Now that you've finished all of the necessary CPA (Certified Public Account) classes, it's time for you to take the CPA exam so you can get your license and work as an accountant in your own home business or at an outside firm. You can increase your chances of passing the CPA exam by taking CPA exam review classes either in classrooms, online or at home with self-study programs. Taking practice tests and intensive study programs are also great ways to prepare for the CPA exam.

All of these courses have CPA review materials such as books, audio tapes, software and flash cards to help you learn everything you need to know in order to pass the CPA exam. Here are some additional things to consider about using CPA exam review courses:

1. Get information about CPA exam classes held in classrooms, seminars and recordings of live classroom presentations.

2. Find out about CPA review classes online or through home- or self-study programs for those who want to make their own study schedule.

3. Learn about CPA review intensive or cram courses.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about CPA review courses in classrooms, as seminars or as live recordings

Some CPA exam courses are held in a traditional classroom, either on weekdays or weekends. There are also seminars available, which are typically more intensive classes, or you can simply listen or watch a live presentation of a CPA examination review.

I recommend: Visit Roger CPA Review to learn about the live CPA review program that it offers in many cities across the United States. Learn about the seminars given at various locations around the country by instructors from Accounting Institute Seminars. Get information about taking the audio Bisk CPA Review so that you can listen to live classes at your convenience.

Gather information about online and self-study CPA review courses

Since some students who want to prepare to take the CPA exam have busy schedules, many courses are offered online or through home- or self-study programs. These types of courses come with all the study materials needed to help you learn all the necessary requirements to prepare you for CPA exam.

I recommend: Visit Becker CPA Review, which provides live, online and self-study programs so that you can find the kind of CPA classes that work best for you and your schedule. Lambers CPA Review has self-study courses as well as one that you can take on your iPod.

Learn about CPA review intensive courses and practice tests

As a way to help ensure that you pass the CPA exam, taking an intensive or cram course can help you achieve your goals. Many CPA review course programs offer a final review to their students ensure success in taking the CPA exam. Also taking practice tests is a great way to learn about what is on the test so that you'll know which areas you need to be knowledgeable about.

I recommend: Go to CPA Excel to learn about the intensive final review classes offered as part of their CPA review study programs. Learn about the CPA test review offered by The Uniform CPA Examination, which is the official site that offers CPA examinations.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use CPA review classes in audio format while driving your car, during lunch breaks or anytime at all as a way of increasing your chances for passing the CPA exam.

The CPA exam covers a wide range of material and taking CPA exam review courses is a great way to prepare. But if you're struggling to balance study time with the rest of your life, online CPA exam review classes could give you the flexibility you need.

Online CPA review courses can:

1. Help you manage your study time.
2. Guide your focus to the areas that are most important for you to study.
3. Give you information on the testing process.
4. Let you practice the exam in the official format through online CPA review exams.
5. Provide you with an instructor who will answer your questions and help you through your CPA exam review classes.

Online CPA exam classes work like most distance education courses. The focus, however, will be preparing you for the CPA exam. Since the exam is such an important part of your future plans, you want to be as prepared and knowledgeable as possible. CPA exam classes can help you successfully pass the exam so you can obtain your license.

Action Steps
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Decide on self-directed or guided CPA review courses

In some CPA exam classes, you may need to log on during certain time periods for live lectures or discussions. In others, you'll have more autonomy to move through the material. Both models have their pros and cons and your learning style and situation will determine which one will be right for you.

I recommend: Bisk CPA exam review courses are available in self-directed or guided formats. Kaplan CPA Review offers both live and self-study learning options. With Becker CPA Review, you can participate in an intensive 5 week study in Atlanta, Georgia.

Compare the costs of CPA exam review courses

For many people, balancing the cost of CPA exam classes and the quality of their preparation can be a tightrope. CPA reviews, as well as the exam itself, can add up quickly to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. You'll need to balance how much you can spend with the intensity and quality of the exam class. However, don't forget that many free tutorials and materials exist online as well.

I recommend: CPA Excel also offers a range of CPA review packages and you can try out their software for free before you purchase a package. You can also test drive a free demo at Exam Matrix or receive a free course demo from Roger Philipp CPA Review.

Look for a CPA review that includes sample tests in the CPA testing format

Becoming familiar with the official CPA testing format will allow you to concentrate on the questions during your exam. The functions may work differently than you are used to in the test version so finding a CPA review that includes the official format will enhance your ability to do well on the exam.

I recommend: The Uniform CPA Examination website has a free tutorial and sample test that you can use in your preparation. Even if you practice with other test prep software, make sure that you do the official sample test so that you know you are familiar with the format of the official test. Gleim Accounting also has a test simulator that you can purchase and use to help prepare for the exam.

Ask other CPAs about the CPA exam review courses that they used

Those who have used CPA exam classes in the past can be a valuable resource in deciding on which course to attend or purchase. Someone with firsthand knowledge of a CPA review course can give you the pros and cons objectively. Sales pitches on review courses can be powerful, but they can't replace good firsthand knowledge.

