uccess on the computer-based test
(CBT) version of the Uniform CPA Exam comes down to adequate
preparation. In addition to reviewing the online tutorials,
sample tests and exam interfaces at www.cpa-exam.org and
meeting the academic requirements, most candidates recognize
they need some type of structured review program prior to
sitting for the CBT, either in a classroom setting, online or
through one of the myriad available self-study products. Each
format has its own advantages and disadvantages. This article
will review some of the more popular online and self-study
options. Some providers also offer live classroom reviews.
Note :
Because of space limitations, this article describes
the offerings of only a representative group of
vendors. Additional products are available from other
vendors. The product data in this article were
supplied by the vendors in May 2006 and are subject to
change. Contact the vendors for the latest
information. | With
such a broad array of products to choose from, it’s important
to do your research. Most providers offer free demos on their
Web sites. Many also offer discounts or scholarships, as well
as money-back guarantees, free updates and/or retakes, special
Web prices and flexible payment plans. Here’s a review of the
providers and products whose aim is to help you succeed.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
AIS. Accounting Institute Seminars
provides live intensive review courses in major U.S. cities
for each section of the CPA exam. Fees range from $250 for
one-day business environment and concepts (BEC) and auditing
and attestation (AUD) courses to $500 for two-day financial
accounting and reporting (FAR) and regulation (REG) courses.
AIS also offers in-house review courses for accounting firms
and corporations. Self-study review books are available in a
paper version for $45 per section or in an electronic version
for $33 per section; other books covering subtopics in the BEC
and FAR sections are available in paper ($37) or electronic
($25) versions.
Becker. Becker offers its CPA exam
review courses in live, online and self-study formats at $790
per section or $2,370 for all four parts. Students can mix and
match formats for each section. The live format, offering the
most instructor and peer interaction, is available in cities
throughout the United States. The online format offers a
structured learning environment with a dedicated online
instructor assigned to each student and multiple start dates
for each course. The self-study CD-ROM course includes
instructor-led lectures and a flexible viewing format. All
three course formats include comprehensive review books,
PassMaster software with more than 5,000 multiple-choice
questions, Simulation software with more than 50 simulations
of business situations and Final Exam software. Becker
recently introduced Final Review, an intensive, last-minute,
on-demand, pre-exam self-study course offered only to current
and former Becker students.
Making the Grade
Average scores for recent CPA exams
Exam Section |
2004, Q3 |
2004, Q4 |
2005, Q1 |
2005, Q2 |
AUD |
72 |
71 |
70 |
72 |
BEC |
72 |
72 |
71 |
71 |
FAR |
70 |
68 |
67 |
70 |
REG |
71 |
69 |
68 |
70
|
Note : This table contains examinees’
average scores. The passing score is 75.
Source: The Uniform CPA Examination,
www.cpa-exam.org
. |
Bisk (CPAReady). Bisk offers its
CPAReady products in live, online and self-study review
formats. Live and online courses are professor-led intensive
reviews of each section of the exam. The online review costs
$495 per section or $1,780 for all four parts. Call Bisk for
the price of the live course. Bisk also offers an intensive
video review ($249.95 per section or $999.80 for the complete
course) and audio review ($129.95 per section or $519.80 for
the complete course), 25 specific topic (“hot spot”) videos
and testing software (including thousands of exam questions
and numerous simulations; $160 per section or $640 for all
four parts). The software is available at slightly higher
prices in packages with printed review books, audio CDs or
video DVDs. Comprehensive review books sell for $46.95 per
section or $187.80 for the complete set of four. Bisk offers a
money-back guarantee on its review packages that include
CPAReady Online and CPAReady Multimedia Software.
CPAexcel. This provider of CPA review
material offers two online packages as well as self-study
products. The Gold Medal Online Edition includes a guided
seminar with unlimited online assistance from CPA exam review
professors, scheduled assignments and professor-led online
discussion groups, as well as electronic courseware, an exam
simulation center and printed review books and flash cards
($399 per section or $1,400 for all four). The Guided Seminar
includes all features of the Gold Medal Edition, except
printed review books and flash cards, for $348 per section or
$1,146 for all four. CPAexcel offers multiple start dates and
flexible course lengths for its online review packages. Its
CD-ROM testing software includes electronic courseware and an
exam simulation center for $255 per section or $846 for all
four. Review books and flash cards each can be purchased for
$150 per four-part set.
