CPA Candidates understand how important obtaining a CPA license is to their accounting career success and to your firm. Since one major requirement to becoming a CPA is passing the CPA Exam, it’s important that you give your candidates the support and incentives they need to get from point A to point CPA.
That’s why it’s always a good idea to check in with your candidates to ensure you’re both on the same page about Exam expectations while getting an idea of how you can work together to support them during the process.
Of course, every candidate will have their own CPA journey, but there are ways firms can support their candidates during the CPA Exam process.
Below are 5 ways firms can help their candidates pass the CPA Exam quickly and successfully:
- Understand what to expect on the CPA Exam. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) recently discovered that the majority of CPA Candidates are not taking advantage of the CPA Exam Blueprints that are freely available to them. The CPA Exam Blueprints help candidates know what skills and content topics will be tested on the Exam. By studying the blueprints, candidates gain a better knowledge of what to expect and can prepare accordingly. Encourage your candidates to read the blueprints, understand the content and structure of the CPA Exam, and to take the free practice tests available on the AICPA Website.
- Use a CPA Exam Review course. Taking on the CPA Exam alone, without any study materials, is not a way for candidates to set themselves up for success. It’s important for your candidate to choose a CPA Review course that helps them retain information and provides the necessary study support materials that help them learn best. Uworld Roger CPA Review courses offer patent pending SmartPath Predictive Technology™, a data-driven platform that provides targeted recommendations on where to focus study efforts, so candidates pass the Exam faster and more efficiently.
- Manage time efficiently. Many candidates envision themselves passing the CPA Exam while balancing work and personal life, but they fail to put together a realistic study plan or establish a routine that will enable them to achieve Exam success. Some ways your candidates can successfully manage their time are:
- Start each morning prioritizing their daily study plan.
- Use a study planner to determine if they want to pass the Exam in 3, 6, 9, or 12 months.
- Learn to value their time by saying “no” to family and friends when they need to study.
- Block out distractions during study sessions.
- Set clear expectations with team and management at work. CPA Candidates must be able to demonstrate to their management that they are able to study for the CPA Exam while completing high quality work in a timely manner. Setting clear work expectations and goals with your candidate will not only help alleviate some of the anxiety associated with sitting for the CPA Exam while working full-time, but will ensure agreed accountability.
- Stay balanced. Similar to a firm’s busy season, studying for the CPA Exam while working full-time requires taking regular breaks to refresh and regroup. Encourage your candidates to eat properly, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, take times for themselves – away from work and their studies — and exercise when they can.
Sitting for the CPA Exam while working full-time is not easy, but as you know, it’s well worth it for a candidate’s career. Taking the time to sit down with your candidates, talking to them about the CPA Exam, and encouraging them throughout their journey will help them feel supported, while setting them up for successful licensure.