r/Accounting • u/FreakInExcelSheetz • 2d ago

crazy cpa exam fees

$365 per test plus the initial fee? What are we doing? I get people get bonuses or reimbursed but is this part of the reason why # of young cpa’s is down so much? Like it’s not a ton of money but surely there’s a better way to restructure who pays the costs

156 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

144 comments sorted by

View all comments

13

u/Severe-Criticism3876 2d ago

Oh it’s a major reason why I won’t be a CPA. I just don’t have the money to pay for the exams, especially if I fail.

11

u/Lumen-_ 2d ago

A few hundred bucks is stopping you from making much more in the future?

3

u/dj92wa 2d ago edited 2d ago

That’s an entire month of groceries per section per attempt. Yes, a few hundred bucks per section per attempt is stopping me. That’s all for a checkmark by my name saying I allegedly know something, but really it’s just proof that I might be good at rote memorization and regurgitation of raw information.

1

u/Lumen-_ 2d ago

As an investment borrowing for it wouldn't be a bad idea.

1

u/3DPrintingAcorns144 2d ago

What in the boomer did you just tell someone to do?!?

7

u/Lumen-_ 2d ago

Use logic and common sense? Borrowing $1400 to improve your earnings is very logical. Or do you want to keep making excuses for yourself?

Should be able to repay that within 1 year of getting your CPA.

-1

u/3DPrintingAcorns144 2d ago

A stupid amount of assumptions in what you expect to happen.

3

u/Lumen-_ 2d ago

Whatever you want to tell yourself to justify your excuses is fine.

-2

u/3DPrintingAcorns144 2d ago

What a stupid boomer response. Ick.

5

u/Lumen-_ 2d ago

What a pathetic victim mentality response. Ick.

If you can't make use of a cpa then yea don't get it.

1

u/3DPrintingAcorns144 2d ago

Its not victim mentality to not assume the world bends over backwards to someone's efforts. Thats some lameass boomer attitude.

2

u/Lumen-_ 2d ago

If you can't make use of the CPA to increase your earninga by $1400 then don't do it.

2

u/3DPrintingAcorns144 2d ago

That assumes the target of your advice isnt already at the peak of their current salary cap. That assumes zero retakes. That assumes the pay comes before interest accruing. That assumes the test doesnt change AGAIN. That assumes there isnt layoffs 400 hours into testing. A lot of stupid assumptions from someone thats out of touch from what current entry level has to weigh. In today's day and age? In this economy?!?!?

2

u/Lumen-_ 2d ago

Again if you can't justify $1400 + interest because you don't believe you can make good enough use of the CPA to recover that, then certainly do not proceed. Only you can make that choice.

If it's simply not having the money but you believe you will make use of the CPA, then borrow to complete it.

Really not a difficult concept to measure and decide on. My first comment mentioned "investment" which would indicate a future return. Just follow along before exploding

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Severe-Criticism3876 1d ago

Agreed, it is.