How to Pass the CPA Board Exam in the Philippines - CPA Tips and Requirements
84How to pass the Philippine CPA board exam? It’s easy as 1, 2,3 for someone who really is deserving. This hub contains the best tips to pass the CPA exam. You will pass it and you knew it from the start, if you didn’t then you never would…
The Philippine CPA licensure exam is considered the most difficult board exam in the history of Philippine career professionalism, yup I’d like to say even harder and tougher than the bar exam. Lawyers’ exam may contain a little bit of accounting but the CPA board exam covers one part of Law which includes 60 to one hundred items of questions to pass. This means if you failed Law among the CPA exam subjects covered, you also failed the whole exam. So you wanna be a CPA lawyer huh? Lol
Before we dig deeper, bear in mind cpa-wanna-be that no one ever has passed the CPA licensure exam out of luck. So forget the eenie-meenie-minee-moe in shading the right answers from the multiple choices because the board of accountancy is so conservative of luck. Ha, ok, like I told you, it’s like playing Sudoku, if you know the rules, strategies and the main concept of accounting, you’ll definitely enjoy the shading part and you won’t need to wait for the official release of PRC’s CPA results because ninety percent of CPA passers are born than made. If the genes, the IQ and the love of accounting is in your blood, being a certified public accountant will definitely be in your fate.
Scope of CPA board exam:
The examination shall include but not limited to the following subjects:
1. Theory of accounts
2. Business law and taxation
3. Management services
4. Auditing theory
5. Auditing problems
6. Practical accounting problems I
7. Practical accounting problems II
Based on Sec. 16 of Philippine Accountancy Act of 2004, in order to pass the examination, an examinee must obtain a general average of seventy-five percent (75%), with no grades lower than sixty-five percent (65%) in any given subject.
CPA board exam requirements:
The requirements for taking the CPA licensure exam in the Philippines prescribed by the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) and given by the Board of Accountancy are:
Applicants for CPA board examination shall establish to the satisfaction of the Board:
a. He/she is a Filipino citizen.
b. He/she is of good moral character.
c. He/she is a holder of the degree of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy conferred by a school, college, academy or institute duly recognized and/or accredited by the CHED or other authorized government offices.
d. The applicant has not been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude.
**you can now apply online if qualified
How to pass the CPA board exam
11 Tips to pass the CPA board exam. I’ve listed the cpa exam tips for you.
Love accounting by heart. If it’s gonna be your profession, you must love it by heart. Loving what you’re doing is a great key to success.
Start your freshman year mastering it. We all know accounting is a cycle. The earlier you started practicing and mastering all concepts and process, the better you will understand it and love it by heart. Accounting involves analytical skills, doesn’t require anyone to be excellent at Math. You just have to have a strong foundation of the basic accounting concepts and mastering the basic accounting cycle, all else will follow. It’s a cycle that once you’ve missed a step, you’ll never proceed to the next or you’ll never proceed at all. The later you started getting serious with accounting, the lamer you’ll pass.
Practice makes perfect. Always the number one rule to success. Always practice solving accounting problems. It will sharpen up your auditing skills and you’ll get quicker and tougher.
Use the same calculator you’re comfy with. It’s advisable to get comfy using the one you’re gonna use to the board exam. It must be suited for you. The board has issued a memo regarding the allowed calculators to be used in the CPA board examination. Scientific calcu areen’t allowed. I suggest, know it while you’re still in school so you’ll be comfy with your calcu already. This will definitely save a lot of time.
Know your weakness and erase them weakness. The cpa board exam covers 7 subjects. Make each one your favorite. Never under estimate one subject -- for it might be the reason of your failure.
Dedicate a time to study and a time to play. Everything requires dedication. You must spend hours for accounting time in school and at home. Don’t over-study too. Play and have fun.
Have a thorough review. Aside from a self-review, it is recommended to enroll in a reputable review center to have a deeper experience of the actual board exam. It’s a cool CPA exam preparation for you. Review schools also have the updated materials and events regarding what is latest in the board. They will also assist you for your cpa exam schedule and requirements to assure you’re on the right tracks.
