Come on, you've had breakups harder than this.
The CPA exam may be difficult, but it's even more rewarding. Passing it gives you the credentials to help you become a trusted advisor, and one day, a key player in your organization. Accountants with CPA certification often get paid higher than accountants who haven't passed the exam. CPA certification will also help open the most doors for you and give you the power to negotiate your salary at an existing job.
The Importance of Becoming a CPA... by CareerBank
Becoming a CPA not only increases the respect and credibility one receives from business associates and friends, but can also open doors in the job market—which can lead to higher salary potential, and may even improve promotion possibilities within an existing company.
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Will I need a personal trainer?
The CPA exam is a serious mental workout—4 to 5 months of preparation and 2 days of testing. Some say it's even harder than the bar exam. Your wide range of accounting knowledge will be measured against the rest of the nation (it's a standardized test). It will test your intelligence, endurance, knowledge retention, ability to handle pressure…you get the idea. Don't wait too long after graduation to take the exam—it's best to get it over and done with.
Wait, why am I taking this?
In most states you'll need to graduate from college before you take it, and then pass an additional test called the ethics exam—this, along with the fear of having to take the CPA exam over again, gives CPAs incentive to stay ethical (not that everyone needs this guidance). But in public accounting, the real pressure is passing the exam before you reach Senior level (typically 3 to 5 years). But don't wait until the last minute to pass the exam—after all, it proves that you've achieved the minimal level of knowledge needed to perform as a Certified Public Accountant.
Any tips?
First of all, don't freak out—all CPAs manage to survive the big test. It's easiest to start preparing for the CPA exam right out of school, while your knowledge is still fresh. And remember, certification of any magnitude is no substitute for overall performance—what will determine your job success will be your communication skills, leadership ability, business savvy, technical competence and other tools you should be starting to build on your own. Take this advice, and you'll have those career-boosting credentials in your hand before that crazy uncle starts giving you career (mis)guidance.
"Buck", was a term originally used to refer to a deerskin, a common medium of exchange in frontier days.