Being familiar with the CPA requirements is necessary so you can make the proper preparation. The following are the basic qualifications. However, each state has additional needs so it’s best to check first.

The 150 Hour Rule

You must have at least a US bachelor’s degree in accounting / business. You must have the minimum credit hours required for accounting / business study. In addition you must have one more year of study.

This will total 5 years and is known as the 150 hour rule. The 150 rule is in effect in 45 states. Some states though, do not adhere to this regulation.

The CPA Uniform Exam

The CPA requirements can be summed up by the three Es. These are education, experience and examination. The actual test is the same throughout the United States. But the requirements of each state differ.

Once you meet these requirements, you can apply for the Uniform CPA Exam. The Individual State Boards of Accountancy will determine the other requirements. However the prerequisites mentioned earlier will almost certainly be needed. For overseas accountants, the International Qualification Examination is usually taken.

1 Tier and 2 Tier System

The states may use a 1 tier or 2 tier system. Under the 1 tier system, an examinee that passes the test will be granted the license after attaining a specified working experience / hours. The CPA requirements and process for the 2 tier system is different. Here the license and certification are given simultaneously.

Issuance of CPA certificates rather than licenses is increasingly becoming the norm. The 2 tier states can issue a certificate without any work experience needed. In some places like Massachusetts, a superior academic background is given importance over the working experience. But other states still demand working experience.

Ethical Exams

An increasing number of state boards have implemented ethical examinations. Most use the AICPA self-study Professional Ethics for CPAs CPE course. But other states have designed their own tests. Currently 40 state boards make use of these tests. Be sure to check the status in your own area, as it may differ.

The CPE

The CPA requirements also come with the CPE (Continuing Professional Education). These are tests undertaken to renew their license / certificate. The frequency is two to three years.
The total time is 40 to 80 hours. The study can consist of seminars or self study.

However the study is conducted, the CPA must pass the test to get the credit. Most now include the ethics test. This takes at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours.

Duties

The most basic task of the CPA involves public accounting and auditing. They can also work as business advisors. These individuals also prepare tax records and statements.

In addition they work as financial analysts, IT for accounting and venture capital. Debt management, corporate governance and various forms of forensic accounting can also be part of their duties.

Because some CPA requirements are state dependent, it’s best to review the regulations in your area. This will ensure you meet the prerequisites.

Choosing one of the many CPA review courses in Dallas can be difficult, as their number keeps increasing. Here are a few pointers you should keep in mind during the selection process.

Cost vs. Features

The total fees will probably reach $2,500 for most reviews. If the course offers much less than that, expect some features to be missing. In this case, you should assess what they are offering.

Are the missing features something you can do without? Or is it something you consider essential? You have to be honest with yourself. There?s no need to pay for features and extras you won?t use.

However, you also need to be realistic. If you are taking one of those CPA review courses in Dallas and require those extras, you must be willing to pay for it.

Online Reviews

Take your time when choosing online courses. The most important element you should look for is the preview option. This allows you to get a feel for the presentation and style. If you don?t feel like it, you can always opt out. Don?t even think about trying a site that doesn?t allow a session preview.

Live Class Reviews

Some prefer to study in live classes. It?s kind of like going back to accountancy school, so there?s a familiar feel to it. If you are more comfortable interacting with other people in a school like setting, this is a good option. You can go online or the local CPA society in Dallas for more information.

A lot of these CPA review courses in Dallas offer flexible schedules. Go over each one and see which best fits you. There are now weekend classes too for the busy individual

Notes on Study Materials

Whichever type of study course you choose, always remember the following. First, the materials must be updated. The oldest must be no more than 18 months old. The second has to do with the materials themselves. Are they fully oriented towards the CPA exam?

Next is the software. These must resemble the real thing as closely as possible. If it?s difficult to use, you?ll end up spending more time learning the software than studying. The applications must be intuitive.

Comprehension is another vital factor. The CPA review courses in Dallas you choose must come in different question formats. Detailed answers must also be available as well as explanations. These data needs to be updated regularly, so the software must have this feature.

Commitment

Whatever review course you pick, it?s still up to you. The latest software, flash cards and test papers will be useless if your heart isn?t in it. You need to spend many hours in study. Set aside time so you can study consistently. If you are going to take the exam, investing time in the review course will be essential.

Finding the right CPA review courses in Dallas will probably take some time. But as with the exams, you should never make haste. Your career will depend on the choices you make, so study your options well.

After you have passed your application, the Board will process and approves it for you to take the New York CPA Exam. An Authorization to Test will then be submitted to the NASBA who will bill you for the fees that you need to pay. A 90-day period will be given to you to make the payment before the expiration of the application arrives and by then you will have to pass your application again.

Once you have paid the fees in full, a Notice to Schedule will then be sent to you. Contained in this notice are the scheduled exam dates and test details for the New York CPA Exam. The notice will also inform you about your identification number and when will be the expiration of your exam dates. You will be granted a six-month period to schedule your exam dates as well as take the exams that you have applied for in the beginning.

Exam dates can be scheduled any day you like within the six-month period given to you. Just make sure that the New York CPA Exam testing center is open on that date and it has an available space to take you in. It is ideal to have an early registration to guarantee a space on the date that you desired. Majority of the testing centers is open on weekdays – Mondays to Fridays including Saturdays. The following are the exam dates for New York CPA Exam: January 2 to February 28 or 29, April 1 to May 30, July 1 to August 31, and October 1 to November 20.

You have lots of ways available to schedule your desired exam dates for the New York CPA Exam. You can make a telephone call to the Prometric Student Testing Service Call Center at this number – 1-800-580-9648. You can also browse through their web site at www.prometric.com/cpa. You can also contact the testing center in your local area.

Listed below are the testing centers that you can take your New York CPA Exam.

Thomas Prometric Test Center
17 Computer Dr. East
Albany, NY 12205
(518) 438-6762
Site Code: 5110

Thomas Prometric Test Center
41 State Street, Suite 402
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 465-3160
Site Code: 5144

Thomas Prometric Test Center
111 Livingston St., 11th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 722-1434
Site Code: 5203 and 5204

Thomas Prometric Test Center
4927 Main St.
Buffalo, NY 14226
(716) 565-0570
Site Code: 4219

Thomas Prometric Test Center
212 East Manlius St.
East Syracuse, NY 13057
(315) 433-9038
Site Code: 4204

Thomas Prometric Test Center
224 Seventh Street
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 746-7367
Site Code: 5197

Thomas Prometric Test Center
1000 Franklin Ave., Suite 202
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 825-4407
Site Code: 4223

Thomas Prometric Test Center
317 Madison Ave., Suite 517
Manhattan, NY 10017
(212) 682-5754
Site Code: 5145

Thomas Prometric Test Center
35 Pinelawn Rd., Suite 108E
Melville, NY 11747
(631) 845-9063
Site Code: 5872

Thomas Prometric Test Center
675 Third Ave., Second Floor
New York, New York 10017
Site Code: 5845

Thomas Prometric Test Center
1 Penn Plaza, Suite 1540
New York, NY 10119
(212) 760-1137
Site Code: 5880

Thomas Prometric Test Center
675 Third Avenue Second Floor
New York, NY 10017
Site Code: 5846

Hibernating
111 Broadway
Lynbrook, NY 11563
(516) 825-4407
Site Code: 4223