which schools were far superior to others and which schools should just give up on teaching accounting altogether. Y’all seemed to like this dick measuring contest and […]
Here’s Your (Super Hopeful) Open Thread For the First CPA Exam Score Release of Q4 2019
Now that the little goblins have come and gone and the Christmas advertisements have begun, it’s official: the final CPA exam testing quarter of the year is upon us. Technically it started in October but as we all know, a testing quarter doesn’t really start until the first score release. As is tradition, candidates have […]
YSK: You Can Pay NASBA To Tell You In Which CPA Exam Jurisdiction You Should Sit
Nowadays, it’s easy enough to look up CPA exam requirements by state and figure out if you qualify to sit for the CPA exam in your jurisdiction of choice. But what if ain’t nobody got time for that? Enter NASBA’s Undecided Jurisdiction Evaluation service. For the low price of $350, they’ll handpick up to three […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Fourth and Final CPA Exam Score Release of Q3 2019
So here we are. I dunno about you guys but my windows have been open for like two weeks now and I finally got my first glance of falling leaves, leading me to believe, despite the 80 degree temps today here in Virginia, the end of the year is finally upon us. Just in case […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Third CPA Exam Score Release of Q3 2019
For those of you playing along at home, this score release leaves us with one more for this quarter and five total remaining for the year. Where did this year go? You know what, I’m not going to complain. On September 10, 2019, NASBA received and processed the following scores from the @AICPA. pic.twitter.com/jjipmhoJ8i — […]
Time to Panic? New CPA Exam Candidate Numbers Are Lower Than They’ve Been in More Than a Decade
We’ve written plenty of times about the AICPA freaking out over low CPA exam candidate numbers, but for the first time in two years thanks to the AICPA’s Trends in the Supply of Accounting Graduates and the Demand for Public Accounting Recruits report [PDF], we have actual numbers. You ready? It’s bad. Yikes. To be […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Second CPA Exam Score Release of Q3 2019
Dear procrastinators, I have to tell you something. There are a mere six CPA exam score releases left between now and 2020. The third quarter is halfway done and then comes the high-traffic holiday season when everyone who blew this off all year starts dogpiling in to get as much finished as they can before […]
Get Hyped, CPA Exam Candidates, Your First Score Release of Q3 2019 Comes Today
Well would you look at that! Not only is the year flying by, but NASBA is on top of things and starting the quarter off right by releasing scores several days ahead of schedule. Not bad, not bad. Well, bad if you don’t pass but whatever, at least you’ll have the whole weekend to drown […]
Opinion: The AICPA’s Future CPA Exam Plans Are Really Just a Desperate Money Grab
ICYMI, a couple weeks ago I wrote about a joint AICPA/NASBA plan to drag CPA licensure into the 21st century. So far, the initiative is in the early planning stages but it feels like the profession is moving far quicker than its usual snail pace to adapt to our rapidly-changing world, so to think this […]
The CPA Exam Needs to Evolve and You Can Help It Do Just That
The conversation about “future-proof” CPAs and the evolution of the CPA exam to include skills necessary to provide exceptional client service far into the future is not a new one, we’ve been having it for years. This isn’t one of those “hey you guys, CPAs of the future better know VLOOKUP” things, it’s a bit […]
Opinions Are Like Assholes, Everyone Has One. The AICPA Wants Yours
Your opinion, that is, not your asshole. You weirdo. In its ongoing effort to ensure only the best and brightest make it through the rigors of testing to emerge victorious as America’s future-ready CPAs and weed out undesirables, the AICPA is asking for your help. This applies only to those of you in close quarters […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Fourth and Final CPA Exam Score Release of Q2 2019
If it feels like we literally just had a score release thread the other day I assure you you’re not going crazy. I mean, you absolutely could be going crazy — especially if you’re studying for the CPA exam and not just reading this for fun — but not on this particular issue. Hey so […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Third CPA Exam Score Release of Q2 2019
My, time flies when you’re mired in the misery of sitting for the CPA exam, don’t it? Today, NASBA received and processed an absolute shitton of scores from the AICPA, making this another CPA exam score release on time without a hiccup. Well, no, surely there’s some poor candidate in Wyoming or something who didn’t […]
Here’s How to Study For the CPA Exam and Still Salvage a Decent Summer
I dunno about you but I’ve been in a real funk since at least October. Maybe it’s just a seasonal thing, maybe I need professional help idk, but either way, summer really surprised me. It was like one day temperatures were cooling and leaves were falling, the next I woke up from yet another nap […]
