CPA Exam Preparation

Use a CPA exam review to boost you into your new career

By Melissa Haveman

In order to receive a CPA license in the United States, you need to pass the Uniform CPA Examination. Your success on the CPA exam means a great deal to your career and your future so you don’t want to leave it up to chance or inadequate preparation. A CPA exam review can help you successfully complete the exam. With a CPA review, you can:

Learn what will be included on the CPA exam.
Discover strategies to help you study and remember the information.
Take practice CPA exam questions.
Get information about the exam and the licensing process.

Whether you want to use a CPA study guide on your own or participate in a CPA review class, you’ll be better prepared for the exam. The sooner you pass the exam, the sooner you’ll be on your way to a more successful career in accounting.

Schedule your CPA exam

The CPA exam is given on particular dates during eight months of the year and to register for the test, you'll need a Notice to Schedule (NTS). Your state board of accountancy will determine whether you have met the general requirements for CPA training in order to take the exam. The NTS is valid for a specific amount of time, so it's important to schedule your exam as soon as you can.
Try: The official Uniform CPA Examination website has information on the general requirements that you’ll need to meet and on how to schedule your exam. On the CPA Zone website, you can find the exam costs, applications and completion requirements. Get each state's requirements for the CPA exam on the Becker CPA site.

Use CPA review study materials

The CPA exam covers a great deal of information so you must structure your CPA exam study in order to make the best of the time you have. Even if you decide to enroll in a CPA exam preparation class, you can still study using additional materials. Check bookstores, online retailers, local libraries and websites for study materials.
Try: Bisk Education CPA Review has a number of different self-study materials to choose from including DVDs, textbooks and audio lectures. Flashpoint CPA Review also offers many study materials such as flashcards, books and software.

Enroll in a CPA exam preparation class

CPA exam preparation classes offer students a number of benefits, not the least of which is an actual instructor who can answer your questions. You can find both local and online CPA courses to help you prepare and you'll want to consider your situation and available time in making the decision on which form works best for you.
Try: Kaplan CPA Review offers an online review course with a live instructor to help you prepare. Yaeger CPA Review also offers a number of “webinars” that can help you prepare for particular aspects of the CPA exam. You may also be able to find local classes through universities or other tutoring companies. If you don’t find anything local, consider traveling to a live seminar, such as the Roger Philipp CPA Review Live Courses in California.

Take practice tests for the CPA exam

In addition to using CPA study guide materials, practice taking the test. Many courses and CPA exam software include practice tests. You can also find many websites that offer practice questions and tests.
Try: The Uniform CPA Examination website has a free tutorial and sample tests. Wiley sells practice software that includes sample exams and computerized feedback on your practice tests.

Practice taking a computerized version of the exam if your CPA exam course or CPA study guide materials doesn't include one. The free sample tests at the Uniform CPA Examination website will give you a feel for the format and how the test functions. As the functions may work differently than you're used to, you want to prepare for that so that you can concentrate on the questions and not the format.
Remember to balance your study time with other activities. While you want to adequately prepare for the exam, too much studying can have the opposite effect that you want. Take breaks in your study.