2013 The CPA Exam Attorney Paul M. Kasprowicz, CPA
Feb 13, 2016
2013
The CPA Exam
Attorney Paul M. Kasprowicz, CPA
Becker Professional Education
A global leader in professional
education serving accounting,
finance, project management and
healthcare professionals from career
start to finish.
Obtaining your CPA License
Education | Exam | Experience
Every state is unique
The Three E’s
State Requirements
Becker.com/stateState Board of AccountancyThisWaytoCPA.com NASBA.org (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy)
CPA Exam Process
Qualify• Review state
requirements
Apply• Submit your
application to sit for the CPA Exam
Prepare• Enroll in
Becker• Receive your
Notice-to-Schedule (NTS)
Schedule• Schedule
exam with Prometric
Succeed• Study and sit
for the CPA Exam
5 Key Steps
JAN
OPENFEB
OPENMAR
CLOSED
APR
OPENMAY
OPENJUN
CLOSED
JUL
OPENAUG
OPENSEP
CLOSED
OCT
OPENNOV
OPENDEC
CLOSED
2nd Qtr Window
1st Qtr Window
3rd Qtr Window
4th Qtr Window
• Sit for exams as soon as eligible.
• Must pass all 4 parts within an 18-month window.
• Firms want new hires to pass early in their careers.
Begin Application Process
The On Demand Exam
Structure and Content
About the CPA Exam
Exam Overview4 Independent Sections
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)4 hours
Regulation (REG)3 hours
Auditing and Attestation (AUD)4 hours
Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)3 hours
Exam can be taken in any state or jurisdiction
Exam is administered at Prometric Testing Centers
Financial
Financial - Structure
60%
40%
• Three multiple-choice question (MCQ) testlets containing 90 questions
• One testlet containing seven short, task-based simulations (TBS)
• 15 MCQs and 1 TBS are pretest questions
• Passing Grade 75
Financial - ContentConcepts & Standards (including
IFRS)17% - 23%
Financial Statement Accounts27% - 33%
Specific Transactions
27% - 33%
Government Accounting
8% - 12%
Not-for-Profit Accounting8% - 12%
Financial - IFRS
Demonstrate knowledge and awareness of the following:• Differences between financial statements prepared under U.S.
GAAP and under IFRS
• First-time adoption of IFRS related to financial reporting, presentation and disclosures in general-purpose financial statements
Audit
Audit - Structure
60%
40%
• Three multiple-choice question (MCQ) testlets containing 90 questions
• One testlet containing seven short, task-based simulations TBS
• 15 MCQs and 1 TBS are pretest questions
• Passing Grade 75
Audit - Content
Professional Re-sponsibilities
16% - 20%Engagement Accep-tance & Understand-ing the Assignment
12% - 16%Understanding the
Entity & Environment16% - 20%
Performing Audit Procedures & Eval-
uating Evidence16% - 20%
Evaluating Findings, Communication &
Reporting16% - 20%
Accounting & Review Engagements
12% - 16%
New Statement on Auditing Standards• AICPA’s Clarified Statements on Auditing Standards (SAS) are
testable on the CPA Exam beginning July 1, 2013
– The standards were re-drafted to make them easier to read, understand and apply and to converge with international standards
• CPA candidates should plan to take the Audit exam in the first two testing windows of 2013 (Jan-Feb or Apr-May) before the Clarified SAS become testable
• Becker’s 2013 Audit course has been fully updated to reflect these new standards
Audit – U.S. vs International Auditing StandardsDemonstrate knowledge and awareness of the following:
• International Auditing & Assurance Board (IAASB) - role in establishing International Standards on Auditing (ISAs)
• Differences between ISAs and US Auditing Standards
• International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) Role in establishing International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants.