CPApass. The Flying Colors Program is
an online guided study system that includes online tutors to
plan, structure and oversee each candidate’s review program.
Online tests provide diagnostic information that helps tutors
design personalized study programs, and flexible programs
enable students to study at their own pace. Tutors are
available online to answer candidates’ questions, compile and
evaluate tests and provide remedial assistance. The package
also includes testing software, review books and flash cards.
The fee is $395 for one exam part, $645 for two parts, $895
for three or $1,095 for the entire program. The company offers
a money-back guarantee or an unconditional repeat for
candidates who score sufficiently well on all the diagnostic
tests and on the final practice exam.
ExamMatrix/MicroMash. ExamMatrix
acquired MicroMash CPA Review in 2003 and now provides
self-study CD-ROM reviews for each section of the exam, which
can be purchased individually or as a complete set. The
software review and reference book package, which costs $295
per section or $995 for the total course, includes more than
3,000 multiple-choice questions, four review books, exam
simulations and on-screen assistance. The software has the
intelligence to adjust the number of questions in each
category during each study session based on the student’s
needs and continues to adjust after each study session. Under
guidance of the built-in personal counselor, each response to
a question is analyzed to see whether any remedial action is
needed before moving on. The company recently introduced
ExamMentor, which electronically monitors students’ progress,
provides feedback to ensure they meet weekly exam review goals
and encourages them to register and take the exam, rather than
postpone it.
Gleim. This long-time provider offers
an extensive suite of CPA exam review products. Its online
review is a flexible, interactive program with personal
counselors who provide individualized assistance. It’s
available in a package that includes review books, testing
software and audio tapes for $274.95 per section or $989.95
for all four parts, or in a stand-alone online package for
$169.95 per section or $589.95 for all four. The online review
comes with a money-back guarantee if a candidate does not pass
on the first sitting. Gleim’s audio review covers core
concepts in each of 80 study units; it costs $89.95 per
section or $359.80 for the complete review. Its testing
software on CD-ROM, which includes more than 1,000
multiple-choice questions per section, costs $54.95 per
section or $219.80 for all four parts; it also can be
purchased in packages with review books or audio CDs. A
stand-alone simulation center is available for $99.95 per
section and review books are $44.95 per section or $179.80 for
a complete set.
All data on providers and their review products
were obtained directly from the providers in May 2006.
The online exhibit shows
which providers are members of the American
Professional Accounting Certification Providers
Association (APACPA), a national association of CPA
and other professional examination review providers.
|
Kaplan. Kaplan offers live, online and
self-study review packages. The live classroom programs are
offered in the New York City area for $649 per section.
Complete study solutions in online and CD-ROM versions that
incorporate on-demand lectures and problem-solving videos sell
for $449 per section and can be upgraded to include audio CDs,
testing software, review books and flash cards for an
additional $200 per section. Online testing software is
available for $69 per section. Kaplan also offers audio CDs
for $69 per section, review books for $49.95 per volume and
flash cards for $59 per section. The company soon will offer
MP3 audio downloads.
Lambers. A wide variety of live,
online and self-study products is available. Lambers offers
live review courses in several U.S. and international cities
and has teamed with Wise Guides to offer a comprehensive
online review. One month of online access costs $49 per
section or $179 for all four; two months access is $59 per
section or $219 for four; or three months of access is $69 per
section or $249 for all four parts. A self-study video review
(DVD or CD-ROM) is available for $200 (BEC and AUD) to $250
(REG and FAR) per section or $900 for all four. Testing
software that includes multiple-choice questions and
simulations is available for $70 (BEC and AUD) to $80 (REG and
FAR) per section, $250 for all four parts or $320 in a combo
pack with review books. Review books also can be purchased
separately for $40 each. Lambers offers a free update of
self-study materials for up to one year.
MDS. Martin Dalton & Spettel
provides live CPA exam review courses in the Columbus, Ohio,
area and self-study products, including a lecture-based DVD
review package with testing software, review books and flash
cards ($425 per section or $1,499 for all four parts). A
Techniques DVD that explains how to do homework efficiently
and take the test effectively is free with the purchase of all
four parts. MDS also offers, via e-mail, personal assistance
with its live and self-study reviews. Other review products
include testing software ($249 per section or $849 for four)
and flash cards ($29 per section or $99 for the complete set).
The company offers a full refund on its self-study products
within 15 days of purchase and a free repeat of live and
self-study reviews to students who complete all homework and
earn a grade of 90% on an open-book random exam.
