How to Pass the CPA exam

Passing the CPA exam is perhaps the most difficult step in becoming a licensed CPA. The exam is considered by many to be the toughest qualifying exam of any profession. In addition to obtaining the correct education, proper preparation is critical for the exam.

Things You'll Need

• 120 hour baccalaureate degree with 28 hours of accounting included

Instructions

1. Obtain a baccalaureate degree that includes at least 120 credit hours with a minimum of 28 credit hours in accounting.

2. Sign up for a review course. There are many qualified programs that ranged from self study, to class room, to Internet. The most popular program seems to be the Becker CPA review program. This program has a significant history in facilitating examinees in passing the CPA exam.

3. Take a simulated exam. This is extremely critical to passing the CPA exam. The CPA exam is conducted in a very stringently controlled environment. This environment can cause distractions from passing. By taking a simulated exam in a similarly controlled environment, it allows the examinee to become more comfortable with the CPA exam.

4. Go and pass the CPA exam. Remember you don't have to pass all four sections in the first attempt. You can qualify by passing two sections and receiving a score of 50 percent or better on the other two sections. This allows you to only sit for the sections you failed on the next exam.

Tips & Warnings

• The CPA designation is a very difficult one to obtain and includes an arduous, extended process which culminates in the passing of the CPA exam. There are a very small percentage of examinees that pass the CPA exam on the first try, so do not get discouraged by failure. Additionally, the review courses are critical to the success of the examinee, and most people that ultimately pass the exam have taken some sort of review course.

Resources

• Becker CPA Review website
• National Association of State Boards of Accountancy official website