Investing Blog Roundup: CPA Exam Update

Comments

1. Elle says:

   March 25, 2011 at 7:52 am

   Congrats on getting through the first portion! How long does each section of the CPA last? My sister is majoring in accounting so I’m kind of interested in it.
2. Mike says:

   March 25, 2011 at 9:10 am

   Thanks, Elle.

   It’s entirely up to the person taking the test. You can schedule them on just about any day you want. You just have to pass all four parts within 18 months of each other.

   It’s taking me somewhat longer than it takes many other people. I’m a bit obsessive about exam preparation, and it turns out I studied far more for that first test than I actually needed to. (Good to know I can move more quickly through the next three; frustrating to know I wasted 2 months of my life.)

   My estimate at this point is that the grand total time will be about 10 months of ~20 hours/week. Some people do it much faster.
3. Murnal Abate says:

   March 25, 2011 at 9:10 am

   Congratulations and good luck on the remaining 3 sections!
4. Mike says:

   March 25, 2011 at 9:11 am

   Thanks, Murnal.
5. Nanette Byrnes says:

   March 25, 2011 at 9:11 am

   Congratulations!
6. Larry says:

   March 25, 2011 at 10:00 am

   Congrats, Mike. I have to ask, though: would you consider also taking the exam for a Certified Financial Planner? Or does the CPA qualify you for that as well? I suspect if you put out your shingle for a CFP you might find a lot of takers from the Internet world.
7. Mike says:

   March 25, 2011 at 10:42 am

   Nanette: Thank you.

   Larry: Having a CPA license apparently satisfies the education requirement to sit for the CFP exam. I might go for CFP certification someday, but there are no specific plans to do so. For now at least, I’m very happy doing what I’m doing.

   My reasons for pursuing CPA certification are mostly:
   A) To prove to myself that I can do it, and
   B) To supplement the credibility of my writing.

   (More A than B.) In other words, it’s not really part of larger plan to shift careers. (Though I suppose anything is possible, because I admit I have no idea what I’ll want to be doing, say, 10 years from now.)
8. Paul Williams says:

   March 25, 2011 at 4:07 pm

   Congrats on passing the first part, Mike!

   In reply to your reply to Larry: I think the CFP certification (or maybe even CFA given some of your interests) would do more to supplement the credibility of your writing than the CPA license would, though I know you have written a good bit about taxes/business structures. Just my two cents
9. Mike says:

   March 25, 2011 at 4:24 pm

   Paul: I agree that CFP certification would be more in line with my writing here on the blog.

   As I said, the biggest part of my motivation is just that this is something I’ve always planned to do eventually, and I figured it was time to finally get it done.
10. TFB says:

    March 27, 2011 at 12:59 am

    Congratulations! Is there a practice requirement to keep the CPA license going?
11. Mike says:

    March 27, 2011 at 8:04 am

    Thanks, TFB.

    I can’t speak to other states, but here in Illinois, there is a continuing education requirement, but not a continuing practice requirement.
12. Barb Friedberg says:

    March 29, 2011 at 5:57 pm

    Mike, Congrats. I’m very excited for you and really appreciated you stating your motivation. Cleary you will prevail! It’s fun to challenge oneself!