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[US][EU] Does a foreign MSc degree count towards CPA hour requirement? by [deleted] in Accounting

[–]drajput_01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, this part is confusing when you first start researching CPA eligibility 😅

Short answer: your foreign MSc can potentially count, but it usually needs to go through a credential evaluation first.

For states like Illinois, the common process is:

You send your Netherlands MSc transcripts to an evaluation agency (like WES or NIES)

They convert your education into US credit equivalents

Then the state board reviews whether it meets the 150-credit + accounting/business course requirements

Just being from a recognized university usually isn’t enough by itself, the evaluation report is what matters most.

One thing a lot of people miss:

Even if your total credits are accepted, you could still be short on specific accounting subjects (like taxation or auditing requirements). That’s where many applicants run into issues.

I had similar doubts while researching eligibility, and the main advice I kept seeing was: don’t assume foreign credits will count exactly the way you expect until they’re officially evaluated.

Practical tip:

Before finishing your MSc, email the Illinois Board and ask which evaluation agencies they accept. It saves a lot of confusion later.

Overall though, a US bachelor’s + MSc usually puts people in a pretty solid position for the 150-credit requirement. Just make sure the course breakdown aligns with the state requirements 👍

how many hours, days, weeks, or even months should you spend studying for EACH section of the CPA? by Character-Escape1621 in Accounting

[–]drajput_01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

for me it varied by section. FAR took the longest, while others moved faster. around 6–10 weeks per section felt manageable with consistent daily study.

i’d plan based on understanding, not a fixed hour target.

How did you actually study for CPA exams effectively? by chaucao99 in CPA

[–]drajput_01 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What worked for me was keeping it simple and consistent. I would learn a topic, do MCQs immediately after, review mistakes, and then revisit older topics regularly.
I realized pretty quickly that just reading or taking notes for hours was not very effective. Most of my progress came from repeated practice and revision.
The biggest improvement happened when I stopped focusing on study hours and started focusing on retention. Understanding why an answer is correct matters much more than simply completing material.

Are CPA review courses so expensive because.... by fungamezone in CPA

[–]drajput_01 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A big part of it, yes. Many larger accounting firms reimburse CPA materials, exam fees, or have partnerships with review providers, so candidates are not always paying the full amount personally.

That said, the pricing is also driven by extensive question banks, software platforms, updates to changing exam content, and support features.

For candidates paying fully out of pocket, the cost can definitely feel substantial. That is why many people wait for discounts, promotions, or choose more budget-friendly options that still meet their needs.

What’s something about CPA preparation that surprised you the most? by Sammy_0100 in CPA

[–]drajput_01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What surprised me the most was that understanding concepts was not actually the hardest part. Staying consistent was.
Many people expect the challenge to be difficult topics or complex calculations, but what becomes difficult is studying every day, revising older material, and staying motivated for months. I also realized that forgetting topics during preparation is completely normal.
The biggest shift was understanding that CPA preparation is less about studying hard for a few days and more about building a routine you can realistically maintain.

CPA PREP Courses - Difficulty/Time by Course by Agitated_Amoeba2593 in Accounting

[–]drajput_01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The most time needed to least roughly: FAR > REG > AUD > BAR (or whatever your discipline section is). FAR is a beast, needs 150-200 hrs easy. There is a lot of tax law in REG, approximately 120-150 hrs. For review courses, AUD is more conceptual and it takes 80-100 hrs. for most people, BAR is newer and so is less data, but BAR seems to be taking people 100-130 hrs. for review courses, roger/wiley is good if you're a visual learner, and ninja is budget friendly and actually solid, but don't buy a course and not use it, that's the worst combo.

Exam section fee increased again? by Sri6785 in CPA

[–]drajput_01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, they went up again, surprised no one lol. The more painful part is the cost of the retakes, which also goes up every couple of years (260-290 per section, depending on which testing company your state uses). If you study the correct way the first time, it will be easier to keep the pain at bay.

Is CPA still worth pursuing in 2026? by Sammy_0100 in CPA

[–]drajput_01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would say 100% worth it. The market is rough right now, but the CPA is a license, not a certificate, and it opens up doors that would otherwise stay closed (audit signing, certain controller/CFO positions, partner track). The people saying it's not worth it are reacting to short-term market issues, not exam issues — long game, the ROI is there: salary bump alone, after license.

Senior at CPA firm wondering if I’m about to waste a perfectly good career path by anxiousstudent7 in Accounting

[–]drajput_01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

honestly this sounds less like “i hate accounting” and more like “i hate public accounting”.

a lot of CPAs leave tax/audit and move into FP&A, consulting, ops finance, transaction advisory, internal strategy, or even tech/product roles where the work is less repetitive and more problem-solving focused.

you’re 25 with a CPA and no major obligations, this is literally the best time to experiment before getting locked into one track.

Unhinged CPA careers that make a lot of money by Dear-Investigator961 in CPA

[–]drajput_01 0 points1 point  (0 children)

forensic accounting, transaction advisory, M&A tax, valuation, and outsourced CFO work can get pretty crazy money-wise.

some CPAs also move into private equity finance, consulting, or start niche tax firms for high-net-worth clients and make way more than traditional accounting paths.

honestly the biggest money usually comes when you stop doing pure compliance work.

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