Both CPA Exam candidates and CPAs alike can agree that CPA organizations such as state societies are a vital part of their personal and professional growth. Roger CPA Review is proud to announce that it has partnered with the Missouri Society of CPAs (MSCPA) to create the Community Learning Program: unique in-person workshops that focus on helping CPA Exam candidates prepare for the exam and licensure.
In this article, we interviewed Kathy Meyer, CPA, and the Chief Financial Officer of MSCPA. Kathy Meyer has helped many CPA Exam candidates as well as current CPAs in their careers in the accounting profession. She believes that education is the way to success.
Learn more about how Roger CPA Review and MSCPA are working together as she describes how the Community Learning Program will impact the profession and why other CPA organizations should incorporate this one-of-a-kind model into their own programs.
What is the Community Learning Program?
The Community Learning Program is a three-part series that will help candidates who are planning to sit for the CPA Exam understand how the exam works and the process for applying.
The first session, on May 5, provides an overview of what to expect from the CPA Exam and includes tips and techniques for passing all four parts within the 18-month period.
The second class, which is June 23, helps candidates begin the process of taking the exam. It ensures they’re on the right path for studying the correct content for each section, and helps them determine the best time to schedule their exam(s).
The series concludes on July 21 by walking candidates through the process of completing their CPA Exam, taking the Ethics Exam, and applying for their license.
Why do you think the Community Learning Program is so important?
The networking opportunity for candidates is one of the most important aspects of the program. They will be gathered with their peers who are going through the same experience. They can share their best practices and challenges, and learn from each other. They can meet after the session to continue discussing their concerns and help each other study. It creates camaraderie and community that candidates might not find otherwise.
The program also provides candidates a very guided sense of direction on how to be successful on the CPA Exam. Many of those entering the profession are busy with work, business travel, family and studying. It’s hard for most to successfully juggle their priorities while trying to pass the exam within 18 months. This program will help candidates focus on their goal and guide them through prioritizing their schedules.
How did this idea for a Community Learning Program come about?
We saw a gap between candidates wanting to sit for the CPA Exam and then actually going about it. We met with Roger CPA Review and found a good fit based on their product offerings and a shared enthusiasm for helping CPA candidates succeed.
What made you decide to partner with Roger CPA Review?
There was an immediate connection when we met with Roger. We were both thinking about initiatives to enhance diversity and inclusion in the profession, as well as ways to create awareness among those who weren’t aware of the career options the CPA credential provides. We were also both discussing methods of working with individuals who might be anxious about the CPA Exam or didn’t know how to even get started.
Roger CPA Review is a large proponent of going to college campuses and speaking to students and professors about the importance of incorporating CPA Exam review material into the classroom so that students are better prepared to take the exam once they graduate. We advocate a similar model because getting students to know and understand the exam ahead of time is crucial to their success and progress toward becoming a CPA. With this Community Learning Program, Roger CPA Review and our CPA society can support these individuals by giving them all the tools and resources they need to be prepared to sit for the exam and succeed.
Stay tuned for Pt. 2 of this interview with Kathy Meyer which will go into more detail regarding what MSCPA hopes to achieve with the Community Learning Program and how other CPA organizations can benefit from this model.