One of the toughest exams to pass in the accounting and finance field is the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. Several eligibility norms must be fulfilled before you can sit for the exam which is conducted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the National Association for State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), and Prometric. They have a contract to jointly administer the exam.
The process to get the CPA certification and licensure is quite challenging, primarily because the requirements vary from state to state. Hence, before sitting for the exam check out the norms prevailing in the state where you want to be licensed and practice or work.
Most states stipulate a 150-hour credit hour requirement though some states have reduced it to 120 hours.
Additionally, you must fulfill certain work requirements too. Hence, crossing the hurdles to just appear for the exams is daunting, to say the least.
The CPA exams consist of four sections. These are Auditing and Accounting (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG). You can attempt the sections in any order as per your convenience and preparation but once started, all four must be completed in a window of 18 months. If you do not pass in any one section, that cannot be repeated till the time the next testing window opens.
When being a CPA is one of your career goals, a critical part of the preparations is whether to self-study and go it alone or fall back on a top prep course such as the Gleim CPA Review or Surgent CPA Review to get you through. There are several benefits to opting for a CPA Review, the details of which will be seen in the next section.
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Why Should You Choose Prep Courses to Study for The CPA Exam
Many CPA candidates prefer to self-study mainly because they want to save money on the price of a course (which incidentally does not come cheap). Moreover, they prefer to study at their own pace without getting tied down to a study plan as decided by the course provider or following video and audio lectures at fixed times.
But is it worth it to go through the grind without any outside help?
Let’s examine the issue in detail and why you should select a prep course to pass this difficult course on the first attempt.
- Cost-effective: How can you save money even though you invest in a course? The math is simple. The typical pass rate for the CPA exam is about 50% and this is what you can hope for while going it alone. On the other hand, under the guidance of tutors who are experts in this niche and are often CPAs themselves, your chance of passing the exam on the first attempt increases exponentially to about 90%.
Hence, you save substantial amounts by not having to reregister for the exams, not to speak of saving time spent on going through a section again. - Study more efficiently: Most prep courses will customize a study plan for you to optimize your learning experience. Further, it is not easy to wade through the voluminous syllabus of the CPA exam. However, prep providers use software and advanced technology to evaluate your areas of strengths and weaknesses so that you can selectively focus on subjects that require more attention and preparation. This makes studying more effective and streamlined.
- Updating knowledge base: If you self-study, you are tied down to specific course content in textbooks. But this will not be sufficient as you need to know about the constant changes taking place in rules and tax laws in the accounting world. But instructors in prep courses through video and audio lectures will constantly update you about the latest changes and thereby increase your chances of faring better in the exam.
- Better time management: All prep courses begin with customizing a study plan for you as per the time you can devote to studies and the volume of course materials to be completed. By following this approach, you will be more regimented and disciplined, and go through the study materials without creating a dent in your existing lifestyle.
- Practice questions: CPA Reviews offer thousands of practice questions and mock simulations that replicate the real exam scenario. By working on them you gain the confidence to pass the exams on D-day without much ado.
These are some of the reasons why you should choose a prep course to see you through the CPA exam.
Gleim vs Surgent CPA
When selecting study materials for the CPA exam, choose ones that have a reputation in this field. Two of the top courses are Gleim CPA Review and Surgent CPA Review. Before comparing the two, a quick look at each of them individually will be in order.
Gleim CPA Review
Gleim CPA Review claims the top spot when it comes to the volume of course materials at a price that will not break the bank. It offers a staggering 11,300 multiple-choice questions and simulations that are the foundation of the actual CPA exam.
However, students need not feel overwhelmed as the technologically advanced SmartAdapt software of Gleim identifies the strengths and weaknesses in specific subjects and informs which areas need special learning. You, therefore, need not wade through the full course materials.
The highlight of the Gleim CPA Review is the two full-length practice exams at the end of each course.
One is to be taken about 1-2 weeks before the exam date to evaluate how prepared you are for the real test. Based on how you fare in this first exam the SmartAdapt software will design a custom final review checklist of the areas you need to focus on more.
A very critical aspect of this Review is that once you register, Gleim offers an Access Until You Pass guarantee.
Surgent CPA Review
Launched by Jack Surgent a couple of decades back, the course materials of the Surgent CPA Review are created and designed by experts in the CPA profession with long years of experience behind them. Surgent too has incorporated advanced technology into its teaching process. This ASAP adaptive learning software creates customized study plans for each student that covers essential topics and leads to better time management.
How does this software help you make the most out of your learning style, informing you about the subjects that require more attention than the others?
Before you start on the course, you must answer several multiple-choice questions to analyze your strengths and weakness. This will help identify which topics you should focus on more, which video lectures to watch, and the textbook chapters to read, etc..
Further, the course materials are constantly updated with the latest amendments in accounting and taxation so that you have access to the latest information.
Gleim vs Surgent CPA Review
Now that we know the basics of the Gleim and Surgent CPA Reviews let’s see how the two stack up against each other on certain key parameters such as video and audio lectures, multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and simulations, and pricing.
