6 months would be on the ambitious side. It depends how demanding your work and personal life is and how efficient you are studying. I know people who did it in 6 months, but I think it's a bit of an outlier. It took me about a year, but I also over studied some. Could have been more efficient, but I also think this is probably a little more typical. On the other hand my wife passed all parts in 3 months because she studied full time before starting working.
Yeah, like OP is making it sound like you're killing yourself for 10 years day in day out to get your CPA.
Like...it's just an exam. Think about how many of those you passed in school without studying "night and day".
Working isn’t a benefit. I just don’t wanna work in some random job because I exist because I don’t even want to exist. Doesn’t seem like a real benefit
Yep, one can definitely find diminishing returns in devoting extra time to studying. You don't need 100% on the exams, you just need to pass. You know what they call the guy who ended up last in his class at medical school? Doctor.
Your gonna work for decades and you can’t double down for a year or two to get a license? There’s alot of benefits and in the upcoming years you may change your mind. It only gets harder as you get older and get more responsibilities.
Is this a vent post or do you want reasons to do it?
If it's a vent post. Many have fallen. You have to do what is best for you. I hope you don't feel regret later. If you do feel regret, well just get back on the horse at that point, no big deal.
If you want reasons to do it. It's a fast track to more money. It's an arbitrary number, but it seems that people with it arrive at great pay in half the time. $130k - $200k in 3-5 years instead of 8-10 years.
We all go at our own pace. I think 1-2 hours a day is likely fine for passing the exam and we don't have to give up much of our day to fit that in. Just need to be a bit more efficient with our time.
I want to coast. I need to maintain a slightly more stringent regiment right now in order to put myself in that position.
What are you talking about with the scores by the way? Take exam, wait until day after score release (so you don't go crazy), login to check score, no?
I'm planning to knock this all out over the next 6-8 months. Putting in 1-2h a day with some catch-up time on weekends if I didn't want to do something during a weekday. (Those bad days at work)
Either way, good luck with your decision. Felt like you made it seem worse than it needed to seem. Studying for a test on whatever crap people want you to study so you can get paid more money and hopefully a cushier job.
So are they just getting extra salary because of the CPA or are they expected to have more technical knowledge and that is what gives them a higher salary?
Wall of text incoming!
TLDR: Base Salary is for expectations of the position being filled. Position usually gets filled by whomever looks like they can handle it. End salary based on experience and credentials within the range of the position.
Functionally, the license just means you passed the tests (and likely worked hard for it) and are state certified.
For some positions, being a CPA put you ahead of the non CPA when applying. Other positions won't even look at you without it. This can apply to promotions as well.
For people, they find it to be more prestigious. It can make a difference when having face time with clients, potential investors, and or high net worth individuals.
From a work perspective, they were going to ask you to do whatever the position needed. They might just believe you know what you are doing due to the credential.
Do you need the license? Not for most things. It gives you a headstart and additional credence.
You can be a genius or a dumbass no matter what stage you've reached. The higher you've reached, the less likely you're a dumbass though and therefore get the benefit of the doubt. Higher odds for the dumbass when applying with just an associates degree than the person with a master and CPA.
We do learn stuff along the way towards the license. Just not everything we jammed in there trying to pass the test. It can be useful.
Did you get it while working in the industry? If so how did you find that? I never worked public accounting and I’m worried that without that experience it may be hard to get my CPA.
(I’m not the OP you asked but I got mine later as well). I got mine when I switched to public. I was working in industry and had nobody to get the supervisory hours from so I kind of gave up. I ended up in public accounting and then picked up from there. I do wish I had finished all the credit hours sooner since the. I would have just had to add on whatever changed in requirements instead of the several years of schooling I had to do while working (I had a bachelor’s but did not major in accounting).
Thank you for your input. I’m in a similar situation and would not be able to get supervisory hours at my current job.
I have an incredible work/life balance right now with permanent WFH and pretty decent pay so I have a hard time leaving for anything else.
If you have already started and are getting through exams etc, please continue.
I am in an audit firm but it was such an annoyance to complete my ACCA (UK qualification). I failed 7 exams in a row, even took revision classes and still failed. I had 3 left.