Northern Illinois University. As a
provider of live review courses in the Chicago area for 36
years, Northern Illinois University (NIU) serves more than
1,000 CPA exam candidates each year. Live course fees for
first-time participants are $650 (AUD), $480 (BEC), $700 (FAR)
and $610 (REG); fees are reduced by $50 for prior participants
and by $45 for early registrants. NIU also offers a self-study
review composed of online testing software, review books and
audio CDs for $780 (AUD), $535 (BEC), $820 (FAR) and $730
(REG). Students also can purchase audio CDs for each section
or record their own. Vendor-produced software is available at
discounted prices and the university offers refunds up to two
weeks before course start dates as well as updates, online
testing and e-mail access to the experts, all free, until
candidates pass the exam.
Rigos. This company provides live and
self-study review products. Live classes in the Seattle area
are intensive reviews in 20-hour weekend workshops. The
company believes this format minimizes commute time and memory
loss and maximizes comprehension and motivation. Rigos also
markets a self-study review package that includes a
comprehensive review book with about 1,000 previous exam
questions and explanations and CD-ROM testing software (for
$97 per section or $360 for all four). The software’s Magic
Memory Outlines help students make their own final review
outlines, and question maps allow students to find questions
on topics they need to review. The courses and products also
are available through domestic and international affiliates.
Roger Philipp. Roger Philipp offers
live, online and self-study review products. The live review
course is an intensive structured classroom review in four
California locations, costing $595 (REG, BEC and AUD) to $695
(FAR) or $1,995 for all sections. The online course has more
than 100 hours of streaming video lectures (filmed from live
classes), review books and testing software, including
multiple-choice questions and exam simulations, for $595 (REG,
BEC and AUD) to $695 (FAR) or $1,495 for all four sections. An
intensive video review, available on USB mini storage drive
and video tape, includes nearly 100 hours of lectures (filmed
from the live class), plus review books and testing software
priced from $650 (REG, BEC and AUD) to $705 (FAR) or $2,095
for the total review. Roger Philipp also offers a 40-hour
video cram review online, on CD-ROM and on videotape. The
online cram review costs from $195 (REG, BEC and AUD) to $275
(FAR) or $860 for the four; the CD-ROM and videotape versions
cost from $395 (REG, BEC and AUD) to $475 (FAR) or $1,095 for
all four. The company also markets vendor products such as
software, audio CDs and review books. Its new products include
video review courses stored on mini storage drives rather than
on CDs.
| Note : The product data in
this article were supplied by the vendors in May 2006
and are subject to change. Contact the vendors for the
latest information.
Provider |
Contact information
| Address
| Phone
| Fax |
Web address |
E-mail |
AIS | Accounting Institute
Seminars | 534 South 5th, P.O. Box
4520, Pocatello, ID 83205 |
800-635-9442 | 208-234-2154
|
www.ais-
cpa.com
| help@
ais-cpa.com
| Becker | Becker
CPA Review | One Tower Lane, Suite
1000, Oak Brook Terrace, IL 60181 |
800-868-3900 | 630-706-3577
|
www.becker
cpa.com
|
support@
beckerreview.com
| Bisk (CPAReady) |
Bisk Education Inc. | 9417
Princess Palm Ave., Tampa, FL 33619 |
800-404-7231 | 800-345-8273
|
www.cpa
exam.com
| info@
cpaexam.com
| CPAexcel |
Efficient Learning Systems |
P.O. Box 4223, Sedona, AZ 86340 |
888-884-5669 | 928-203-4567
|
www.cpa
excel.com
|
info@efficient
learning.com
| CPApass |
CPApass.com | 104-99 Burden
Crescent Rd., Briarwood, NY 11435 |
91-22-24040120 | 91-22-24182833
|
www.cpa
pass.com
| admin@
cpapass.com
| ExamMatrix/
MicroMash | Matrix Learning
Systems | 7257 S. Tucson Way, Suite
105, Centennial, CO 80112 |
800-272-7277 | 303-768-0924
|
www.exam
matrix.com/cpa
|
info@exam
matrix.com
| Gleim | Gleim
Publications | 4201 NW 95 Blvd.,
Gainesville, FL 32606 | 800-874-5346
| 352-375-6940 |
www.gleim.com/
accounting/cpa
|
acmarketing@
gleim.com
| Kaplan | Kaplan
CPA Review | 30 S. Wacker Drive,
Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606 |
800-CPA-2DAY | 312-644-0644
|
www.kaplan
cpareview.com
| cpainfo@
kaplan.com
| Lambers |
Lambers CPA Review | 203
Turnpike St., Suite 406, North Andover, MA
01845 | 800-272-0707 |
978-685-4340 |
www.lambers
cpa.com
|
plambers@
lamberscpa.com
| MDS | Martin
Dalton & Spettel CPA Review |
P.O. Box 09865, Columbus, OH 43209 |
614-923-3109 | 614-413-3056
|
www.mds
cpareview.com
|
smartin@
mdscpareview.com
| Northern Illinois
University | NIU CPA Review |
Department of Accountancy, Dekalb, IL
60115 | 815-753-6207 |
815-753-5408 |
www.cob.niu.
