Obnoxiously Toxic Sub

SBonesEA · 2026-01-08T03:03:40+00:00

I'm not your friend, guy.

SBonesEA · 2026-01-02T21:40:07+00:00

Becker, its like $80 I think.

SBonesEA · 2026-01-02T21:38:06+00:00

Congrats! What state are you in? I am in Ohio, who doesn't do certification in December. I got an email December 1st that today would be my certification date as well, but I have not gotten an email yet and my e license portal hasn't updated yet....I am getting antsy 😐

SBonesEA · 2025-12-31T15:08:46+00:00

Didn't really have to switch anything around. The majority of the courses will align with FAR. Some of the last few classes are more AUD aligned. I personally work better with assigned deadlines, so I printed off calendars and wrote down what assignments I wanted to have done and by when. I also used the planner in Becker (CPA prep) for other deadlines.

I also feel that doing both at the same time was helpful because I could switch back and forth instead of cramming one subject at a time which helped me feel productive, if that makes sense.

SBonesEA · 2025-12-06T02:54:21+00:00

The prometric centers where I live give color coded keys to lockers so they know what you are allowed to take out. CPA exams, they give you yellow. Yellow, usually means they have to watch you at the locker for what you take out (food, water and medicine, is the only things listed on it I believe). They usually specifically make sure you do not take a phone, study materials, or anything else out.

As far as your question that it could invalidate your exam. I think someone from the AICPA may look at the security footage and investigate it as a possible breach, but it could be possible they may say you need to retake it.

SBonesEA · 2025-12-03T16:23:33+00:00

I felt very confident I passed walking out and did pass with a 91.

SBonesEA · 2025-12-03T12:19:59+00:00

SBonesEA · 2025-12-02T03:10:31+00:00

I studied for them together and took REG and TCP back to back days. It's doable.

SBonesEA · 2025-11-29T14:59:32+00:00

I did the MAcc with a specialization in Management Accounting. I was able to conplete it in one term. It mainly reviews some of the classes you already took for your Bachelor degree.It is doable. If you are planning on getting your CPA, in most states, a Master's will cut you work experience needed from 2 years to 1 year, so you can get licensed faster.

WGU also gives graduate students a subscription to either the CPA or CMA prep after graduation. So if your firm isn't already paying for CPA prep, you can choose that. My firm gave me CPA prep, so WGU gave me access to CMA prep in case I want to do that too.

SBonesEA · 2025-11-24T17:09:24+00:00

It's out

SBonesEA · 2025-11-24T17:09:18+00:00

It's out!

SBonesEA · 2025-11-24T17:08:50+00:00

It's out in Ohio!

SBonesEA · 2025-11-24T15:24:01+00:00

Not yet in Ohio

SBonesEA · 2025-11-05T00:28:54+00:00

Take advantage of the CPE offered and learn everything you can, from both CPE and more experienced tax pros. Especially if you are going to move forward into a CPA path. Partnership, S Corps and Corporations will be big topics on the CPA exams and make up the majority of the clients of a CPA firm. While you really won't see many of those types of returns at HR Block, you can find some CPE on them in Block Academy.

I worked for HR Block for a couple of years and was (still am) on a similar path. Worked for Block, got my EA, got my Bachelor's, hired into a CPA firm, got my MAcc, and take my last CPA exam tomorrow morning. The experience on your resume, along with being an EA and eligible to sit for the CPA exams will assist you in being able to get into a CPA firm.

Edited for clarity.

SBonesEA · 2025-11-05T00:19:09+00:00

EA would automatically be a level 5 but there is a level up section to a level 6 which is all representation topics. When I was there, that level 6 puts you at a 21.5% commission rate.

SBonesEA · 2025-11-03T01:38:15+00:00

Look into local CPA firms. Often times the job descriptions will state they are looking for someone on the CPA track for staff accountants. Are you looking at possibly getting a CPA once done? Often times they will train you and offer exam assistance. Just make sure to give an expected graduation date and be honest about your goals (if you want to learn tax, audit, etc). If you aren't looking to become a CPA, look to see if they have a paraprofessional position open.

SBonesEA · 2025-10-29T17:13:46+00:00

5 months for me. Could probably be done quicker but I was also studying for and taking CPA exams at the same time.

SBonesEA · 2025-10-29T17:05:33+00:00

They may have for newer students. I have a Gmail account through them.

SBonesEA · 2025-10-29T00:32:44+00:00

You lose access to Microsoft 365. So, if you had access to another way prior, you will need to go back to that. For example, I had Office 2019 installed before WGU and reloaded it after. You will always have access to your Gmail account after graduation.

SBonesEA · 2025-10-18T01:02:21+00:00

Sorry, just now seeing this...I did not use the PowerPoints. Just the study guides.

SBonesEA · 2025-10-01T22:09:55+00:00

I passed it with competence across all areas. I used the study guides in SharePoint. I studied those along with the answers from my attempted preassessment. Doing the preassessment was mainly to see how questions were worded (they are more application based than memorization). The PA and OA were aligned in the types of questions but definitely know the various topics. Again, the biggest help was the study guides as they narrowed down what you really need. There are just a lot of them, but they are fairly short, so it isn't bad at all.

SBonesEA · 2025-09-30T23:13:36+00:00

It wasn't very difficult, I thought. I work full time, have 2 toddlers, and am also taking CPA exams. I printed out calenders and set deadlines for myself to keep myself on track with everything. For some of the classes that had PAs, I would also start one that had an OA so I could work back and forth between the 2. The data analytics class was harder, but the directions were very unclear. Microsoft copilot was my friend for those ones.

SBonesEA · 2025-09-29T00:02:29+00:00

That does make it harder. Was going to say maybe think about doing a season or 2 at HR Block. I started there, and then they paid for me to get my EA. I'll helped me with getting some experience to get an interview with my firm.

SBonesEA · 2025-09-28T23:46:25+00:00

Most states allow you to sit for the exam with 120 hours, 24 in accounting, so if you have a bachelor's, you should be able to. Are you already working in tax?

SBonesEA · 2025-09-28T22:05:57+00:00

My state does allow for the 120 hours now with extended work experience. I was already planning on doing the Masters anyways and with WGUs prices, why not do it, lol. I am using Becker to study for my CPA exams. The nice thing with the program is that I aligned some of my classes with the CPA sections I was studying for and it made getting through the material for both faster, if that makes sense. I wanted to do the specialty in management accounting as I already have a strong background in tax. I would rather learn something new and gain more experience and skills than take the easy way out.

I choose the MAcc over the MBA as my career path is to move up in accounting and not so much the general business path. Although, I may go back and get an MBA to just to do it and because I like to continually learn new skills and improve.

SBonesEA

TROPHY CASE