This toolkit contains guides, checklists and handouts to help you encourage your staff as they pursue the Exam. Find tools for your firm to use and for your candidates to use as well.
Organize your firm for success:
Tools for Firms
Building your Firm’s CPA Culture
The CPAs on your staff help you offer high-quality services to meet client needs. Their education and training also help set your firm apart in the marketplace and provide an important competitive advantage. That's why it's critical to create a CPA culture that encourages all eligible staff members to take and pass the Uniform CPA Examination®. Firm environment and expectations are key factors in helping candidates successfully complete the exam process. Explore some ways to build your firm's CPA culture, plus some tools to help.
Building your CPA Liaison Program
Sometimes the best support a CPA candidate needs is just that - support. With all that your staff juggles day-to-day - work, family, and life - they may need extra encouragement as they pursue their CPA license. That's where a CPA liaison program can help, offering aspiring CPAs mentorship, inspiration and coaching as they prepare for each section of the Uniform CPA Examination.
To get the program off the ground, you'll want to designate a liaison who will either mentor all candidates in your firm, or who will help manage the program and oversee a team of mentors. The liaison's role can be formal or informal, depending on the needs and size of your firm.
Larger firms may create a specific process and track multiple exam candidates. A smaller firm may want to establish a CPA liaison program associated with an existing career mentoring program. Regardless of the size of your firm, the liaison program can help you connect CPA Exam candidates to individuals who can guide them through their exam journey.
Support Candidates on the CPA Exam Journey
It takes determination, concentration, and intent to tackle the Uniform CPA Examination.
The American Institute of CPAs' research shows that a firm's environment is a critical component of a candidate's success. By establishing a culture of support and encouragement for aspiring and newly licensed CPAs, you'll enhance your firm's reputation, better serve your clients and solidify your succession plan. You can motivate your candidates and keep them on track toward attaining the CPA by planning simple events that will show your commitment to their development.
CPA Culture Exam Candidate Tracker
Your firm has the power to inspire Uniform CPA Examination success! Work environment can be a significant influencer for CPA candidates in their pursuit. A firm culture of motivation, support and recognition can be just what staff needs to prepare for and conquer the Exam.
Plus, when employees see how invested you are in their future, they’ll be more likely to stick with your organization for the long haul.
We’ve got the tools you need to build a supportive culture as your employees tackle all four sections of the Exam.
Use this tool to track candidates’ progress through each Exam section. The tracker allows you to track multiple candidates with information about the status of each Exam section. It also includes an 18-month analysis section which calculates the approximate remaining time left within the 18 months, based on when the first section of the Exam was passed. There is also space to include what the firm did to acknowledge or celebrate a candidate’s success or encourage and motivate a candidate to keep trying.
Your firm staying up to date on each candidate’s progress will help them to stay focused and on task as they purse their CPA Exam success.
Engage your candidates for success:
Tools for Candidates
8 Strategies for CPA Exam Success
So, you’re ready to tackle the Uniform CPA Examination?
Congratulations! This is an ambitious goal. And it’ll be great for your career. The CPA license can open the door to a promising future, increase opportunities for advancement within your firm and boost your earning potential.
Like anything worthwhile, the journey toward the CPA license requires commitment, discipline, and planning. Here are eight strategies for CPA Exam success.
Realize it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Know what’s on the exam.
Study, study, study.
Learn, don’t memorize.
Manage your time wisely.
Simulate the experience.
Leverage mentors/colleagues/friends.
Look to exam partners for accurate information.
Best of luck!
Congratulations! You're ready to start preparing for the Uniform CPA Examination.
How will you tackle the material and make sure you're prepared to pass the exam?
The answer is different for everyone, but many people find value in group study. Study groups not only help individuals tackle complicated topics but have been proven to create great motivation and achievement.