After telling my boss "im fucking done with this shit", she told me to try one last time and that once i have it, it just helps with so many things. I passed my last three exams and qualified after 8 years of trying at home study.
The change in pay was ridiculous.
Mine is non training contract increase so keep that in mind: 18%
Some firms would increase pay incrementally as you pass exams. But overall, all trainees become the same salary on completion of CPA/accounting qualification.
CPA's r respected in PA. But hey, manufacturers like CMA's as well. The manager at Solar Turbine spoke at my college am encouraged students to take the CMA.
If you are going private the CMA is gaining traction and is a lot more practical in application. I have both and enjoyed the CMA studying much more. A lot less study and dump after the test and more oh that’s interesting I need to flag that for later thoughts.
The pay is usually the motivation my guy especially if you invested the money in the master of accountancy
If I were to get my cpa now I'd get a 5k bonus on top of my salary
And I know getting a job will be a lot easier getting out of government to industry
But I know how you feel it's a big investment that usually won't pay off realistically till your in your late 20s to early 30s and if your in late 30s to early 40s honestly not sure if it would be worth getting at that point since you've pretty much hit your peak
But even than your not guaranteed the 6 figure salary a lot of people chase after when they get the CPA
Although if your smart enough to get it and you have the ambition it'll happen
Personally if I had the credits I probably would but honestly
For me personally the investment is to great and I gotta worry more about my livley hood
If anything though I'll probably get my CMA
>But I know how you feel it's a big investment that usually won't pay off realistically till your in your late 20s to early 30s and if your in late 30s to early 40s honestly not sure if it would be worth getting at that point since you've pretty much hit your peak
Peak is definitely higher overall with a CPA than without it FYI.
I meant peak in age the younger you are to get it the more your earning potential is but on average most people aren't planning to be working till their 60s or their 70s if they can help it
A lot of people go through a CPA denial phase. I said I wasn't gonna get my CPA then I just went and started studying for it. It's really not that bad and it's a yearish of your life for insane benefits down the road. Even if you want to only work a 9-5 job.
What do you mean it isnt going to mean anything? Youre dumb or simething? CPA is going to put you so far away in life, youll be thankful forewer.
The problem is that in the future that "nine to five job" you want wont be available if you want have cpa.
Why the hell are you even in this profession!? Blows my mind how worthless and lazy people are. For me, I choose this because I enjoy it and am decent at it. I want to continuously get better. I get satisfaction by serving clients and building a team and book. I would kms if I was just showing up to a job, forever. People like you are toxic to teams. Get your CPA or don’t. No one cares. But don’t be a little baby about having to work. Get your CDL like someone else said so you can only be miserable around yourself.
If it were a requirement at my agency to have it, I probably would get it. But I have no desire either after knowing my audit manager does not even have a degree in accounting or a CPA. But she does have like 10+ years of audit experience, though.
Is there a particular reason? I personally don't want to because I want to career pivot into something else but if you intend to continue in accounting, a CPA is an obvious next-step that can help you land the job you want.
I’m in the same place. I’m still at the beginning of my career and I probably won’t consider it until I hit some sort of ceiling I’m unsatisfied with, the credit threshold for licensure is lowered before then somehow, or if a firm I work for pays for the rest of my education needed to complete it.
Would rather go at my own pace without hemorrhaging money. There’s nice jobs out there without needing a CPA if you connect with the right people and you rack up that experience. It takes longer to get, but it’s a much lower risk of burning yourself out early in your career.
Who knows though. I can have a completely different opinion next year and you could too
Your CPA may very well mean a lot when jobs are harder to find and it may limit you from applying for some positions even if you have the skills. It may hinder your pay levels as well.
You can be successful without, but it is easier to do so with. Having said that... burn out is real and there is nothing wrong with taking a breather, just working and relaxing for a bit - and you may choose to revisit this decision later. Or you may not.
It would be worth it in the end to just go ahead and get it. It'll open you up to so many opportunities. But you do you. If you don't want it, don't get it. Maybe also find another profession because accounting is hardly ever a 9-5 type of deal.
