Before taking the CPA Exam, you should really make sure you want to be a CPA. I've written another great lens that details the Five Reasons to Become a CPA. Check it out. If you're still committed, then come back here to learn more about taking the CPA Exam.

Back already? I knew you would be.
Ok, let's get down to business.
The CPA Exam is absolutely one of the toughest professional skills assessment tests in the world. That's a good thing, because Accounting is a complex and misunderstood industry, and unscrupulous people could easily take advantage of the many twists and turns. Without the stringent standards set forth by the AICPA and NASBA, we'd all be in trouble!
Having said that, it's also important to say that the CPA Exam is tough, but you're tougher! The exam is a test of determination and discipline as well as a test of your knowledge and skill. With some accurate information, guidance, advice, and encouragement, I believe that anyone can become a CPA.
Now, this lens won't take you by the hand and serve the purpose of my CPA review course, but it will give you a lot of information that you can use to keep yourself motivated and focused on your goal.

In later modules, we'll discuss some study strategies that apply directly to the CPA Exam. However, it's best to start by making sure you're building the right habits for studying and test taking in general. For now, we'll start with some basic habits of successful test takers.

1. Be Organized. This doesn't just mean to have all your papers in order, or to keep your calendars updated. It means that you'll have less to worry about because you're not constantly wondering what to do or think of next! Make a study plan, and stick to it. Keep your worries on a list, and come up with a solution to match each worry. You'll be surprised how much more confidence you get when your worries are on a piece of paper and not in your head!

2. Budget your time. Keep track of how you like to spend your time, and remember to budget time to do the things you have to do. For example, you like to hang out with your friends, but you have to go to work/school. If you put off work or school, you wouldn't have a job and you certainly wouldn't be trying to take the CPA Exam! Make studying for the exam the same level of priority as going to work or school, and budget your time accordingly. Yes, you'll have to make some sacrifices to get it all done. But, remember: When you reach your goal, all the sacrifices will have been worth it!

3. Keep a Positive Outlook. A successful test taker doesn't go into a test convince they're going to fail. They walk in with confidence and walk out with a passing score.

4. Show up Early. Getting there early helps you avoid rushing around and allows you to stop worrying about being late. It also allows you those extra few minutes to center yourself and relax.

5. Take Good Notes, and Review Them! What are good notes? Good notes include the main ideas on a topic presented in a readable fashion. Take notes as though they were going to be read by someone who's never heard of the topic. Include key points, facts and figures and whatever memory aids you can think of. Keep it clean! Don't let your notes get too messy... You'll be reviewing them later.

6. Don't Procrastinate! Waiting to start your studying will only add more urgency to the process, and urgency can equal stress. If you start your study program right away, you'll build the momentum you need to turn studying into a great habit.

7. Pay Attention to Your Body! If you're tired when studying, SLEEP! If you're hungry when studying, EAT! A tired or hungry student doesn't learn as quickly or thoroughly as one who is rested and fed. The same applies to test taking. If you stay up the night before cramming for the exam, you'll arrive at the testing center exhausted and running at half power. The night before the test, get plenty of sleep. Wake up in the morning and have a good breakfast, avoiding foods that make you feel slow and sluggish. And, make sure you go to the bathroom before the test begins so you're not worried about it during the exam! Pay attention to your body and it will pay you back with a passing score.

8. Get Help! Get advice from people who've been there and passed successfully. Don't bother going it alone. You could do it that way, but why? You're certainly capable, intelligent and wise enough for that, but your energy is better spent absorbing the information than reinventing the wheel.

The fact that you're even reading this means that you're willing to seek outside advice from someone who's been there. Great job! Now, just take this advice and apply it to your own CPA Exam experience!

We've covered some basic test taking strategies. Let's move forward and discuss how those strategies apply to the CPA Exam in particular.
Just like in the previous list, the first step is to GET ORGANIZED! We're going to get your "ducks in a row", so to speak. Being organized on and before exam day will give you that extra edge so you can walk into the testing center and OWN that exam.

Here's something to keep in mind as you plan for your exam:
The Exam is offered in 4 "windows". Each window has two months in which the exam is conducted, and one "blackout" month. Here's how it works:

January and February: OK!
March: Blackout - No Exams!

April and May: OK!
June: Blackout - No Exams!

July and August: OK!
September: Blackout - No Exams!

October and November: OK!
December: Blackout - No Exams!

You can take more than one part per window, but you must pass the whole exam within 18 months. This means that you can take two parts per window and you'll have plenty of time to retest on every part if you need to! Don't stress yourself out by trying to take all four parts in the same window. While it CAN be done, it takes an incredible amount of work and dedication, and studying for all four parts at once can be confusing. Know your own limits and work accordingly.

You're going to want to start your own checklist. This checklist should contain all the individual action items you'll need to accomplish in order to apply for, take, and pass the exam. Now, everyone is different... We all have different schedules, and lifestyles. So, take your own life into account when planning your checklist.

Let's use an example checklist to get us started.

1. Enroll in a Roger CPA Review course. (6 months prior to Exam Day)
2. Graduate from college with all requirements met.
3. Apply to your State Board of Accountancy and pay application fee. (6 months prior to Exam Day)
4. Send your official transcripts to the State Board
5. Begin studying for your first exam part with Roger CPA Review. (6 months prior to Exam Day)
6. Receive your ATT from the State Board. (4.5 months prior to Exam Day)
7. Pay the required testing fees to NASBA.
8. Receive your NTS from the State Board.
9. Schedule your exam at www.Prometric.com.
10. Take your exam at the Prometric Testing Center.
11. Receive your scores 1 - 3 months later.