Hey CPA Exam Candidates, Y’all Ready For Continuous Testing? It’s Coming
At first glance “continuous testing” sounds like some horrible plan to further torture America’s future CPAs by requiring a grueling, never-ending cycle of testing and retesting throughout their career. As fun as I’m sure that might be for the sadists who oversee the exam, I assure you, that’s not what this is. They’ve been talking […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Second CPA Exam Score Release of Q2 2019
Cruising right along through the second quarter, here we are at the second score release. Two down, two to go. Now that we know continuous testing is on the menu for the CPA exam in the hopefully near future, it will be interesting to see how score releases are treated by the community. I guess […]
News to Your Ears: The AICPA Now Has a CPA Exam Podcast
Long-winded personal anecdote incoming but I have to admit something to y’all, which I’m going to do because I trust you and I know you won’t make fun of me for it. And if you do, well, it’ll at least be funny. OK, here goes… I don’t listen to podcasts. I know, I know. I’m […]
Here’s Your (Late) Open Thread For the First CPA Exam Score Release of Q2 2019
Yooooo. Sorry I’m late on this… wait, no, fuck that I’m not sorry. Saying sorry for things you’re not actually sorry for is for bitches. Let’s start over. Heyyyyyy! Here’s your open thread for the very first CPA exam score release of the second quarter 2019. Exciting stuff. Stalking Reddit and Twitter yesterday after scores […]
Here’s What You Missed From This Week’s Mega CPA Exam Information Webcast
I tried earlier this week to gently encourage you little shits to attend the webcast held Thursday by folks from NASBA and the AICPA who think CPA exam candidates deserve to be as informed as possible, so hopefully you took my advice and were in attendance. Now, for those of you who had to tend […]
CPA Exam Pass Rates For 2019 Are Off to an Excellent Start
Whenever big CPA exam changes hit, some folks rush and try to get it done before the changes take effect. We saw this in 2010 with the pending implementation of CBT-e, a revamped “version” of the CPA exam that served little-to-no purpose other than getting CPA exam candidates worked up like a pack of untrained […]
Forget GoT, This Upcoming Webcast Is the Hottest Streaming Event of the Year (for CPA Exam Candidates Anyway)
Inb4 someone starts screeching about clickbait and how we sold out because we used to be cool but now we’re shilling for webcasts, shut the fuck up. No one paid for us to mention this, rather we’re posting about it just in case you’ve missed the numerous tweets and announcements and other shilling already done […]
Hey Y’all, Let’s Get Salty About These 2018 Elijah Watt Sells Award Winners
Whelp it’s that time of year again, the time when we recognize the efforts of an elite handful of CPA exam candidates whose performance on one of the toughest professional examinations out there ranks the best of the best. The AICPA handed out 110 Elijah Watt Sells Awards for 2018 last week, and as is […]
NASBA Pulled the Cruelest April Fools’ Prank Ever on Some CPA Exam Candidates
As far as the CPA exam is concerned, it’s one thing you really shouldn’t joke about. And, in NASBA’s defense, it’s not like they actually meant to punk a bunch of eager CPA exam candidates this past April Fools’ Day, it just so happened that way. Set the scene. It’s March 31 and you’re printing […]
The Definitive Guide to Choosing a CPA Review Course
I’ve been writing about the CPA exam for, yeesh, it’ll be 12 years this summer. TWELVE YEARS. I wish I could say that’s like half my life, but I’m old now so it’s more like a third of it, which is still a pretty sizable chunk of it, all things considered. In that time, I’ve […]
Here’s Your Open Thread for the Final CPA Exam Score Release of Q1 2019
Congratulations, kiddos, you made it through the first quarter. I’m sure there were many victories, failures, and breakdowns along the way but so goes the ballad of CPA exam domination. March 19 marks the 1/4-way point for CPA exam scores this year. As we round the bend into the second quarter, I’d like to remind […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Third CPA Exam Score Release of Q1 2019
If it feels like we just posted about a CPA exam score release, that’s probably because we did. The AICPA is back to a pretty nice schedule of releasing scores and we’re just cranking ahead toward the last release of the first quarter. For those who took their exam between February 14 and February 28, […]
Here’s Your Open Thread For the Second CPA Exam Score Release of Q1 2019
It’s February 25 and you know what that means. Well, you know what that means if you sat for the CPA exam between January 21 and February 14 — score release day tomorrow! As promised, the AICPA has accelerated the score release process for 2019, so we’ve got two more score releases this quarter after […]
Should You Retake a CPA Exam Section or Move On to Another If You Failed?
