2013

The CPA Exam

Attorney Paul M. Kasprowicz, CPA

Becker Professional Education

A global leader in professional

education serving accounting,

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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

OPEN

FEB

OPEN

MAR

CLOSED

APR

OPEN

MAY

OPEN

JUN

CLOSED

JUL

OPEN

AUG

OPEN

SEP

CLOSED

OCT

OPEN

NOV

OPEN

DEC

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 Overview

4 Independent SectionsFinancial 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 - Content

Concepts & 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 & Environment

16% - 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

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exam using Becker, more than any other review

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• Double the pass rate of non-Becker candidates*

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• 31 out of the 37 most recent Elijah Watt Sells

Award winners prepared with Becker’s CPA Exam

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• 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

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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

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• Export capability to MS

Outlook.

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Additional Study Tools

Flashcards• Over 1,000 cards in a portable format for learning anywhere,

anytime• Available in traditional or mobile formats: iPhone®, iPod Touch®,

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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

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• 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 LeonWatt 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.com

1-877-CPA EXAM

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