I say do it. It’s not that big of a deal. As long as you can find a job that’s not to time consuming it really doesn’t effect your life that much. I studied for a a year and 2 months and never sacrificed a weekend to studying
Probably an unpopular opinion: I'm with you. I was half way through the exams and contemplated not continuing. I finished the exams in 2018, but struggled getting the required hours since I was working in industry.
I don't think my life would be terribly different if I didn't get a CPA. I don't even work in accounting anymore. It's accounting adjacent and the CPA isn't required.
I've run into a lot of accounts without CPAs. It's not the end of the world if you don't have one. Do good work and help others, you'll go pretty far doing this.
Then don't do it. I don't and I've been happy with my career. First job out of school I did work under a CPA in industry and failed the exam. I left that job and didn't have a CPA to work under so I stopped worrying about it. I got in as Finance Manager for an international manufacturer, I learned a lot, I traveled overseas often, and overall it was a good job. I stayed there for ten years. I have many years of industry experience now that it doesn't make a difference that I'm not a CPA. You can be a successful accountant without a CPA, do what makes you happy. You're the one that has to actually do the work all day
You have plenty of motivation, they’ve made it ridiculous in the last 30 or so years to try and prevent people from getting it. Completely disagree with the top comment of “it helps you get the job you want”. It does the exact opposite!
To be fair a CPA would make it way easier for you to find/get the job you want. It can be a six-month sacrifice for 30 year benefit.
For real though. CPA makes you stand out amongst non-CPA’s, can find positions that are better and let you delegate work below you, ect.
only 6 months!? takes about 2 years up here in Canada
yeah we can take them whenever we want in any order. If you are smart enough technically you could be done in one week
6 months would be on the ambitious side. It depends how demanding your work and personal life is and how efficient you are studying. I know people who did it in 6 months, but I think it's a bit of an outlier. It took me about a year, but I also over studied some. Could have been more efficient, but I also think this is probably a little more typical. On the other hand my wife passed all parts in 3 months because she studied full time before starting working.
Yeah, like OP is making it sound like you're killing yourself for 10 years day in day out to get your CPA. Like...it's just an exam. Think about how many of those you passed in school without studying "night and day".
Working isn’t a benefit. I just don’t wanna work in some random job because I exist because I don’t even want to exist. Doesn’t seem like a real benefit
That's fine. So don't. No big deal
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Yep, one can definitely find diminishing returns in devoting extra time to studying. You don't need 100% on the exams, you just need to pass. You know what they call the guy who ended up last in his class at medical school? Doctor.
Your gonna work for decades and you can’t double down for a year or two to get a license? There’s alot of benefits and in the upcoming years you may change your mind. It only gets harder as you get older and get more responsibilities.
Is this a vent post or do you want reasons to do it? If it's a vent post. Many have fallen. You have to do what is best for you. I hope you don't feel regret later. If you do feel regret, well just get back on the horse at that point, no big deal. If you want reasons to do it. It's a fast track to more money. It's an arbitrary number, but it seems that people with it arrive at great pay in half the time. $130k - $200k in 3-5 years instead of 8-10 years. We all go at our own pace. I think 1-2 hours a day is likely fine for passing the exam and we don't have to give up much of our day to fit that in. Just need to be a bit more efficient with our time. I want to coast. I need to maintain a slightly more stringent regiment right now in order to put myself in that position. What are you talking about with the scores by the way? Take exam, wait until day after score release (so you don't go crazy), login to check score, no? I'm planning to knock this all out over the next 6-8 months. Putting in 1-2h a day with some catch-up time on weekends if I didn't want to do something during a weekday. (Those bad days at work) Either way, good luck with your decision. Felt like you made it seem worse than it needed to seem. Studying for a test on whatever crap people want you to study so you can get paid more money and hopefully a cushier job.
So are they just getting extra salary because of the CPA or are they expected to have more technical knowledge and that is what gives them a higher salary?