Well lookie here, we have a mailbag question! Boy it’s been a long time since I’ve had the joy of answering one of these. Let’s jump right into it. Hi, I failed audit with a 63. I have Bec and far passed which doesn’t expire until 3/31/2020. I cannot take audit until April-June testing window. […]
Here’s Your Open Thread for the First CPA Exam Score Release of Q1 2019
HELLO and Happy New Year, muffins. Here we are anxiously awaiting the first score release of the first quarter of 2019, my how time flies. I can’t believe it’s been almost 12 years since I started working in CPA review, hopefully none of you have been attempting to pass the CPA exam for as long […]
Future CPAs of Massachusetts: Hurry Up and Apply For Free Money to Take the CPA Exam
The Massachusetts Society of CPAs is holding a lottery to award vouchers in the amount of $500 to candidates planning to sit for the CPA exam as a Massachusetts candidate, but there’s a catch: you only have until Feb. 1 to apply. Oh, and there’s another catch: you’re disqualified if your employer pays for review […]
Here’s What to Do If Inclement Weather Ruins Your CPA Exam Test Date
As some of you know, I called California home for many years. Not the sunny, smoggy, ridiculously beautiful people part, the other one with aggressive bums, wine, and streets flowing with human shit. San Francisco is without a doubt one of the greatest cities in the world, but I have to admit I don’t miss […]
Do You Need to Purchase New CPA Review Materials for 2019?
Here we are in a brand-new year and here I am writing about the same topic I’ve written about since 2007. Oh well, I suppose there are worse beats out there for drunken tabloid writers, like that brief period I paid my rent with actual clickbait and had to come up with 15 high-fashion models […]
Here Are Some Tips on Having a Less Crappy CPA Exam Experience at Prometric From a (Probably Legit) Prometric Employee
A short while back, one brave soul (ThrowAway20112348) presented themselves as a Prometric employee on Reddit and shared some insight, tips, and rules for U.S. testing centers. The universe thanks you, friend to CPA exam candidates. Now, I’d like to share the love by recapping their message from the great testing center beyond. In their […]
Certain People Are Not Exactly Pleased With the Way California Handles CPA Exam Scores
Hey guys, I’m happy to report I’m back from the plague and would like to thank the exactly none of you who sent me well wishes while I lay dying in a hospital bed. Seriously, y’all are the worst. OK so, as my esteemed colleague Bramwell pointed out earlier this week while I was busy […]
Here’s Your Open Thread for the Last CPA Exam Score Release of 2018
Woke up this morning, checked Twitter, and saw this: Scores are now available! Best of luck! — NASBA (@NASBA) December 18, 2018 Adrienne was pretty stoked yesterday to get this thread going this morning, but she came down with the plague or some shit overnight, so I’m filling in for her. Since that earlier tweet […]
Here’s Your Open Thread for the Second-to-Last CPA Exam Score Release of 2018
Well, here we are, children. It’s December, so you know what that means. If you need a reminder: it means hopefully you got your stuff together and squeezed in that last CPA exam part for the year if that was in your plan because if you haven’t, well, you’re SOL. Today, December 10, is the […]
REG Changes Are Coming Right After Santa; Here’s What CPA Exam Candidates Need to Know
Do you remember December 2017? You know, back when “The Last Jedi” premiered (RIP, Carrie Fisher) and BTS was blowing up Twitter (“Mic Drop”)? Yeah, me neither. But one important event happened in December 2017: the signing of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) into law. This new tax law was last year’s early Christmas present […]
Heads Up Future CPAs, TPTB Are Considering Testing Your Competency in Tech