Gleim vs Surgent lectures
Gleim
The basic package of Gleim has only audio lectures and no video lectures. 20 hours of audio teaching is available in all three packages of Gleim. However, in the Premium and Pro courses, access is given to over 100 hours of video lectures.
The video lectures comprise 440+ small bite-sized pieces which are good not only to make the most of the time on your hands but also to understand the concepts better.
With Gleim CPA Review, you are always assured of high-quality lectures as they are crafted by top professionals in the accounting field. Each section of the CPA exam has different lecturers who are specialists in that niche.
Surgent
As different from Gleim CPA Review, Surgent offers only video lessons in all their packages but audio lessons only in their top packages. You can listen to them while on the go podcast-style and be in touch with your lessons from anywhere and anytime.
Surgent CPA Review also has adaptive learning technology which ensures that you do not waste time listening to video or audio lectures or reading sections of the textbooks that do not matter. You will be able to prioritize the lectures that need special focus and hence, you will be better prepared for exam day.
Winner: Both the Reviews are par for the course when it comes to Gleim vs Surgent lectures with very little to choose between the two. A tied verdict is more apt in this case.
Gleim vs Surgent MCQs/simulations
Gleim
Gleim offers the highest practice questions. There are over 10,000 MCQs and over 1,300 simulations. These numbers are indeed staggering with candidates having more opportunities to practice with more MCQs and simulations to build up the required confidence for exam day.
For many though, going through all of them can be challenging. But here Gleim technology kicks in and guides you through the precise topics that need to be strengthened and there is no need to attempt all the questions and simulations before the exam.
Surgent
Surgent does lag behind Gleim with 7,600+ practice questions. However, these questions mimic the real exam and hence you will know what to expect on D-Day.
However, in Gleim vs Surgent simulations, Surgent takes a hit as they do not offer mock exams. This is a drawback as you will not get practice under ideal test conditions with constraints.
Winner: Both in Gleim vs Surgent MCQs and Gleim vs Surgent simulations, Gleim emerges as the winner because of the sheer volumes, the highest in the industry.
Gleim vs Surgent CPA Review – Packages and Pricing
This is a very important angle that must be considered when choosing between the two packages – Gleim vs Surgent pricing.
Gleim Pricing
Gleim CPA Review offers two packages and a Mega Test Bank
- Traditional CPA Review System: Priced at $1,599, this basic course from Gleim is not short of features though. The SmartAdapt guided Review has all the essentials to enable you to pass the exam – 1,300 task-based simulations, 10,000 multiple-choice questions, 350+ simulations with exhibits, audio lectures, digital and physical books, and guidance from personal counselors.
- Premium CPA Review System: This Premium package, also guided by the SmartAdapt technology, is priced at $1,999 and has a host of features. In addition to what is offered in the Traditional package, this one additionally offers accounting expert guidance, Expert-led Gleim instruct videos, digital flashcards, audio lectures, and access to private study groups. Most importantly, Gleim offers an Access Until You Pass Guarantee with this package.
- CPA Mega Test Bank: This is an ideal supplement if you have bought one of the two packages. It contains an extra 560+ task-based simulations and 2,000+ multiple-choice questions per section.
Gleim Coupon Codes
Surgent Pricing
Surgent offers 3 packages though these are more affordably priced.
- Essentials Pass: Priced at $1,000, this course has the essentials only such as video lessons, digital textbooks, and access to practice problems.
- Premier Pass: This is the flagship course of Surgent and apart from the basic study materials of the Essentials pack also throws in textbooks, flashcards, and a few hours of private tutoring with a Surgent expert. This pack is priced at $1,600.
- Ultimate Pass: The course provides a thousand or so more practice multiple-choice questions, audio lessons, and personalized computer support. The package is available for $2,000.
Surgent CPA Coupon Codes
Winner: In Gleim vs Surgent pricing, Surgent is more affordable in both the Basic and the Premium packages. Hence, Surgent is a clear winner here on this point. But then, you should also consider value for money as Gleim offers more course materials, MCQs, and simulations.
Gleim vs Surgent Reddit
The general impression on Reddit is in favor of Gleim simply because of the large number of practice questions on offer. However, one of them is very impressed with the video lectures of Surgent.
Here are the two sides.
“I’m using Gleim currently. I’ve only taken FAR so far but passed with an 89. I felt very prepared. If you learn through reading and practicing MCQs then Gleim is a great option.”
“I’ve been very impressed with Surgent. The videos are good, and there’s a lot of useful data available to help track your progress. If you’re switching from another software, it’s $1,000.”
Summing up
There is not much to choose between Gleim vs Surgent CPA. In lectures, both are on equal footing though Gleim does surge ahead in the volume of MCQs and simulations. In Gleim vs Surgent pricing, the latter is more affordable but again Gleim scores in value for money because of the amount of course materials on offer.
