If you’re working a full-time job, starting CPA Exam prep may seem impossible. But you've likely experienced the career limitations that come with not holding a CPA license. So what’s next? Can you pass the CPA Exam while working a full-time job? And how do you manage CPA Exam studying while you’re working?
The short answer is, yes, it is definitely possible with the right planning and study motivation. Learn tips for success and maintaining your motivation (and sanity!) to pass the CPA Exam while working a full-time job.
Summary: Can I study for the CPA Exam while working a full-time job?
Passing the CPA Exam while working full-time is a significant challenge, often described as feeling like two full-time jobs. But it is achievable with dedication, planning, and discipline. Many successful candidates attest that it is well worth the sacrifice—setting you up for more responsibilities, higher pay, and better career opportunities.
Tips to pass the CPA Exam while working full time
You can successfully maintain your full-time job while studying for the CPA Exam. However, you need to plan carefully and work diligently to stick to your schedule. Follow these expert tips to help make it happen.
1. Cultivate the right mindset and discipline
- Define your motivation: Before investing time, money, and energy into becoming a CPA, it’s important to figure out why you want to do it. The benefits of becoming a CPA do make the process worthwhile, so having a clear view of what you’ll gain and why you need a CPA license will help you maintain motivation when the journey gets tough.
- Prioritize and sacrifice: Passing the CPA Exam must be your priority. This often means temporarily giving up social obligations, TV, hobbies, and leisure time. While you shouldn’t cut these out of your life entirely, you may rearrange your schedule and cut back on certain activities to make room for consistent study time.
- Make study routine: Instead of making study sessions a chore that you’re constantly trying to fit in your schedule, incorporate CPA Exam Review into your daily routine. Becker’s customizable study planner makes this simple by telling you exactly what to study and when, based on the number of hours you decide to study per day.
- Be resilient: Failure can be part of the process; don't give up! Many CPA candidates fail at least one of their exam sections on their first attempt. If this happens to you, know that you’re in good company and that you can continue studying, refine your understanding, and go again.
2. Make the most of your study time
- Study when your brain is at its best: Many CPA candidates recommend studying in the morning, when your brain is fresh and there are fewer distractions. However, it’s important to know when you work best and take advantage of that time to dig into your study material. A two-hour session at your peak can be more effective than longer, less focused study when you’re exhausted.
- Leverage "dead time" with small increments: Utilize brief periods throughout your day that would otherwise be wasted.
- Commute: Listen to audio lectures or review flashcards. Becker’s mobile app lets you listen to lectures and review lessons even while you’re on-the-go.
- Lunch breaks: Use 15-20 minutes for quality study time, such as taking a practice quiz, watching a lecture, or flipping flashcards. Bringing your own lunch will save you valuable time that you can devote to CPA study.
- Any spare moments: Read review notes, take quizzes, or listen to audio notes while preparing meals, lounging, running errands, or waiting in line.
- Maximize weekend study: Since you work during the week, weekends are crucial for intensive study. While some candidates find that 5 or 6-hour study sessions help them focus without the distraction of their full-time jobs, also make sure that you take breaks and take care of yourself physically to avoid burnout.
- Focus on quality over quantity: 2-3 effective hours of study are better than 4-5 unproductive hours. Engage with the material you have at hand and use study tools that you know will help you retain the material. Becker’s unlimited practice tests, for example, customize your practice questions based on the material that you need to study. With NewtTM AI study assistant, you can also ask follow-up questions and gain instant clarity on the topics that you’re having trouble understanding.
- Avoid "busy season" if possible: Studying during busy season is difficult and not typically recommended due to the long working hours that you’ll have to invest for your full-time job. If you absolutely can’t avoid a CPA Exam during busy season, be aware that you’ll have to commit to extra dedication, very strict planning, and ample communication with your team at work.
- Consider a "study vacation": Use your paid time off (PTO) to dedicate 3-4 business days solely to studying before your exam. You may also schedule your testing date for a Monday morning to give yourself the weekend for final study sessions before exam day, without the pressure of your work.
3. Leverage study materials and strategies
- Utilize efficient learning technology: Seek out review software with adaptive learning technology that identifies your strengths and weaknesses and creates a personalized study plan. Becker’s personalized study planner, customized practice tests, and NewtTM AI are all examples of tools included in your Becker CPA Exam Review that customize the study experience to make the most of your time and help you understand the material more deeply.
- Create a study plan: A realistic schedule is key. You will have a LOT on your plate between a full-time job, family, friends, hobbies, and—of course—CPA Exam study. Consistently following your plan helps you stay focused, so make sure that you create a schedule that’s practical and that you can maintain for the long haul.
- Take practice multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and practice tests: Practicing MCQs and tests will help you get familiar with the content and the test-taking format, and pinpoint the areas that you need to review for deeper understanding.
- Leverage work experience: You’re spending many hours a week on your job, so use that experience to your advantage! Think about the area where you work and relate your tasks to the material you’re studying. For example, working in audit can significantly help with the Audit (AUD) CPA exam.
4. Build a strong support system
- Communicate with your team and superiors: Be upfront and honest with your coworkers and managers about your study plan. They were once CPA candidates and understand the process. Make it clear that studying will not affect your work quality. Your firm may even offer flexibility or reduced workload.
- Get friends and family onboard: Explain the short-term nature of your intense study period and how family and friends' support will help you succeed. Their understanding and encouragement are key.
5. Maintain your well-being
- Reward yourself: Set daily study goals and, once completed, do something enjoyable to decompress. This is vital for your sanity and motivation.
- Combat fatigue: Working and studying can lead to fatigue, which kills motivation. Boost energy and improve focus through healthy eating and regular breaks. Maintaining your health while juggling work and study may be challenging, but it’s important for your overall success.
- Prioritize sleep: Adequate sleep is crucial for productive study and overall mental health.
- Manage distractions: Eliminate distractions during your workday, such as constant instant messages and emails, to boost your efficiency on-the-job and, therefore, create more time for studying when you finish.
Get organized with Becker
By implementing strict organization and dedication, you can prepare for—and pass!—the CPA Exam while managing a full-time job. Avoid becoming overwhelmed and burning out by relying on Becker to give you the tools you need for success.
Becker’s CPA Exam Review includes a personalized study planner to help you understand what you need to study each day to be exam day ready. With this planner plus NewtTM AI study assistant, customized unlimited practice tests, and our always available Academic Support team, you get the customized study experience (in addition to proven content and expert instruction) that makes it possible to incorporate exam review into your busy schedule.
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