Although this news is unlikely to affect anyone currently studying for the CPA exam, the potential impact on future accounting majors cannot be ignored. From the Journal of Accountancy: A working group formed by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and the AICPA is exploring possible changes to the CPA licensure requirements […]
Friendly Reminder: You Should Schedule Your CPA Exam Date Yesterday if You Plan to Test in 2018
Psst. Hey you. You sitting there screwing around on the Internet instead of studying for the CPA exam. Come here. STOP FUCKING AROUND. There is less than a month remaining in the final CPA exam testing window of 2018, and sorry to say but if you haven’t scheduled your exam(s) already, you may be in […]
AICPA Announces 2019 CPA Exam Score Release Dates
Alright, kids, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. 2019 CPA exam score release dates are not only out (they’ve actually been out for a hot minute) but have been announced by the AICPA, meaning they’re probably pretty much set. By “set,” I of course mean as set as they possibly can be. The AICPA […]
The 150-Hour Rule is Kinda Bullsh*t, Says Guy
It’s only been about a generation of CPAs or so subject to the national implementation of the 150-hour rule, which is now in effect for all 54 CPA exam jurisdictions. As all of you know, the 150-hour credit requirement has been touted as a way to ensure modern CPAs are equipped to handle an ever-changing […]
AICPA Says the CPA Exam is Intentionally Simple Because CPA Candidates Are Like Dogs Distracted by Shiny Things
Have you ever wondered why CPA exam questions are so plain? I mean, you’d think they could take it easy on CPA exam candidates held captive in Prometric for hours at a time by peppering the questions with just a little humor. It doesn’t have to be memes or anything, just, you know, why can’t […]
Rejoice, Your Final CPA Exam Testing Window of 2018 is Upon Us
Good afternoon and happy fiscal new year, y’all. Today is October 1 which means those of you dragging your heels on sitting for the CPA exam have officially run out of pavement on which to drag. So get thee to Prometric and knock ‘er out already. Historically, Q4 can be a bit tough to schedule […]
Here Is the Absolute Best Time to Pass the CPA Exam Per NASBA
Per NASBA, here is the best time to take the CPA exam. Spoiler alert: It’s right after you graduate. I’m sorry if you clicked on this thinking NASBA was going to tell you the best testing window to pass. Yeah right. Still, this is pretty interesting and all the more reason to get the exam […]
Let’s Figure Out How This Person Bombed the CPA Exam More Spectacularly Than Any CPA Exam Bomb in History
Ed. note: an earlier version of this article contained the name of a review course the poster claimed to have used. As this information has not been verified and is not relevant to the issue at hand, it has been removed. Spotted this on Reddit this morning, and like /r/accounting I’m wondering how this is […]
NASBA Tweets CPA Exam Scores Are Up, Lies
It has been a strange week on Twitter for professional and semi-professional public accounting bodies the last few days, but NASBA has officially taken the crown from the AICPA for Twitter snafus. In case you missed our earlier discussion, @AICPA got hacked by Bitcoin scammers. At publication time, the scammers still have control of @AICPA. […]
Here’s Your Open Thread for the First CPA Exam Score Release of Q3
As most of you know, the CPA exam changed up in April of this year, and as such, the scoring gnomes need a little extra time to calculate those 75s for the remainder of this year. If, by chance, you are one of the few who is actually impacted by the new rolling schedule (versus […]
Starting in October, You Can Grab a Pint at a Real English Pub After the CPA Exam
Congratulations, unlicensed U.S. expats in Europe, beginning October 1 you no longer have to head to Bahrain to take the CPA exam. According to an announcement from the AICPA, NASBA, and Prometric, nine Prometric locations across the pond will offer CPA exam testing for qualified applicants. Bristol, London, and Manchester (England) Edinburgh (Scotland) Cork and […]
