| Many accountants studying for the CPA (Certified | | | | extremely time-consuming. Many students simply run |
| Public Accountant) exam use a CPA review course | | | | out of either time or patience, or both, and never get |
| to help them prepare. A good review course will | | | | around to finishing many of the practice questions, |
| minimize study time as well as maximize the chances | | | | leaving them ill-prepared for the exam. |
| of successfully passing the CPA exam. With so many | | | | On the other hand, there are those review courses |
| different courses on the market today, it can be | | | | that do not provide enough practice questions to |
| difficult to pick the one that best fits both criteria | | | | adequately prepare the student for the exam. |
| above. Below are some of the factors to be | | | | Obviously, this situation is far from ideal also. |
| considered when choosing a CPA exam review | | | | The ideal CPA review course will contain only |
| course. | | | | questions that are most likely to appear on the exam. |
| 1) Course Materials | | | | This can be done by analyzing past exams to identify |
| Although all courses cover similar accounting concepts, | | | | questions that appear the most frequently. This will |
| every instructor explains things differently. Good | | | | ensure the highest rate of return for the student's |
| review courses are only taught by engaging instructors | | | | study time by allowing the student to focus on areas |
| that are capable of explaining difficult concepts in an | | | | that will probably matter the most. |
| easy-to-understand manner. Also, a good instructor will | | | | 3) Student Support |
| spend more time on tricky concepts and just touch on | | | | Different CPA review courses provide different levels |
| the more self-explanatory ones to make lectures | | | | of customer support. If you tend to be a |
| more efficient. The best CPA review courses have | | | | question-asker and prefer to talk to instructors over |
| available free lecture samples that you can evaluate | | | | the phone, then be sure to choose a review course |
| before deciding to buy. Another way to evaluate the | | | | that has that kind of service. On the other end of the |
| quality of a review course is by visiting CPA exam | | | | spectrum are courses that have minimal support, and |
| preparation forums as well as product review sites to | | | | in the middle are courses that allow students to email |
| see what people are saying about the lecture quality | | | | questions to the instructors. Some review courses |
| of individual review courses. | | | | provide message boards and forums to allow students |
| As well, the lectures can be available through a variety | | | | to interact with instructors and with one another. |
| of media, such as live or recorded webcasts, CDs, | | | | Before buying a review course, make sure that it will |
| DVDs, or USB. The portability and accessibility of the | | | | provide the level of support you need. |
| media the course materials are available in should be | | | | 4) Frequency of Updates |
| taken into consideration when evaluating a review | | | | Due to changes in accounting-related legislature |
| course. | | | | amongst other things, CPA exam study materials need |
| Also, when shopping around for a review course, be | | | | to be updated correspondingly on a regular basis. |
| sure to note any expiry dates for the course materials. | | | | Some review courses update their course materials |
| Some questions and simulations software will become | | | | and practice questions more often than others, so be |
| disabled at a certain time after activation. As well, | | | | sure to take this into consideration when choosing a |
| some courses have lectures that are only made | | | | course. |
| available to a student for a certain duration before the | | | | One factor that many people take into account, that |
| access expires. The best type of course materials | | | | has not been discussed, is price. However, considering |
| and software is the kind that does not require access | | | | the typical substantial pay-raise that is experienced by |
| to the internet to view or use, and therefore does not | | | | many accountants after they become CPA-certified, it |
| expire. If you must purchase the type that does expire, | | | | is advised that you choose a CPA review course |
| make sure that you will have ample time to digest the | | | | based on its quality and level of support from the |
| materials before it expires on you. | | | | instructors, rather than on price. Considering that the |
| 2) Practice Questions | | | | average pass rate for the CPA exam is only |
| Having studied the course materials, the student is | | | | 47.49-49.10% (pass rate for Uniform CPA Examination |
| usually provided with practice questions to drill the | | | | in 2008), failing one or more sections is not unlikely. You |
| knowledge into their memory as well as apply the | | | | will not want to re-study for and re-sit sections of the |
| concepts they have learned to actual case scenarios. | | | | exam just because you decided to save a few bucks |
| When it comes to practice questions, some CPA | | | | by purchasing a lesser quality review course. The only |
| review courses take the exhaustive approach by | | | | exception is when the course fees will be reimbursed |
| making the student do every question that has the | | | | by your employer, in which case you may want to |
| slightest chance of appearing on the CPA exam. While | | | | take advantage of this, even if it would mean having |
| this may be a safe route to take, it can also be | | | | fewer options to choose from. |