CPA

How to use Becker: Your first 15 minutes

November 20, 2025

8 min read

Marketing Manager, Content

Congratulations! By committing to the CPA Exam, you're on the path to unlocking incredible new opportunities in your career. And now, with your Becker CPA Exam Review course, you’re ready to get started. We understand that opening the software can feel overwhelming. There's a lot to take in and you may not know where to start.

This feeling is very normal. Fortunately, while Becker provides you with all the tools and resources you need to pass the CPA Exam, our CPA Exam Review is very manageable, intuitive, and guides you through each step. Let's walk through your first 10 minutes so you can learn how to use Becker to set yourself up for success from day one.

Step 1: Take the introductory tour

Your first instinct might be to jump directly into studying, but it's good to get a feel for the platform first and how to navigate and find what you need. So, the best first step is to take the brief introductory tour which helps to familiarize you with the platform's layout, features, and our proven study methodology. It acts as your initial guide, showing you exactly how we set you up for success.

In just a few minutes, the tour will show you:

Navigating the Dashboard: Learn how to find your study materials, track your progress, and access key resources.
Switching Exam Sections: See how simple it is to move between different sections of the CPA Exam (AUD, FAR, REG, and your chosen Discipline).
Finding Essential Tools: Discover where to find your digital textbook, video lectures, practice questions, and support resources in the sidebar.
Think of this tour as your orientation. It provides the foundational knowledge you need to navigate the course confidently, ensuring you know where everything is before you need it.

Step 2: Watch the CPA Exam Order Strategy Video

A question nearly all CPA Exam students have is, "What order should I take the CPA Exam? Where do I start" Choosing your starting point is a strategic decision. To help with this, we recommend watching the CPA Exam Order Strategy video featuring National Instructor, Mike Potenza. It's located in the tutorials section of the dashboard.

Mike provides an overview of recommend study times, pass rate data, and what's covered on each exam section, and he also breaks down how to choose your Discipline section based on your career goals and academic background. Watching this will help you map out your exam strategy, giving you a clear and logical path forward.

Step 3: Set Up Your Study Plan

One of the most powerful features of your Becker course is the customizable Study Plan. This tool removes the guesswork from your preparation by creating a structured schedule tailored to your life. You do not need a perfect plan from the start; you just need to get started.

Here is how to set up your plan:

Enter Your Dates: Input your planned start date and your target exam date. If you have not scheduled your exam yet, you can estimate a date a few months out. This calendar is flexible, and you can adjust it anytime.
Define Your Study Time: Decide how many hours you can realistically commit to studying each day. Be honest with yourself to create a sustainable schedule.
Set Days Off: It is crucial to build breaks into your plan to avoid burnout. Select specific days of the week you want to take off from studying and even add a range of days off if you have a planned vacation, holiday, or added work responsibilities.
Choose Study Depth: You can select how in-depth you want your initial study plan to be which helps determine the pace at which you complete tasks.

The Study Plan breaks down the entire curriculum into manageable daily tasks, telling you exactly what to do each day to stay on track. Remember, this plan is not set in stone. You can always go back and readjust your settings as your schedule changes or as you get a better sense of your study pace.

Step 4: Explore an Exam Section

With your initial plan in place, it is time to get a feel for the study materials. You do not need to master any concepts right now—the goal is simply to explore and become comfortable. Click into one of the Core sections, like FAR, AUD, or REG.

Note: You can choose a Discipline but consider that each one builds off of a Core Section (BAR builds on what you learned in FAR, ISC builds on AUD, and TCP builds on REG), so we don't recommend starting with a Discipline section. However, when you are ready, all Becker students have 30-day access to all three Discipline sections, so you're not locked into one immediately.

Each section begins with an introductory video that outlines the exam structure, including the number of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Task-Based Simulations (TBSs) you will face. This provides good foundational information, but you can always come back to it later.

For now, start clicking around:

Check out the digital textbook

See how the information is organized and test how to adjust the view, highlight key text or add annotations. Notice how concepts are explained clearly and concisely.

Click on a concept video

Watch a short lecture to see how our instructors explain the material and use slides to illustrate complex topics. Be sure to see how to find the information from the video in the textbook, too!

Take a practice test

See how to use Becker's practice test capabilities in the "Create a practice test" view. It is automatically set to the section you are in with 10 MCQs, which is a perfect start. This gives you a look at the question format and interface. You can customize the length and topic of these tests later. And make sure to try Newt^tm, Becker's AI study tool, to help you understand questions and get immediate answers.

This initial exploration is about building familiarity and learning how to use the Becker CPA Exam Review. By spending a few minutes interacting with the tools, you will see how intuitive and user-friendly the platform is.

The journey to becoming a CPA is a marathon, not a sprint. While the amount of material can seem daunting, Becker provides a structured, manageable, and supportive environment to guide you. Our platform is designed to break down complex topics into understandable pieces, and our Exam Day Ready℠ students have a 64% higher CPA Exam pass rate than all other students.

You are never alone on this path. Our Academic and Student support teams are just a few clicks away, ready to answer your questions and provide the assistance you need. Your first 10 minutes with Becker are about building confidence and realizing that you have a powerful partner for your CPA Exam journey.

Try Becker FREE for 14 days

If you're not a Becker student, or you're still exploring your options, see firsthand how our materials and resources are accessible and easy-to-use while covering everything you need to know.