Now, let's examine these steps in greater detail:

1. Enroll in a Roger CPA Review course. (6 months prior to Exam Day)
I put this as step one not because I want to sell my course (although I do!) but because by enrolling in my course as a first step you accomplish three things:

• You make an investment in the IDEA of taking the exam which will keep you from putting it off.


• You'll have your materials and course lectures ready in time to start studying at Step 5 with no delay.


• You lock in the course at its current price so you don't have to pay more for it later!

If you're interested in finding out about my courses, go on over to our CPA Review courses page and take a look at our different formats.

2. Graduate from college with all requirements met.
Although every state can have different requirements, many states have the following standard.

• Completed Bachelor's Degree


• 120 or 150 semester (180 or 225 quarter) units*


• 24 semester (36 quarter) units of Accounting classes*

To find out more about the individual requirements for your state, contact your State Board of Accountancy, or visit my website's CPA Exam Requirements page.

3. Apply to your State Board of Accountancy and pay application fee. (6 months prior to Exam Day)
Here's where you're going to decide which sections you'll test on first. Your application tells the State Board which parts to authorize you to test for. This will appear on your ATT during Step 6.
Everyone seems to have a different idea of which order to take the parts in. I've found that, like many other aspects of preparing for the exam, it's really a question of personal preference.
I recommend starting with the part you found easiest. This will boost your confidence and give you the momentum you need to push on into the harder sections.
Each state has its own State Board of Accountancy and fee structure, so visit our CPA Exam Requirements page for more information on how to apply.

Here's a tip: To save money and time, be sure you only apply for the exam parts you know you're going to take! Whatever parts you apply for will appear on your ATT, and you'll be required to pay the fess for those parts. All fees paid to NASBA are non-refundable. If you decide not to take a part you applied and paid for, that fee will be forfeited!

4. Send your transcripts to the State Board.
Each state has different methods of receiving your college transcripts. Some colleges have established electronic transfer of transcripts to the State Board, while others require sealed official documents to be sent along with the application. Be sure to find out your state's requirements by contacting your State Board directly.

5. Begin studying for your first exam part with Roger CPA Review. (6 months prior to Exam Day)
This is where I really come in to offer my expertise. You've already decided which parts you'll take first. Now, it's time to start studying for them!
It's especially important to start early if you're starting with a monster like Financial Accounting, which will suck at least 128 hours of time off your life!!
I'll give you more tips and tricks during the course to keep you motivated and organized, along with all the information you need to pass each part with confidence.

6. Receive your ATT from the State Board. (4.5 months prior to Exam Day)
Once the State Board has evaluated and approved your transcripts, they'll send you your ATT (Authorization To Test). You'll need to submit this to NASBA in the next step.

7. Pay the required testing fees to NASBA.
You'll need to send in the ATT and required fees to NASBA within 90 days of receiving the ATT, otherwise it will expire. Find the fee structure for your state by visiting our CPA Exam Requirements page.

REMEMBER: ONLY APPLY FOR PARTS YOU ARE SURE YOU'LL TAKE! NASBA will not refund your payment if you change your mind!!

8. Receive your NTS from the State Board.
Here's where the downhill slope begins... You're almost there. The NTS (Notice To Schedule) will allow you to schedule your exam within 6 - 9 months of the date that appears on it, depending on your state. If you don't take all of the parts you applied for within that time, well, see my note above! Make sure to schedule your exams immediately after receiving your NTS. If you don't, you're procrastinating.

9. Schedule your exam at www.Prometric.com.
This step really doesn't require much explanation. If you've made it this far, you know how to use a website!

10. Take your exam at the Prometric Testing Center.
The BIG Day! If you have used my course, followed my advice and worked all the problems, you should be confident and relaxed in the knowledge that you will pass.
Prometric Testing Centers have a strict code of conduct that I will discuss in a later module dedicated exclusively to Exam Day.
If you're reviewing this list on or before Exam Day, let me just wish you a heartfelt GOOD LUCK!

11. Receive your scores 1-3 months later.

Many people say that this is the hardest part of the exam. Some people say it's like sitting on pins and needles for up to 3 months.
While the AICPA is always working on improving its response time in score reporting, it is inevitably a long process. Be patient, and wait it out. Do some celebrating. Remember, whether you passed or not, you deserve some much needed rest and relaxation after a job well done.

When you do get your scores, be sure to let me know how you did by either posting to this lens, or visiting my website and sending me an email. To everyone who gets through the exam, pass or fail, congratulations! You did it! Now let's start thinking about licensure...

My CPA review course is fast paced, exciting, and focused on getting you ready to pass this notoriously difficult test. My lectures and materials concentrate on delivering just what you need to know to pass, so you don't have to study useless or outdated information. I write my own CPA review textbooks to compliment my world renowned classes, so you know you're getting the information from somebody who knows the subject matter. I also update my materials twice per year, which allows you to always have the most current and heavily tested information. Instead of having a random instructor reading from an old textbook or showing you a pre-recorded lecture, you'll get energetic and funny classes that will keep you awake and motivated! And you can choose between three course types: Live, Online, and USB Drive. I teach all of our classes, so you'll always have consistent quality of instruction. Finally, I offer my course at prices that beat my competitors hands down.
By visiting my CPA Exam review website, you can take a look at some of the great testimonials I've received from past students, visit my CPA review course comparison page to see how my course stacks up against the competition, or watch one of our great demos to get a feel for my teaching style. I'm sure you'll see why so many other successful CPA Exam candidates have passed with my course, and acheived pass rates as high as 86%!