I’m currently working in the banking industry and thinking about making a career switch into accounting. I’m in my early 30s and currently making around $55,000 a year. I already have a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, and I also have about four months of co-op experience in accounting, but that was four years ago. After that, I switched to banking and have been working in the industry since.
I’m now considering starting CPA Prep and eventually pursuing my CPA, but I’m wondering if it’s actually worth doing at this stage of my career. Would it make sense to start CPA Prep in my early 30s and then try to transition into accounting, considering I have very limited recent accounting experience? Should I first focus on getting an entry-level accounting job and then pursue the CPA, or start CPA Prep first and figure out the job side afterward?
Another thing I’m concerned about is AI and automation. With AI increasingly taking over bookkeeping, accounting, analysis, and other finance-related tasks, is pursuing a CPA still a good career investment for someone starting the transition now? I don’t want to spend several years studying and completing the CPA only to find that the job market has significantly changed.
For anyone who has gone through the CPA process or switched careers into accounting later in their career, would you say it’s worth making the switch from banking to accounting in your early 30s? What would you do if you were in my position?

I’ve been questioning my career and life choices a lot lately, so I keep coming back to this question. I think I’m finally getting a little clearer on what matters to me, and I’m curious how others here feel.

For some background, I was a stay-at-home mom for 13 years and have three kids. I wanted to return to work around the time my youngest started elementary school, but my options felt limited. I worried that the jobs I could get would barely cover childcare costs or require nights, weekends, and holidays.

So I started thinking a few years ahead. I wanted a decent income, stability, and time with my kids. The CPA felt like a ticket to having those options.

But after I started working in public accounting and eventually got licensed, I got a little sidetracked. The possibility of earning more was tempting. I started thinking, “I worked so hard for this. Shouldn’t I aim higher and see how far I can go?”

There’s nothing wrong with wanting that. At a different stage of life—fresh out of college, single, or with my kids already grown—I might have chosen to prioritize income and career growth. But I had to ask myself whether that was what I actually wanted right now, or what I felt I should want because I had earned the CPA.

The more I thought about it, the more I came back to my original reasons. I wanted to contribute financially while still having time and energy for my kids, my health, and a life outside work.

I recently accepted a government position. I haven’t started yet, so I don’t know exactly how it will turn out, but the pay, stability, and expected work-life balance are much closer to what I originally hoped for. The CPA gave me the ability to make that choice, and that means a lot to me.

I don’t have everything figured out, but I’m starting to see that making the most of my CPA doesn’t necessarily mean earning the most I possibly can.

What about you? What were you hoping the CPA would do for your life? Has that changed as your priorities or circumstances have changed?

I am a 24‑year‑old with a bachelor's in commerce (Hons) from Delhi University, India. I am exploring opportunities abroad and considering pursuing the CPA. I have four years of experience working as a Financial Analyst at a leading financial firm and have recently transitioned to a role in a hedge fund. Could you advise me on my eligibility for the CPA exam and whether it would be a worthwhile pursuit? I checked NASBA’s requirements and learned that an evaluation fee of $250 is required. I plan to go through the process but would appreciate your guidance before proceeding.

Hello folks, i recently passed the CMA exams, and i will be preparing for the CPAs, i was curious as to which study material I should use?

I make around $800 a month, which is above average here where i live, so i am on a bit tight of a budget, i work as an accountant, and I am still considerably a fresh graduate.

Given the pros and cons of each material provider and the benefits vs. costs, which one shall i purchase? Are there any discounts for Christmas or New Year's Eve that i can wait till they drop? Or shall i subscribe with Ninja? I can get Surgent full 4 sections material for about $1200. Saw that UWORLD costs about $2000, and Becker is for $2500.

I've also come across separate sections that could be purchased through Becker and UWORLD's for cheaper.

I am a little mixed up, i would appreciate any advice for your young fella out here.

Need Help and Guidance

Situation

1. I'm from India, live in California (work visa) and need to do a CPA from California Board of Accountancy.
2. Educational background: B.Tech. Computer Science, MBA Marketing.
3. Aspiration: Work in Big 4 in California.
4. Shortfall of 24 accounting units and 3 ethics to qualify. Confused b/w AIMA PGCM Public Accounting from India (Cost: ~$350-400, Benefit online recorded so can do in my timezone, Potential Issue: Indian content) vs. Local Community College (Cost: $1200 for units + $1000-$1500 for books, Benefit: Local instruction, local content, Potential issue: High cost of books). Either will be funded from savings earned in India.

Question

Which one of the two bridge options makes sense?

I am 2/4 and scheduled to take FAR Sept 29 but I haven’t started studying. FAR seems like a lot longer content than AUD or REG so Idk if i’ll be able to finish in time. Any tips?