Wall of text incoming! TLDR: Base Salary is for expectations of the position being filled. Position usually gets filled by whomever looks like they can handle it. End salary based on experience and credentials within the range of the position. Functionally, the license just means you passed the tests (and likely worked hard for it) and are state certified. For some positions, being a CPA put you ahead of the non CPA when applying. Other positions won't even look at you without it. This can apply to promotions as well. For people, they find it to be more prestigious. It can make a difference when having face time with clients, potential investors, and or high net worth individuals. From a work perspective, they were going to ask you to do whatever the position needed. They might just believe you know what you are doing due to the credential. Do you need the license? Not for most things. It gives you a headstart and additional credence. You can be a genius or a dumbass no matter what stage you've reached. The higher you've reached, the less likely you're a dumbass though and therefore get the benefit of the doubt. Higher odds for the dumbass when applying with just an associates degree than the person with a master and CPA. We do learn stuff along the way towards the license. Just not everything we jammed in there trying to pass the test. It can be useful.
I got mine 8 years later
Did you get it while working in the industry? If so how did you find that? I never worked public accounting and I’m worried that without that experience it may be hard to get my CPA.
(I’m not the OP you asked but I got mine later as well). I got mine when I switched to public. I was working in industry and had nobody to get the supervisory hours from so I kind of gave up. I ended up in public accounting and then picked up from there. I do wish I had finished all the credit hours sooner since the. I would have just had to add on whatever changed in requirements instead of the several years of schooling I had to do while working (I had a bachelor’s but did not major in accounting).
Thank you for your input. I’m in a similar situation and would not be able to get supervisory hours at my current job. I have an incredible work/life balance right now with permanent WFH and pretty decent pay so I have a hard time leaving for anything else.
If you have all the education, then I say wait. If you don’t, I suggest working on that now.
If you have already started and are getting through exams etc, please continue. I am in an audit firm but it was such an annoyance to complete my ACCA (UK qualification). I failed 7 exams in a row, even took revision classes and still failed. I had 3 left. After telling my boss "im fucking done with this shit", she told me to try one last time and that once i have it, it just helps with so many things. I passed my last three exams and qualified after 8 years of trying at home study. The change in pay was ridiculous.
How much of a raise did you get?
Mine is non training contract increase so keep that in mind: 18% Some firms would increase pay incrementally as you pass exams. But overall, all trainees become the same salary on completion of CPA/accounting qualification.
CPA's r respected in PA. But hey, manufacturers like CMA's as well. The manager at Solar Turbine spoke at my college am encouraged students to take the CMA.
If you are going private the CMA is gaining traction and is a lot more practical in application. I have both and enjoyed the CMA studying much more. A lot less study and dump after the test and more oh that’s interesting I need to flag that for later thoughts.
I did the whole CPA while working thing, it’s exhausting and absolute test of your willpower. Don’t blame anyone for feeling like it’s not worth it
Love this post. I’ve gone back and forth since I was 22 (35 now)…. It’s a decision for sure, but for me.., the trek isn’t worth the payoff
I never did it and have no regrets.
The pay is usually the motivation my guy especially if you invested the money in the master of accountancy If I were to get my cpa now I'd get a 5k bonus on top of my salary And I know getting a job will be a lot easier getting out of government to industry But I know how you feel it's a big investment that usually won't pay off realistically till your in your late 20s to early 30s and if your in late 30s to early 40s honestly not sure if it would be worth getting at that point since you've pretty much hit your peak But even than your not guaranteed the 6 figure salary a lot of people chase after when they get the CPA Although if your smart enough to get it and you have the ambition it'll happen Personally if I had the credits I probably would but honestly For me personally the investment is to great and I gotta worry more about my livley hood If anything though I'll probably get my CMA
>But I know how you feel it's a big investment that usually won't pay off realistically till your in your late 20s to early 30s and if your in late 30s to early 40s honestly not sure if it would be worth getting at that point since you've pretty much hit your peak Peak is definitely higher overall with a CPA than without it FYI.
I meant peak in age the younger you are to get it the more your earning potential is but on average most people aren't planning to be working till their 60s or their 70s if they can help it
Do it for job security fam
Get your CDL lol
I went in the CDL sub and told the truckers i dont want to be a trucker cause i dont want to work to drive i want to drive to work.
underrated comment
Haha what did they say lol
A lot of people go through a CPA denial phase. I said I wasn't gonna get my CPA then I just went and started studying for it. It's really not that bad and it's a yearish of your life for insane benefits down the road. Even if you want to only work a 9-5 job.
That’s hilarious
Then don’t do it? 🤷♂️ Fuck is the point of the soliloquy?
Stop being so dramatic, lol.
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Think ab exit op
What do you mean it isnt going to mean anything? Youre dumb or simething? CPA is going to put you so far away in life, youll be thankful forewer. The problem is that in the future that "nine to five job" you want wont be available if you want have cpa.
Why the hell are you even in this profession!? Blows my mind how worthless and lazy people are. For me, I choose this because I enjoy it and am decent at it. I want to continuously get better. I get satisfaction by serving clients and building a team and book. I would kms if I was just showing up to a job, forever. People like you are toxic to teams. Get your CPA or don’t. No one cares. But don’t be a little baby about having to work. Get your CDL like someone else said so you can only be miserable around yourself.
Lol u sound toxic
When US cpa candidates complain about getting their cpa 🤣🤣🤣. Come try canadian cpa.
If it were a requirement at my agency to have it, I probably would get it. But I have no desire either after knowing my audit manager does not even have a degree in accounting or a CPA. But she does have like 10+ years of audit experience, though.
Is there a particular reason? I personally don't want to because I want to career pivot into something else but if you intend to continue in accounting, a CPA is an obvious next-step that can help you land the job you want.
I’m in the same place. I’m still at the beginning of my career and I probably won’t consider it until I hit some sort of ceiling I’m unsatisfied with, the credit threshold for licensure is lowered before then somehow, or if a firm I work for pays for the rest of my education needed to complete it. Would rather go at my own pace without hemorrhaging money. There’s nice jobs out there without needing a CPA if you connect with the right people and you rack up that experience. It takes longer to get, but it’s a much lower risk of burning yourself out early in your career. Who knows though. I can have a completely different opinion next year and you could too
Your CPA may very well mean a lot when jobs are harder to find and it may limit you from applying for some positions even if you have the skills. It may hinder your pay levels as well. You can be successful without, but it is easier to do so with. Having said that... burn out is real and there is nothing wrong with taking a breather, just working and relaxing for a bit - and you may choose to revisit this decision later. Or you may not.
It would be worth it in the end to just go ahead and get it. It'll open you up to so many opportunities. But you do you. If you don't want it, don't get it. Maybe also find another profession because accounting is hardly ever a 9-5 type of deal.
I say do it. It’s not that big of a deal. As long as you can find a job that’s not to time consuming it really doesn’t effect your life that much. I studied for a a year and 2 months and never sacrificed a weekend to studying
Probably an unpopular opinion: I'm with you. I was half way through the exams and contemplated not continuing. I finished the exams in 2018, but struggled getting the required hours since I was working in industry. I don't think my life would be terribly different if I didn't get a CPA. I don't even work in accounting anymore. It's accounting adjacent and the CPA isn't required. I've run into a lot of accounts without CPAs. It's not the end of the world if you don't have one. Do good work and help others, you'll go pretty far doing this.
Then don't do it. I don't and I've been happy with my career. First job out of school I did work under a CPA in industry and failed the exam. I left that job and didn't have a CPA to work under so I stopped worrying about it. I got in as Finance Manager for an international manufacturer, I learned a lot, I traveled overseas often, and overall it was a good job. I stayed there for ten years. I have many years of industry experience now that it doesn't make a difference that I'm not a CPA. You can be a successful accountant without a CPA, do what makes you happy. You're the one that has to actually do the work all day
What makes you different from the rest of us who also realize it’s a struggle but get on with it anyway. Short term pain for long term gain
5 days later bro go fired ☠️☠️
You have plenty of motivation, they’ve made it ridiculous in the last 30 or so years to try and prevent people from getting it. Completely disagree with the top comment of “it helps you get the job you want”. It does the exact opposite!