If you are interested in becoming a certified public accountant, you’ll want to know what to expect from a CPA course. You’ll learn about the requirements, the exam structure, and what you can expect to pay. You’ll also learn about review courses. Some CPA courses are more expensive than others.
Cost of a CPA course
There are several factors to consider when calculating the cost of a CPA course. In addition to the tuition fee, there are also application fees. These fees are assessed by the state board of accountancy and vary from state to state. The average cost of an application fee is around $140, but some states charge up to $600. The application fee is non-refundable and must be paid upon application.
The cost of a public accounting license varies by state but is typical $50 per year. Most states require public accountants to pursue at least 40 hours of continuing education each year. Continuing education providers can charge anywhere from $20 to $125 per hour. It’s worth noting that these courses are essential, but they do not come cheap.
CPA courses must be designed to accommodate different learning styles. For example, some students learn best through auditory explanations, while others benefit from visual explanations and reading.
Education requirements
A bachelor’s degree is necessary for admission into a CPA course in New York. While most states do not have a specific education requirement for CPAs, New York does. A bachelor’s degree can be in any subject, including accounting. The education requirement is 120 semester hours.
The CPA exam consists of four parts: Business Environment & Concepts (BEC), Regulation (REG), Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR), and Auditing & Attestation (AUD). Each section requires five testlets with three types of questions. In addition, the tests include multiple-choice questions, task-based simulations, and written communication tasks. The BEC section is also required for candidates.
A social security number is another requirement. While it may seem obvious, few people think about it. Generally, international candidates don’t need a social security number, but a social security number is a must in the US. The exception to this rule are states like New York, Illinois, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, where having one is unnecessary. However, applicants must be at least 18 years old to be licensed in any state.
Exam structure
CPA candidates must pass a comprehensive exam to become CPAs. The exam is divided into tests containing multiple-choice questions, written communications, and task-based simulations. Multiple-choice questions are similar to those used on other standardized tests, and the answer choices are limited to four. Students sometimes must research the topic to answer an exam question.
Exam questions are graded based on difficulty, so answering the right questions is as important as answering the most questions. However, answering more low-weighted questions will lower your overall score, whereas answering fewer but higher-weighted questions will boost your score. This means you should focus on the section of the exam that you are most familiar with.
A large portion of the CPA exam is devoted to financial accounting. This area contains the most detailed questions, so students are encouraged to take courses in this area during their degree program.
Review courses available
There are several CPA review courses available on the market. Most of them offer sample and practice exam questions that you can use to verify the information you have learned. These practice tests help you develop exam technique skills and simulate exam conditions. However, not all review courses are equal.
Yaeger CPA Review is an affordable course that offers over 2,000 flashcards covering all four exam sections. It is available in multiple languages and can be reviewed on any device. Its flashcards also have analytical points that pinpoint areas of weakness. Yaeger CPA Review might be the best option if you are concerned about costs.
The CPA Review Basic course costs $1,199 before discounts. The Basic Plus course is $1,599 for a 4-part course and $449 for a single course. The courses include test banks, audio lectures, flashcards, and books.
