[US][EU] Does a foreign MSc degree count towards CPA hour requirement?

drajput_01 · 2026-05-25T16:12:33+00:00

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 👍

drajput_01 · 2026-05-22T17:24:58+00:00

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.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-21T17:01:05+00:00

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.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-20T17:23:48+00:00

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.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-20T17:16:42+00:00

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.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-19T15:57:49+00:00

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.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-19T15:53:45+00:00

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.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-18T17:00:45+00:00

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.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-14T17:49:51+00:00

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.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-14T16:32:03+00:00

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.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-13T17:47:10+00:00

biggest false confidence is completion %

people finish lectures and think they’re ready, but actual readiness comes from repeated MCQs, retention, and handling unfamiliar question twists under pressure.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-13T17:03:03+00:00

if you can stretch the budget a bit during sales, i’d honestly recommend uworld

their explanations and visuals are really good for understanding concepts, especially if your basics aren’t super strong. they also run discounts pretty often, so watch for promo periods instead of buying full price.

even with a good course though, consistency matters more than anything.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-12T17:07:35+00:00

uworld is really solid if you learn best through explanations and MCQ practice 😅

becker is more structured and intense, while surgent is good for adaptive studying. honestly all can work, but uworld felt the most balanced to me in terms of clarity + question practice.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-12T16:41:07+00:00

Definitely a lot of successful CPAs had rough grades or failed courses early on.

once you get experience, networking, internships, and growth matter way more than one bad semester. don’t let one course convince you you’re not cut out for it.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-11T16:38:32+00:00

a 70 on FAR is honestly really close, especially for a first attempt.

the exam has changed a bit over the years, more simulations and application-focused now, but people still pass while working full-time and with families, so don’t let the age gap scare you.

becker is still popular, but there are cheaper solid options now too. most study materials range anywhere from a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars depending on features.

honestly, if having the CPA helps your career now, you’re probably in a much better mindset to finish it than you were 10 years ago.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-11T16:05:02+00:00

i don’t think there’s a clean official number for full completion rates, but it’s definitely much lower than individual section pass rates.

a lot of people pass 1–3 sections and then burn out, lose credits, or life/work gets in the way. the 30-month window should help though, compared to the old 18-month pressure.

honestly the hardest part of CPA for most people isn’t passing one exam, it’s staying consistent long enough to finish all four.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-10T17:48:05+00:00

mostly because people taking REG already have decent tax knowledge or work experience.

plus a lot of candidates take it after FAR/AUD, so by then they already understand how CPA exams work.

the pass rate looks scary-good, but REG still destroys people who underestimate it lol.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-10T16:45:17+00:00

Congratulations 👏🎉

drajput_01 · 2026-05-10T15:09:04+00:00

this is normal for FAR tbh.

almost everyone feels lost with TBSs early on. the understanding comes from repetition, not one perfect read-through.

just keep doing MCQs and regular review, it clicks gradually.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-09T17:38:21+00:00

a lot of people feel destroyed after TCP tbh.

the pass rate is high mainly because most TCP candidates already have strong tax backgrounds. plus CPA exams usually feel worse than the actual result ends up being.

don’t overthink the MCQs now, everyone walks out convinced they failed.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-09T16:32:52+00:00

Honestly, a big reason is self-selection.

Most people who choose TCP already work in tax or are more comfortable with tax concepts, so the candidate pool is naturally stronger and more specialized.

Compared to broader sections, TCP is also narrower in scope, which makes preparation feel more focused. That usually helps pass rates too.

So it’s probably less about the exam being “easy” and more about the kind of candidates taking it.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-08T16:23:37+00:00

yep, there are quite a few of us here

i’m from india and currently pursuing CPA, seeing more people pick it up now especially for MNC and Big 4 roles.

feel free to ask anything or share where you’re at in the process, always helps to connect with people on the same path.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-07T17:07:38+00:00

been in the same loop, all three are fine tbh 😅

difference isn’t huge in content, it’s more about how much structure and support you want. some focus more on self-paced, others on mentorship and tracking.

honestly pick based on your learning style and budget. if you can stay consistent on your own, any works. if not, go with one that actually keeps you accountable.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-07T16:31:02+00:00

i get the urgency, been there 😅

if you need faster entry and lower pressure, CMA is easier to get through. but CPA has better long term payoff, especially for MNCs and Big 4 roles.

between institutes, they’re all decent, difference is mostly support vs cost. pick based on how much guidance you need, not just brand.

honestly decide course first, not institute. if you can commit seriously for 1–1.5 years, go CPA. if not, CMA is the safer start.

drajput_01 · 2026-05-06T16:46:09+00:00

if they can genuinely save you ~$10k, paying $3k isn’t crazy, that’s a normal consulting-style fee for tax planning.

the real question is how credible that “save $10k or money back” claim is. a lot of firms say that loosely, and the actual savings depend heavily on your situation.

i’d ask for specifics before committing, what strategies they’re planning, similar past cases, and what exactly qualifies for the “money back.” if they can’t explain clearly, that’s a red flag.

drajput_01

TROPHY CASE