9/1/2017 - By Caroline Beasley
Your State Board of Accountancy has approved you to sit for the CPA exams. You have purchased your review course, and you are ready to start studying. Now it's time to get real and ask yourself: “How much time should I commit to studying?” “When will I know that I'm ready to take any of the four exams?” “How long does all this take?” The answer to these questions depends on… you!
Everyone’s learning style is different. However, one thing you must do before you begin studying is this: objectively assess your current responsibilities and prioritize them around your study time.
If I could rewrite my CPA exam journey, I would in a heartbeat. I'll be first to tell you that I wasn't dedicating myself 100% to studying and I kept prioritizing social activities over study time. Finally, after my husband’s international deployment, my resignation from a position at Big 4, our move from San Diego to Pensacola, and the birth of our daughter, I quit making excuses and held myself accountable. I even delayed my position with Saltmarsh for six months while I hammered out Audit and then FAR, the two tests holding me back. It was the best decision I could have made for myself.
After all my ups and downs, I can look back and realize how much time I wasted. I chose bits and pieces of time management strategies but never fully incorporated them into my study habits. Here are a few suggestions for you to incorporate into your new life of studying so that you don't drag out this process, like I did:
The CPA exams are no joke. They may be the hardest group of tests you ever take and it will require an immense amount of your personal time. Tom Hanks said it best as Jimmy Dugan in A League of Their Own:
So, what makes being a CPA "great"? A lifelong certification that awards you with trust and respect in your community, personal and professional development, and increased career opportunities. Now, go hit the books to become a great CPA! Good luck!
Helpful Resources
Journal of Accountancy - Find Time to Study
Crush the CPA Exam - Effective Study Schedule
Mind Tools - The Pomodoro Technique
About the Author | Caroline Y. Beasley, CPA
Caroline is a senior in the Tax & Accounting Services Department of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund. She began her career in public accounting in 2010. Prior to joining Saltmarsh in July 2016, Caroline worked with an international firm performing a variety of tax and accounting functions for corporations and partnerships, as well as assisting with auditing income tax provisions.