Can I Still Take and Pass the CPA Exams after 19 Years from College? “Oh Yes You Can!”
Are you really old to pass the CPA exams?
Are you one of those plagued by this question “Can I Still Take the CPA Review and Pass the CPA Exams after 20/10/5 Years from college?”. If you are, then read on. If not, read as well so you know what you are up to if you delay taking the CPA board exams after college.
This is one of the most sensitive questions I have ever encountered with the group of people at www.PinoyCPA.com. I received this PM many times in different variation. “Do I have the chance to pass the CPA exams after so many X years?” “Do you think I can still make it after all those time lost and wasted?”
You know I am very careful with this type of question because it can backfire to me. People may think that I am giving false hopes though it is never the case. It is sometimes hard to answer if you don’t know the situation of the person asking this question. Before you know it, you may end up hurting someone’s ego or, conversely, give him a struck of hope. It can go either way.
As an adviser to future CPAs, I always treat this question like a double-edged sword given that the person might have something in mind that I don’t know how to tackle. I was thinking that maybe someone just wanted to get confirmation that being old may not give him a good shot at the CPA exams. Or maybe that person just wanted a jolt to the last remaining drop of hope he/she has on his/her veins hence he/she asks the dreaded question and expect the positive answer – “Oh Yes You Can”. Oh yeah I always reply positively.
Why? Because I always believe in a person’s potential. Potential is limitless and cannot be measured. It involves the future and may not be the caused by past events. Potential is within everyone. It is within you. I know it is within me because who would have thought that a Pandesal vendor by day and Balut vendor at night will become who I am today – a proud professional – a CPA. So although some people might think that quitting is an option, to me it is just an avenue to recuperate, regroup and recoup whatever is left with you for another shot – another chance. Everyone has a real chance to pass the exams even after 19 years (the oldest one that have been asked to me so far).
What’s happening here is that these people thought that they are too old for the CPA title much more so that over time, their appetite to take the board continues to go sour each passing day hence they tend to forget and let go. Oftentimes they attempt to do it with a burst of enthusiasm at hand probably brought about by some prodding or pushing from someone or maybe just realizing that becoming a CPA is important to his/her career. But like many people, when saddled by setbacks and challenges, say a new standard or a new subject or a new requirement in school, their tendency is to simply quit. This comes very easy indeed as you grow older since you can always question the value of the CPA title to you especially if you are making good money already in your career or some other jobs or business.
So when I answer this question, I always try to take the person’s view about the CPA board exams. In short, I am trying to put myself in his or her shoes. Right there I would realize how hard it is for someone to even ask about this question. The embarrassment of old age and guilt of procrastination kicks in from years of disbelief in oneself or maybe fear of the unknown. But then I always resorted to the lesser evil and that is the same answer – like Obama puts it – Yes you can – still pass the CPA exams after 19 years.
The reason I do this and why I always answer this way is simple…
For one, there could never be a great time than now to get all the information you need to pass the CPA board exams compared to 20 years ago. In this day and age, technology has put a lot of ease to the CPA reviewee. Computers, laptops, ipods, voice recorders, video cam and cellphones all help the embattled CPA reviewee/aspirant hurdle the no-sleep-till-you-drop-dead review sessions. More than the usual, these gadgets are proven to aid in the CPA review and can give distinct advantages to reviewees from the 80’s and 90’s (like me). So with this in mind, I believe that the potential reviewee-thereafter-CPA has a greater chance of passing the board.
Secondly, passing the board exams is in the hands of the reviewee and I can only push him/her forward and remind him of the destination at hand. Naturally, in such a case, my normal advice is to take the board because they really still can make it. I have believed for so long that the fate of a person is normally ruled by his beliefs. Therefore, if I can only help the person believe that he or she can pass the board exams and through that he or she was able to gather the strength and will to keep his eyes on the goal, then that would be a wonderful story.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Again, I am not giving people false hopes. The “yes-you-can-attitude” is a default answer in my situation. You must realize that people deserves to be given a second chance especially to take the CPA exams. For all we know, the person asking this question is someone really destined to be a CPA at a later age. I will never measure a man on the merits of his aging hands and feet but rather on the white substance between those ears. If he/she believes, he/she can.
So if you are in the late 30’s or 40’s or even 50’s, don’t give up and don’t lose hope. I will always advice you to take the board still IF you personally believe:
(1) that you need it (the CPA title) now more than ever
(2) that you can beat procrastination and negative thoughts along the way
(3) from within yourself that this will make you and your loved ones extremely happy with the achievement (includes financial gains)
(4) you are willing and able to provide enough time and dedication to the task of serious and rigorous review
(5) that you can still pass the board exams
The power of belief is very powerful. It is the same principle Jesus Christ advised his disciples when he said, “If you just believe you can move that mountain, you can”. The power of belief to oneself and to the potential at hand transcends beyond this universe. It commands the world around you to give what you want. Hence it is very important to believe firmly on what you really want. It worked for me; so it should work for anyone.
WARNING: If you focus your belief system on the negative, it will come upon you. So stay away from negative thoughts while reviewing.
So every time the question – whether you can pass the CPA exams after more than 19 years(or any number of years) of inactivity - pops up in your mind, chant to yourself ten times that “Oh Yes I Can!” (“OYIC”). Similarly, if someone asked you why you are taking the CPA exams after 19 years (or any number of years). tell them “Because I believe I can still pass it!”
19 years, 15 years, 10 years or 5 years of wondering why you have not become a CPA back then is already water under the bridge. You cannot do anything about it anymore. But you can do something today that can change your life forever. Believe that you can pass the CPA board exams at whatever age you are in and then work towards that goal starting now. Yes, aside from believing, you have to work on it. You deserve to win the pot if you work hard on it. You know it’s there waiting for you. Just come back here later or at PinoyCPA.com once you are done and say hi or tell the whole world how you hurdled the exams. I will post another one on the value of hard work in your quest to become a CPA.
For now, believe you can pass the CPA exams despite 19 years from college and may blessings be upon you!
Manny
PinoyCPA.com Admin
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