edu/cparev
|
cpareview@
niu.edu
| Rigos | Rigos
Professional Education Programs |
1326 Fifth Ave., 230 Skinner Bldg.,
Seattle, WA 98101 | 800-636-0716
| 206-624-0731 |
www.rigos.net |
rigos@rigos.net |
Roger Philipp | Roger Philipp
CPA Review | 1288 Columbus Ave. #
278, San Francisco, CA 94133 |
415-346-4272 | 415-563-4292
|
www.rogercpa
review.com
|
roger@ roger
cpareview.com
| Tutorial Group |
Tutorial Group Inc. | 120
Paddock Drive, Columbus, NJ 08022 |
800-435-3769 | 609-724-0679
|
www.tutorial
group.com
|
customerservice@
tutorialgroup.com
| U.S. CPA Success |
U.S. CPA ExamPrep Inc. | 11
Irwin Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4Y
1L1 | 877-872-7239 |
877-872-7232 |
www.uscpa
success.com
|
info@uscpa
success.com
| Wiley | John
Wiley & Sons Publishing Company Inc.
| 10475 Crosspoint Blvd.,
Indianapolis, IN 46256 |
877-762-2974 800-915-4742 (CPA
e-Prep) | 800-597-3299 |
www.cpae
prep.com
www.wiley.
com/cpa
|
custserv@
wiley.com
| Yaeger | Yaeger
CPA Review | 10211 Daphney House
Way, Rockville, MD 20850 |
800-824-2811 | 301-217-0888
|
www.yaeger
lambers.com
|
pyaeger801@
aol.com
|
Note : Additional data are available online .
|
Tutorial Group. This company’s flash
card review system includes more than 1,000 color-coded flash
cards with questions on one side and answers on the other that
focus on the most heavily tested exam topics. The system costs
$99 per section or $149 for two, $199 for three or $249 for
four. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee on all products.
U.S. CPA Success. This company offers
live review courses in several Canadian cities for the U.S.
Uniform CPA Exam and the U.S. CPA Reciprocity Exam or
International Qualification Exam (IQEX). The Uniform CPA Exam
intensive course, a comprehensive four-day review that
requires no advance preparation, costs C$825 per section or
C$2,495 for all sections. Guided self-study packages for the
Uniform CPA Exam are available with binders and testing
software for C$2,095 (C$749 per section) or with binders,
testing software and audio CDs for C$2,295 (C$799 per
section). Review books cost an additional C$200. IQEX
course fees range from C$749 (cram course) to C$2,295
(intensive course). The IQEX cram course is a weekend final
review that is offered immediately prior to the exam; the
intensive course is a three-day review that usually is taken
near the beginning of the student’s review program. Guided
self-study for the IQEX cram weekend is available for C$449. A
7% goods and services tax (GST) is charged on all live review
courses but not on self-study products. U.S. CPA Success
offers free repeats of live review courses. Beginning in 2007,
it will offer live reviews in the United States and other
international locations.
|
Lecture Circuits Another way to help
employees prepare for the exam is to offer
in-house review courses using Webinars,
which are virtual meetings broadcast via
Internet and/or telephone to a desktop or
conference room. Employers who use them
say they work almost as well as
face-to-face meetings for staff CPE
training, communication across multiple
offices or marketing to target audiences.
The AICPA has used them since 2001.
Providers of Webinars include Microsoft
(Live Meeting), Webex and Genesys, among
others. They all offer application
sharing, white boarding (demonstrations),
chat and real-time question-and-answer
capabilities and have the ability to
tailor delivery by group size. Small
Webinar meetings usually are interactive,
for example, while larger ones (20 or more
participants) likely will follow a
teacher/student lecture format.