I recommend: Check with professional associations like The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for recommendations on CPA exam review courses. You may also want to contact your state’s CPA association for recommendations and information. CPAnet has a forum specifically for recommendations on CPA exam classes and review guides as well as one online study groups.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Schedule your exam as early as you can once you've received your Notice to Schedule. Knowing when you'll be taking the exam before you begin a CPA review course will help you plan your time more wisely.
• •  Look for self-guided CPA exam review courses that include access to an instructor. Even if you don't want to do a guided CPA review, you may have questions on exam materials or the exam itself that you'd like answers to. Many companies offer access to an instructor that you can talk to about your questions.

If you're planning to take the CPA exam so that you can become a licensed CPA (Certified Public Accountant), it's important to find the out the costs of taking CPA exam review courses. There are many kinds of CPA exam classes available, from going to live seminars and classes to studying online or with home study programs. You're also going to want CPA test review materials to help you in your studies; prices vary on these items depending on what you want.

There are four parts to the CPA exam, and you can either pay per section or for the whole course of study at one time. Prices differ based on which kind of study program you choose. Here are some things for you to consider when deciding about the pricing and costs of CPA exam review courses:

1. Compare the costs of online and home- or self-study CPA exam review classes.

2. Get information about the prices of intensive CPA review classes.

3. Learn about the prices of CPA review materials.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Review comparison listings of online CPA exam review classes, seminars and home-study programs

The ability to compare the prices and costs of both online and home-study CPA exam review courses can help you decide which program is best for you. The prices for online courses will range from about $1,000 to almost $3,000. For home- or self-study CPA review classes, the prices range from $200 up to more than $1,000. The price for live seminars, which includes course books and materials, can cost anywhere from about $600 to $750 for each separate exam section to $2,000 to $2,500 for the entire course.

I recommend: Go to CPAexcel to compare the prices and features of many popular online CPA courses such as the Becker and Bisk CPA review courses. Visit CPATrainingCenter.com to learn about the home-study CPA classes they offer. Learn about live seminar CPA exam courses offered by MDS CPA Review.

Learn about the costs of intensive final CPA review courses

For those students who have already taken an online, home- or self-study program but who want to feel they need something more intensive to help them pass the CPA exam, there are intensive programs you can take. These intensive classes range in price from $100 to $200 for one course of study or about $600 to $1,000 for the full program.

I recommend: Visit Becker CPA Review and Yaeger CPA Review to learn about the intensive CPA final exam review programs they offer.

Gather information about the costs of CPA exam review materials

There are all kinds of CPA exam review materials, from mp3 downloads to software programs. The prices for CPA review books can cost from $25 to $75 for a single section of the CPA exam review or $160 to $170 for the full exam set of review books. Audio recordings start at $35 to $85, and CPA review software ranges from $45 to $60. For full material packages that include software, flashcards, books and practice exams, expect to pay between $300 and $1,000.

I recommend: Go to Gleim to order its CPA materials, which include software and practice exams. Visit Wiley CPA to order its CPA review books and audio recordings.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Because CPA exam specifications change from year to year, it's important to order CPA review materials from a website that offers updates either online or via email.

The exam required to become a certified public accountant, or CPA, covers a great deal of material, from accounting practices and auditing standards to ethics and business law. To perform well on this exam, extensive study is expected and encouraged. There are many review course formats available.

Before choosing a CPA exam study course, you should understand the range of topics covered by the exam. The following terminology will help you identify what is on the exam so you can zero in on categories for study.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

The AICPA offers the CPA examination in the United States. It also offers a tutorial on taking the exam, free practice tests and an outline of the topics and subject matter that are covered on the exam. These are a must for any exam candidate to review. Communication, research, analysis, judgment and understanding are the skills tested in each category of the Uniform CPA Exam.

I recommend: See the AICPA for practice tests and a tutorial.

Business Environment and Concepts

The Business Environment and Concepts section tests the candidate's understanding of the business environment and basic business concepts. Candidates must understand the reason for, and implication of, each business transaction they perform. This section also requires that the candidate demonstrate the use of this knowledge within the performance of normal CPA functions.

I recommend: The Becker CPA Review offers more information and advice from top scoring exam takers.

Auditing and Attestation

The Auditing and Attestation section tests the candidate's understanding of procedures and standards involved with the auditing and attestation process. This part of the test has multiple choice questions and case studies.

I recommend: The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) posts detailed auditing, attestation and quality control standards.

Financial Accounting and Reporting, or FAR

The Financial Accounting and Reporting category covers the generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, in the United States. These guidelines and concepts cover general businesses, government entities and not-for-profit groups or businesses. Financial accounting standards, concepts, procedures and their application are tested in this section.

I recommend: Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) publishes the guidelines established by the council. The site offers news updates on any changes made to the guidelines. Roger CPA has a rundown of the FAR section of the CPA exam.

Regulation

The Regulation section of the CPA exam covers ethics, both professional and legal responsibilities, and business laws. Questions test the candidate's knowledge and application of laws that apply throughout most of the U.S. The ethics section is based on the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct.

I recommend: The AICPA Professional Standards Board offers its complete Code of Professional Conduct and Bylaws online.

Federal Taxation the Internal Revenue Code

This portion of the CPA exam tests the candidate's knowledge and application of taxation regarding federal income, estates and gifts. This section also involves multiple choice questions and case studies.

I recommend: The Internal Revenue Service website publishes the complete Internal Revenue Code and Income Tax Regulations.