CPA Exam Candidate Numbers Are Back Down After Modest Growth
NASBA recently released their yearly Candidate Performance books, which we used to buy and comb through for your sake but stopped after NASBA politely asked us to stop sharing the data they wanted people to pay for. So we won’t be drilling down into that data, but we do have some points to share. In […]
CPA FAR is Hard, and That’s Okay
The FAR section on the CPA Exam is hard. Don’t believe me? Just ask the pass rates. The fact is, people don’t pass FAR as often as they pass all the other sections. For some people, quickly working through complex calculations really hits their sweet spot. Others, not so much. Me? When I first began […]
Excel Is Finally Keeping Up With the Joneses
Two years have passed since I wrote a controversial post about ditching Excel. And as fate would have it, no one listened. We are as attached to Excel as ever. Maybe we like dealing with unruly and unresponsive files? But, those rumors about the AICPA integrating Excel into the CPA Exam have finally become a […]
A 2018 Refresh: The CPA Exam User Experience Reno
Along with a series of other 2018 CPA Exam changes that will make the testing experience easier for CPA candidates, the latest version of the exam will feature a redesigned CPA Exam user experience (UX) for virtually all interfaces. The AICPA is demolishing the outdated look it’s had for so long and introducing a more […]
Exposure Drafts: All’s FAR in Love and the CPA Exam
Exposure Drafts appears every other Wednesday. Send your accounting cartoon ideas and CPA exam scores to [email protected] You can follow Greg Kyte on Twitter.
NASBA ‘Cannot Pinpoint an Exact Time’ of the CPA Exam Score Release and People Are Freaking Out
Earlier today, NASBA sent a communique from its Twitter account that they knew, or at least should have known, was going to get people worked up: We’ve had many ?s about the time of the score release. Since this is the first time releasing scores with the new Gateway system, we cannot pinpoint an exact […]
CPA Exam Excel-erates into 2018
On April 1, which is (Facebook) officially known as the International CPA Exam Changes Day, the CPA Exam will undergo another round of major updates. I know you’re all thinking, PLEASE no more changes. And, in the wake of the Great Content Overhaul of 2017 when the AICPA increased the number of Simulations in each […]
Here’s Your CPA Exam Score Release Open Thread (Q4 2017)
Yes, it’s CPA exam score release season, again. So, if you took a CPA exam from October 1 through December 10, 2017, then consider this post a safe place. Waiting for your #CPAExam score(s)? The score release is expected to happen on December 19 and you can check for scores here: https://t.co/aNB5vqOXsK pic.twitter.com/yI9s89qMOK — NASBA […]
Let’s Hear Your Best CPA Exam Stories, Misadventures, and Unlikely Triumphs
Earlier this week, the Journal of Accountancy shared some yarns about the CPA exam from years ago when candidates took it with pencil, paper, and 500 of their closest friends. It was a simpler time, although I’m sure all of these CPAs would tell you that the exam was much harder then than it is […]
Gather Round, CPA Exam Scores Are Out
Pass or fail, we still got you. Hey look, NASBA released CPA exam scores today: On August 17, 2017, NASBA received and processed the following scores from the @AICPA pic.twitter.com/xpt49bKJXN — NASBA (@NASBA) August 17, 2017 Twitter is filled with the normal joy and strife of any score release date — mostly because the bumrush […]
FYI: CPA Review Guy Is Free Tonight for Drinks, Riffing on Pension Accounting
If you’re in Los Angeles, thirsty, but also have the urge to kick around some pension accounting, Peter Olinto’s got you covered: If memory serves, “coffee” was also Olinto’s code word for beers, so don’t be shy about getting the adult beverage. If you’d rather stick with coffee, at least get something with the most […]
How is the CPA Exam Graded? Understanding the CPA Passing Score