• Related independence requirements when auditing a U.S. company that supports an audit report based on auditing standards of another country, or ISAs
Regulation
Regulation - Structure
60%
40%
• Three multiple-choice question (MCQ) testlets containing 72 questions
• One testlet containing six short, task-based simulations (TBS)
• 12 MCQs and 1 TBS are pretest questions
• Passing Grade 75
Regulation - Content
Federal Taxation of Entities
18% - 24%Ethics, Professional & Legal Responsi-
bilities15% - 19%
Business Law17% - 21%
Federal Tax Proce-dures & Accounting
Issues11% - 15%
Federal Taxation of Property Transac-
tions12% - 16%
Federal Taxation of Individuals13% - 19%
Business
Business - Structure
85%
15%
• Three multiple-choice question (MCQ) testlets containing 72 questions
• Three written communication tasks
• 12 MCQs and 1 written communication task are pretest questions
• Passing Grade 75
Business - Content
Corporate Gov-ernance
16% - 20%
Economic Con-cepts & Analysis
16% – 20%
Financial Management19% - 23%
Information Sys-tems & Commu-
nication15% - 19%
Strategic Planning10% - 14%
Operations Management
12% - 16%
Business - IFRS and ISA
• Demonstrate an understanding of globalization in the business environment
• Explain the underlying economic substance of transactions and their accounting implications
Exam Structure
Multiple Choice
Simulations
Research Tasks• Research task format based on the FASB Codification™.
Written Communication (BEC Only)
Becker’s CPA Exam Review
Becker CPA Exam Review• The leader in CPA review for more than 50 years
• Over 400,000 candidates have passed the CPA exam using Becker, more than any other review provider
• Double the pass rate of non-Becker candidates*
• Partnerships with the Big 4 and 99 of the top 100 accounting firms
• 31 out of the 37 most recent Elijah Watt Sells Award winners prepared with Becker’s CPA Exam Review.
• Since 2005, almost 90% of all Watt Sells winners have prepared with Becker.
*Becker Professional Education students pass at double the rate of all CPA exam candidates who did not take a Becker course, based on averages of AICPA-published pass rates. Data verified by an independent third-party firm.
Flexible Course Formats
Over 250worldwide locations
Dedicated online
instructors
Anytimeanywhere
A Complete CPA Review Focused on Your Success• Study anywhere, anywhere using any device• Expert Instruction and Unlimited Academic Support• Comprehensive Textbooks and eBooks • Interactive Study Planner and Writing Tutorials• Becker Software with resources that replicate the
content and functionality of the CPA Exam Multiple Choice Homework Simulations Final Exams
Study Road Map
• Provides guidance on what to study and how much time to devote to each topic.
• Fully integrates all course elements.
Multiple Choice Questions
• Over 6,500 questions.
• Link to lecture and link to text features provide clarification on challenging topics.
• Complete answer explanations.
• Timer allows you to stay on pace.
Simulations
• Over 250 task-based simulations.
• Functionality mirrors the CPA Exam.
• Timer allows you to stay on pace.
Review Before Exam
• Provides direction on how to prepare in your final days leading up to the exam.
• Includes two full final exams per part that mirror the CPA Exam.
Study Planner
• Creates a customized preparation plan that fits your needs.
• Drag and drop functionality allows you to easily address schedule changes.
• Export capability to MS Outlook.
Accept No Substitutions – Buy Only Authentic Becker Material• Don’t fall victim to fraud by purchasing pirated Becker course materials through
– Unauthorized dealers posing as authorized resellers– Sellers on Craig’s List and auction sites such as eBay– Other students
• How piracy can affect you– Becker does not support pirated product with academic support, customer
service, technical support or extension of the Becker promise– Counterfeit software may contain malicious code or viruses putting you at risk for
identity theft and credit card fraud
• Protect yourself by ordering only authentic Becker course materials – Becker.com– 1-877-CPA-Exam– International partners listed on Becker.com
Additional Study ToolsFlashcards• Over 1,000 cards in a portable format for learning anywhere,
anytime• Available in traditional or mobile formats: iPhone®, iPod Touch®,
iPad® and Android
Final Review• Complements your CPA Exam Review course.• Shows you which areas to focus on during your last critical
days of study.• Available in live or self-study formats
0% Financing
• 18 month interest-free loan
• Available on our four-part CPA Exam Review, Final Review and Flashcards
• All applicants are pre-approved
• $125 processing fee applies
For full details and to get started: becker.com/financing
The Becker Promise• If you study with Becker but do not
pass the CPA Exam, you may repeat our course at no additional tuition cost if you satisfy our requirements.
• Learn more at becker.com/promise
“” Christopher Michael Leon
Watt Sells winner and Becker alum
I credit a lot of my success on the exam to Becker. My best advice to other candidates:
Don't skimp on the exam review. The time & money you invest now
will pay off for a lifetime and Becker is one of the best investments you can make.
Contact Information
www.becker.com1-877-CPA EXAM
Look for us on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter