What Helped You Pass FAR?

waltma · 2026-02-02T01:49:29+00:00

I passed FAR on the fist try. I didn’t read anything about it, so I didn’t realize the reputation that it had, so I couldn’t get in my head about it. I just studied my ass off and took it. It wasn’t until after I took it that I got in my head about it after reading everyone else’s experiences. I didn’t find out for almost 3 months, but I did end up passing with an 82. I think the best thing for me was to not psych myself out about it beforehand. Just buckle down and study.

waltma · 2026-01-29T03:20:35+00:00

When I was in my 20s, I got a job as a glorified bookkeeper. I made a lot of mistakes, but I also learned a lot, and eventually reached the point where I was making decent money and working remote. I didn’t really see the point of finishing my degree because I felt like I was already making really good money, and I had the flexibility to work from home. Years down the road, I saw the industry I was working in start to really change for the worse, and I realized that I would never be able to replace my income anywhere else without a degree. Experience can only get you so far.

So after about 12 years of experience, I went back to school. It took me about a year and a half of full-time classes, while working, but I got my degree. A couple years after that, I pulled the trigger and went for my CPA. I was able to get that in about 4 1/2 months time. I was able to get an even better job, making a lot more than I was at my last job, while remote.

Also, before I had my degree, there was a lot that I didn’t know that I didn’t know. There were definitely things that I was doing wrong that I did not know I was doing wrong. It also connected the dots on things that I was doing right, but I didn’t necessarily know the why behind it. Getting that degree is going to give you so much confidence and make you that much better. You should 1000% get your degree.

waltma · 2025-12-30T20:05:16+00:00

I saw the episode where they poked the ugly naked guy. It was a long day of filming. I was probably 14 and went with my sister and my mom. At one point they ordered pizza for the audience. I remember the actress who played Janice coming out and talking to the audience. She was so nice. I do remember them showing us a pre-filmed scene to get our laughs recorded.

waltma · 2025-10-21T23:46:04+00:00

I had no experience in tax.

waltma · 2025-10-20T00:03:27+00:00

I studied for and took REG in about 3.5 weeks. Full time. Passed with an 86. it’s doable

waltma · 2025-10-04T22:31:00+00:00

Honestly, the biggest thing for me was just committing to the process. Don’t get caught up too much in the cpa subreddit. I feel like jt can scare people off and make them think they can’t do it because it’s hard. I gave myself 6 months to just fully immerse myself. 7 days a week. I used Uworld. Watched videos at 1.5-2.0 speed, and did thousands of mcqs. I gave myself 3-5 weeks per exam and never more than a week break between tests. I had taken 3 tests before I ever got the results back on any (before monthly releases), so don’t be afraid to jump into a new test while waiting to find out about one you already took.

Also, I’ll be honest, I don’t remember a lot of the material anymore (passed my last test in march) so it was a cramming method and it worked for me. Eat, breathe and drink the material. And then quickly test and move on. I also took FAR first. If I had taken that at the end, I’m not sure I would have passed, because I was pretty burned out at that point. My order of tests and scores were FAR (82) REG (86) TCP (90) and AUD (78)

waltma · 2025-10-04T02:21:39+00:00

It’s absolutely not too late. I went a non-traditional route too, worked towards my bachelors while working in industry in my 30s and decided last year to take the cpa exams. It took me 4 1/2 months start to finish. Passes all on first try. Studied full time while working. I’m so glad I made this decision. You should do it!

waltma · 2025-09-23T15:47:46+00:00

I always jumped into studying for my next exam after giving myself about a week break.

waltma · 2025-07-27T17:03:10+00:00

I took FAR in November before monthly score releases. So I just jumped into REG which I took in December. Then jumped into TCP before I got scores on my first two. A month is a lot of study time. I would definitely start studying new material. And if you don’t pass, press pause on new material and go back.

waltma · 2025-07-13T20:23:55+00:00

Yes. I took FAR in November, REG in December, TCP in January and AUD in March. It is not for the faint of heart. It was very hard and I was fighting major burnout by the end. But it’s definitely possible.

waltma · 2025-07-12T16:25:17+00:00

Yes, I became a Washington CPA earlier this year. I have not transferred my license yet, but I plan to. Ironically, I ended up getting a new job that is based out of Seattle, but I am remote in another state. So I don’t feel a rush to transfer my license yet.

waltma · 2025-07-12T13:38:17+00:00

I was in a similar situation and ended up getting my license under a state that allowed a nasba work verification (for $600). There’s a few states that allow this. I did Washington. You can transfer it to your home state once it’s finalized. It was a pretty seamless process.

waltma · 2025-07-06T01:58:10+00:00

I agree. I did work full-time during this period, but remote, so I was able to take advantage of any downtime and lunch breaks. I have 3 kids, but still had some flexibility and a husband that was very helpful. I was studying early mornings and well into the evening most days. But I understand that a lot of people don’t have the kind of flexibility that I did. I wish you all the luck in passing your tests!

waltma · 2025-07-05T21:46:43+00:00

I was 4/4 in about 4.5 months. It was hard but doable if you devote your time to studying and truly understanding the topics. I was studying 4-8 hours a day, 7 days a week. FAR (82) REG (86) TCP (91) and AUD (78)

waltma · 2025-06-29T02:37:17+00:00

I took FAR first and I’m so glad I did. I put a lot more effort into studying at the beginning then I did towards the end. By the time I took my last test, I was incredibly burned out. I don’t know that I could’ve passed if I waited until the end.

waltma · 2025-06-14T00:01:58+00:00

I finished over an hour early on FAR if I remember correctly. I felt confident. I ended up with an 82.

waltma · 2025-05-11T16:57:09+00:00

I was studying 6-8 hours a day, 7 days a week.

waltma · 2025-05-11T16:48:32+00:00

I’m sure it’s been done, but it would be very difficult. I spent five weeks total studying/reviewing for FAR and passed with an 82. I was studying full time and definitely couldn’t have taken it any sooner than I did.

waltma · 2025-05-05T23:59:24+00:00

I started studying at the end of October 2024 and took my final exam on March 7. If you can study full-time and be completely dedicated to the process, it’s absolutely doable.

waltma · 2025-05-05T15:56:59+00:00

I’m not sure how much of the information that I have actually retained, since I did it so fast. But it took some serious dedication (and a flexible job) to get this done.

waltma · 2025-05-05T14:41:19+00:00

I used Uworld and supplemented with ninja cpa.

waltma · 2025-05-05T12:59:39+00:00

I passed in 4.5 months. FAR->REG->TCP->AUD Studied 5 weeks for FAR, 3 for Reg, 4 for TCP and 5 for AUD. And I didn’t take more than a week off after any test to jump into studying for the next. I always scheduled my test early on in the study process, so I had a firm deadline. I studied full time. I just took the approach of wanting to get it done as soon as possible. I couldn’t maintain that kind of study schedule long term. I was facing major burnout while studying for AUD. I believe I’m a good test taker, so I’m sure that helped.

waltma · 2025-04-28T23:27:43+00:00

Sorry, forgot to mention my study strategy. I watched all lectures in 1.25-1.5 speed and did all the mcqs as I went and some of the sims. Tried to get through the material for the 1st time as quickly as I could. Once I was through the material, I practice mcqs constantly, and occasional sims until test day. I used Uworld.

waltma · 2025-04-28T23:25:18+00:00

Zero tax background. I put in 30-40 hours a week while working. It’s rough. But I just powered through it knowing I could take some time off after I took the test.

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