Please enjoy this sponsored content from Gleim CPA Review. For many, passing the CPA Exam marks the culmination of many months of effort as well as the beginning of a lucrative career. Most know that you need a 75 to pass, but few are aware that a 75 does not represent 75% correct. Scoring a […]
Here Are Your 2016 Elijah Watt Sells Award Winners
It’s time once again to pay homage to the best CPA exam takers in all the land. Yes, the Elijah Watt Sells award winners have been announced, and you aren’t on the list. Or maybe you are! If so, drop us a note to say hi. Anyway, of the 102,323 people who took the CPA […]
Navigating Task-Based Simulations on the New CPA Exam
Please enjoy this sponsored content from Gleim CPA Review. In the months leading up to the launch of the new version of the CPA Exam, the AICPA disclosed many details about how the format and functionality of the exam would change. One final bit of insight the AICPA offered before the new version launched addressed […]
Exposure Drafts: Can You Ever Have Too Many Letters Behind Your Name?
Exposure Drafts appears every other Wednesday. Send suggestions to [email protected]
CPA Exam Introductory Screens: New Exam Edition Changes
Please enjoy this sponsored content from Gleim CPA Review. The changes coming to the CPA Exam on April 1 affect several aspects of the exam, one of which is the duration. While we learned months ago that each section of the exam would now last for four hours, the AICPA recently announced another modification to […]
CPA Experience Verification: A New Service from NASBA
Please enjoy this sponsored content from Gleim CPA Review. If you’re in CPA Exam land, you or someone you know has probably struggled with the CPA experience requirement. Depending on your jurisdiction, you may be required to work under a CPA for 1-2 years in order to have your experience verified. However, thanks to NASBA’s […]
Impatient CPA Exam Candidates Won’t Be Pleased With the 2017 Score Release Schedule
A tip came in earlier today noting that the 2017 CPA exam score release schedule looks a bit different than in recent years past: I'm not sure if it has been like this before but they aren't releasing CPA exam scores nearly as often this year. Looks like in quarters 2-4 they are just saying […]
#CPAexamFail Doesn’t Do This Justice
Nor does it seem real which either means: 1) It's totally real and if so, let's pray for this person; 2) It's totally not real. But hey, someone shared it with us on Twitter, so okay! Worst #CPAexam score ever? What do you think happened here @going_concern #yikes pic.twitter.com/c2oSSzfhIc — benson (@benson304) June 21, 2016 […]
Here Are the 2015 Elijah Watt Sells Winners
As you well know, there's only one correct score on the CPA exam: a passing score. However, some passing scores are more correct than others, as we have explained at length. The 75 individuals listed below scored better than the other 93,667 people who sat for the CPA exam last year. For Elijah Watt Sells […]
Gleim CPA Exam Coaching Session
A 60-minute CPA exam coaching session taught by Gleim professor Amy Ford, CPA. This session will cover helpful exam tips about the CPA exam in general and specifically, Amy will offer coaching on the Statement of Cash Flows. This is relevant for anyone about to take the CPA or CMA exam or who is currently […]
Assemble the Superhero Weapons You Need to Overcome the Changing CPA Exam
So, the powers that be have called upon you to serve humanity as a defender of accounting justice. Though you may already be equipped with your accounting degree and relevant work experience, you have yet another formidable challenge to face before you can fulfill your destiny: the CPA Exam. A great shadow falls over your […]
How I Managed to Pass REG in the Middle of Busy Season
Did you pass all four parts of the CPA exam on the first try? Well, lucky you. It was score release day. I'd passed AUD, BEC, and FAR –- REG was the last piece. The worst piece. The bane of my existence. To this day, my shoulders clamp up a little if you ask me […]