CPAs out there?

[Nina-W]

I recently passed the Uniform CPA exam. It was a huge personal accomplishment to me. I started prepping for the exam right after returning from maternity leave and it took me 7.5 insane months juggling between two young kids, a family and a full-time job. I scored an average of 91. Needless to say, I am very proud of myself. There was a CPA supervisor (boss's boss) who hired me and "informally" encouraged me to pursue my CPA. She had said several times that she would sign off on my experience. Now we just found out that my experience gained in the current job does not quite fit in the bucket. I am having a hard time getting a response out of her. It looks like for me to get certified, I would need to change job which isn't what I wanted. I don't love my current job but it is good pay, good hours and good benefits. I am torn what to do? Any CPAs out there?

 

[MRBXXXFVVS1]

I'm not a CPA, but it doesn't hurt to recruit for new jobs that are out there. Weigh the pros and cons of your current job vs. other opportunities, don't let the CPA exam bias your decision. You have to make the decision based on what is best for you and your family looking forward. I know it's disappointing, but the knowledge you got from passing the exam will make you more marketable and hopefully you can still put it on your resume somehow!

 

[Lookinagain]

I'm not a CPA but I know that is a tough exam so congratulations on passing it. You say that the experience you gained on your current job "does not quite fit in the bucket" needed for you to get certified. Can your current job be tweaked at all? You say "not quite" so I am thinking it's close to what is needed and am wondering if something could be added to it or changed so that it would "fit in the bucket". Also, I have no idea how much experience you would need to get certified, so maybe you'd need a new job that covered more than is possible with some changes to your current job. But I did want to ask because it seems like such a shame since it sounds like your experience is close, but not quite there.

 

[VRBeauty]

When we ran into that dilemma in my field - in which case it had to do with certification or licensing requirements for engineers - we’d try to find a position (and supervisor) within the organization that did fit the bill. I agree with MRB—- that it would be worthwhile to see what’s available “out there” with your new skills. But it might also be worthwhile to see if there is a qualifying job within the company you’re currently working for, or if you can’t take on assignments in your current position that would meet the certification requirements.

 

[Nina-W]

Thank you all. I started looking for other options both internally and externally. Internal options are very limited due to the type of organization we are and the laws and rules have very specific requirements. I only need one year relevant experience in my state which is why it seems such a shame to have to go through this.

 

[Lookinagain]

Thank you all. I started looking for other options both internally and externally. Internal options are very limited due to the type of organization we are and the laws and rules have very specific requirements. I only need one year relevant experience in my state which is why it seems such a shame to have to go through this.

But you got the hardest part out of the way, the exam! And aced it. Is there a time limit for you to complete the one year experience required for the certification? I would continue to explore options within and without your company. I know you love a lot of things about your current job and it seems strange to me that they would have encouraged your to get your CPA if they knew the experience you had wouldn't qualify. I guess I'm wondering why they encouraged you? I would have thought that meant that there were those kinds of opportunities in your organization yet it sounds like what they have doesn't fit the requirements for certification, so I must be missing something. If what they do doesn't require a CPA, why would they encourage you to go after it? I assumed it was a higher position within your current organization. Is that not the case?

 

[Nina-W]

But you got the hardest part out of the way, the exam! And aced it. Is there a time limit for you to complete the one year experience required for the certification? I would continue to explore options within and without your company. I know you love a lot of things about your current job and it seems strange to me that they would have encouraged your to get your CPA if they knew the experience you had wouldn't qualify. I guess I'm wondering why they encouraged you? I would have thought that meant that there were those kinds of opportunities in your organization yet it sounds like what they have doesn't fit the requirements for certification, so I must be missing something. If what they do doesn't require a CPA, why would they encourage you to go after it? I assumed it was a higher position within your current organization. Is that not the case?

I don’t think it was intentional. When I read the NASBA website, our industry was listed but when I really started applying for it, the experience verification form itself indicates very specific type of tasks and minimum hours needed that would qualify for our type of organization. This is supported by the State law and rules. We are a very large organization. Those qualifying tasks are handled by different departments and there are no openings currently. I am looking externally. There is no time limit to fulfill the experience requirement but I want the certification and the longer I wait the more likely rules may change. I would also need additional continuing education.

 

[Lookinagain]

I'm so sorry this happened. It must be very disappointing. I hope you can work it out.

 

[m-cubed]

I am sorry you have to go through some extra hurdles, but play the long game. You will be much more valuable in the long term, over the life of your career, if you get the full certification. It’s worth doing.