The application-sharing function has
two main tasks: viewing and sharing.
Viewing lets all participants in remote
locations see an application, even if it
is not installed on their local hard
drive. In “share” mode they can jointly
edit a document in real time, again
without needing local software. Another
notable function is the presenter’s
capacity to conduct online polls, tabulate
the data right away and share the results
with the audience—or let them remain
anonymous. The cost of Webinars
varies by provider, the number of
attendees and the length of the meeting.
Typical packages average $21 to $30 per
hour or person. A user also can purchase a
license for a specific number of “seats”
for a year and pay one lump sum.
If you believe Webinars can help your
operations, think about how using them
will support your firm’s goals and how to
integrate them. Consider these questions:
What does the firm want
to achieve? This could be training
for a core user group, such as employees
preparing to take the CPA exam, trimming
travel budgets or developing marketing
campaigns.
Who is our target
audience?
How many seats do we
need?
Who will provide
technical support? In-house support
is preferable. Most Webinar systems do not
require software installation but do need
to have a plug-in installed to ensure
proper display.
Who is the right vendor?
Technology from established providers
is a safer choice, but start-ups looking
to break into the market may offer value.
To determine which plan works best for
your organization, research each Webinar
provider carefully and listen to what the
sales representative has to say.
If you do decide to say “yes,” test,
test and retest the software before you go
live. This cannot be stressed enough. Test
with the provider and with an in-house
user group. Involve your users early and
often to ensure acceptance. Start small,
but leave room for expansion.
—Timothy Henry
Timothy Henry
is an AICPA project manager on the
Organizational Performance and
Effectiveness Team and his views, as
expressed in this article, do not
necessarily reflect the views of the
Institute. Official positions are
determined through certain specific
committee procedures, due process and
deliberation.
| |
Wiley. John Wiley & Sons
Publishing Company Inc. offers online and self-study CPA exam
review materials. One of its latest ventures, developed in
partnership with the Boston Institute of Finance, is a
full-fledged online review course (CPA e-Prep) that includes
slides with audio narration, simulation downloads, an “exam
builder” that enables students to create unlimited practice
exams and custom quizzes, and unlimited access to Wiley exam
materials—for $99 for one month’s access, $249 for three
months or $299 for six months, with a 15-day money-back
guarantee. There’s also an audio review on CD-ROM for $75 per
section or MP3 download for $100 per section, as well as
review books, study guides, testing software and review notes.
Wiley’s review books cost $53.95 each or $215.80 for all four
volumes; study guides with problems and solutions run $59.95
or $119.90 for the two-volume set; testing software that
includes multiple-choice questions and exam simulations costs
$79 per section or $229 for all four parts; and review notes
for $38 per section or $152 for all four.
Yaeger. One of the largest CPA review
course providers in the Washington, D.C., metro area, Yaeger
offers live, self-study and cram CPA exam review options. Live
courses are $520 for the BEC or AUD sections. Self-study video
reviews are available on CD-ROM for $395 (BEC or AUD) or $445
(REG or FAR) per section or $1,289 for the entire course, or
on DVD or videotape for $400 (BEC or AUD) to $450 (REG or FAR)
or $1,299 for the entire course; an audio cram review,
designed as a pre-exam wrap-up, costs $79.95 (BEC or AUD) to
$99.95 (REG or FAR) per section or $359.80 for all four.
Online testing software is available for $50 per section or
$200 for four. Yaeger also sells a 90-day online
subscription to tax code research through the Research
Institute of America (RIA) for $50 and markets other vendors’
testing software, review books and flash cards. Combo packages
to suit any review need also are available, and a new online
cram course will be released soon.
Holly R. Rudolph,
CPA, DBA, is associate professor of accounting at Murray
State University in Murray, Kentucky. Her e-mail address is
holly.rudolph@murraystate.edu
.
|
AICPA
RESOURCES
| JofA Articles
“ A Vision Fulfilled
,” JofA , Jul.05, page 35.
“
Tips on Preparing Employees for the New
CPA Exam ,” JofA , Mar.04,
page 11.
“
Preparing for Success on the Revised CPA
Exam ,” JofA , Jan.04, page
11.
“
How to Take the Revised CPA Exam ,”
JofA , page 11, Nov.03, page
11. | | |