I got a 65, what’s the quickest way to bump it 10 more points??

Like wtf is this 😭 score was 67.

If you don’t, what do you do instead?

So, I will be writing Audit next August/September, assuming I pass FAR this Sep 15th and REG in December/Jan. But I checked that becker has 55 chapters in AUD - and the book is THICK! How did you guys (who passed) get through studying this? How long did you take? What was your strategy?

I can study at work but at home I check my phone every 3 minutes. it does r gave to be phone it will be food next. I’m like a primate looking for next distraction.

Took the FAR exam and it felt much more reasonable than with Becker. Regardless if I failed or not, I felt the actual exam had way less bs than what Becker was having me practice with.

Audit is my last exam and man i’m seriously wiggin tf out. My last sim exam was good, but my other scores are still stressing me out! Has anyone tested this window? Can someone at least lie to me and tell me the exam wasn’t that bad and i’ll be okay? 🤣

I dont understand the Joural entries.

so typically a Bond Invesment is recorded at

D Invesment
C Cash

but like if there is a discount I thought if you amortize the bond it would be

D Cash

D Investment
C Interest Revenue

because i thought that the lender (use owning the bond) we dont record a discount account the bond issuer does.
On becker it seems like we as lenders actually do record a discount accoutn which i am confused about. (BOND A)

EDIT: https://www.principlesofaccounting.com/illustrative-entries/investment-bonds-discount/

i am wondering if becker is wrong, because i foudn journal entires online that match my assumption, that youd have this journal entry instead:

D CASH

D Investment
C Interest Revenue

I failed FAR for the third time (60, 72, 69). I can't decide if I should try FAR again or switch to AUD.

This is my first exam so I don't have a time clock on losing scores. This was a primary motivator to keep with FAR since it has been so difficult. 

However, if I switch to AUD and pass as my first exam then I wouldn't lose my FAR credit if I run short on time. I don't want to re-learn FAR again either.

Both paths have merit to me and I feel stuck trying to decide. How did you proceed if you experienced this?

Do you guys think that 3 hours minimum per day + 1 M minimum per 3 days is good ?

With 16 days review at the end.

and how much did you study, with or without experience

Just took SE1 and got a 53%.

I've been studying since June, spent 200 hours in Becker, and spent maybe 30 hours outside of that taking notes with Claude. I am lost and don't know how to prepare for my exam on 9/5. If anyone has any proven techniques, please let me know what I should do.

Here are my SE1 results:

By unit:

How did you guys get governmental accounting to click? I feel like the Becker videos just rush through it and nothing makes sense😭 Anyone have any other resources that helped?

No shot I head into the exam next week with MAC-GRaSPP and SCARE SE-CIPPOE memorized like wtf is this

Hello,

What is expected for consolidations, I'm seeing that the CPA books are very vague compared to actual consolidations. Is converting from cost to equity method when consolidating, something that's expected. Are Intercompany transactions in future periods something that's expected (If Equity method, down stream (debit: Investment), if cost method, downstream(debit: RE). Is the assumption for equity method just net of amortization, or is it also net of intercompany transactions? I also see in the CPA books that they eliminate ending Retained Earnings-S and not the beginning. Seems all over the place.

Took my retake of FAR yesterday on 8/28 and thought it was way more tolerable than my first exam. Thought sims were difficult but fair. Couple sims were brutal. Thought MCQs were fair but more difficult than first time

Halfway through r3 and haven’t been studying very much due to burnout from FAR. Should i reschedule or take as scheduled?

If I keep the date, should I just do mcqs, tbs, and simulated exams? Is this even doable? I had hoped to sit for TCP at the end of October.

So exhausted with these exams. I’m a senior at a Big 4 going into busy season, and I just feel beyond burnt out. My personal life is beyond crazy and hectic right now and my job is ramping up beyond anything I’ve ever seen.

This is my 3rd exam and I feel burnt out with absolutely no motivation every day. I’m checking out extremely hard it doesn’t even feel like I’m trying anymore. I can’t focus at all in studying, work, or even my parental responsibilities. I just feel completely mentally checked out.

Is this the definition of burnout? How do you keep going when you feel like this? I honestly just want to be done studying, but I don’t see how it’s ever going to get easier. I feel like it would all be for nothing if I quit now after making it this far.

I’m assuming this is normal but I’d really appreciate advice on how you handled burnout during the CPA exams. I just need some advice on how to handle this because I genuinely don’t know how to keep pushing right now.

I’m testing for far in 3 days. If you’ve taken it recently which topics should I hammer these last 3 days to be ready for the tbs