Believe in yourself. Believe that you’re shading the best answer because they are the right answers. Believe and trust in yourself. An exam is like a game, you need to focus and believe in your potentials to win it.
Pray. It works. It’s not whole physical and mental. You also need spiritual guidance. Thank the Lord and accept His blessings of having a healthy and bright mind.
Prepare everything completely settled. Settle everything you will need for the examination day. Extra pencils, calculators, scratch papers, erasers, IDs, permits, and all things you need to bring for the big day.
Relax and chill before the big day. Free and set your mind ready for the exam day. Don’t stress. Just breathe and smile…A positive energy will bring positive things.
Do not take the CPA board exam if:
- You didn’t review well.
- You know to yourself you’re not ready to take it.
- You’re just depending on luck.
- You can’t even solve any accounting problems.
- You don’t know how to audit...
- You don’t really wanna take it.
- You didn't have a breakfast.
List of Calculators Allowed for the CPA Board Exam
Calculators allowed by the PRC for the CPA licensure examination are non-programmable as prescribed by their memorandum. The list below is the updated list. Glad to give the official link from the PRC itself.
Calculators allowed for the CPA board exam
Best Accounting Firms in the Philippines and the World
- know them and work for them and enjoy the high accounting status career you've been dreaming of...
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A very good Hub, Blaise. I think this is cool, and certainly very different. Anyone with a qualification or knowledge of Accountancy will never be out of a job, there's always work for people like this, even in a recession. Sorry for using the R word. Take care, Blaise. :) x
Hello Prof. A :) It's a pleasure. You really have a smart niece. I think she's got your amazing genes ;)
Hi, Cath :) I'm happy to see you. Is it different in UK cpa exam? Yup, yup that's why I took that course though never really was my passion. lol It's fine using the R word with my page moi friend. No worries, you know I'm open to everything. :) Your Cheeky is in the finance field and you're on business, think it's so compatible :) Thanks for dropping by. Happy weekend. TC XO
I think CPA is different here, there are a few Accountancy bodies, and standards, its very technical (no surprise) and I confess its not my thing, I got a Business Degree, Cassy has a Masters now. Damn she is good. Yes, we are like jigsaw pieces that slot together. Ha. We had dinner out and rained a bit, we're home now. I did a hub, and I am resting myself, playing with the cat. Lol. He has no qualifications to speak of, he's flatulent, and scratches too much. LOL! Darn I'm bored. :D Have a wonderful weekend, Blaise. Tc! XO
CPA exams here are the toughest I think. It's not pure accountancy per se. But anywayz, the UK accountancy is on top worldwide. The big four accounting firms are majority from there. Me, too, accounting is not my thing. Wowee Cassy has a masters, that's huge! Cheeky girl is perfect in finance :)
Aww, cute cat! What's his name? Yup yup obviously you're bored moi friend. Well my page is open for your entertainment :) Too bad it's accounting...LMAO Beware of that cat.. Take care XX
I was good in Maths, in Business Studies, and tax especially. Cassy said I should join the Revenue as I am very qualified. Don't know if I want to work for the Tax Inspectors. Ugh. Accountancy is a great way to make money, in that Accountants are always in demand, and you can moonlight as a book keeper for small businesses or Sole Traders. I know two people doing that.
Yes, Cassy has a Masters. She is so busy with her book, I can't wait till its finished. She rang an agent, just for a laugh and the agent said submit the synopsis and first chapter. The agent read her Encounters hubs. She is in shock!! So am I. I think Cassy might be about to become a writer in print after all. She sees a thing and goes after it, blaise.
The Cat we are now calling "Scratch". He is a he and he scratches, he had a dry skin thing and we got him stuff he has to take. He hates it. Typical male thing. Lol.
Okay, got work to do. Take care, blaise. XO
Accountancy is a great career because every business needs accountants. I like Math, Science and the Arts but study about money not my fancy LMAO I don't say I don't need money, it's just that I dunno maybe I'm just used to living this simple-happy-wandering-soul hahah
Wow! Cassy is gonna be a real writer soon I feel it. I dunno an agent here and my publishing a book was just a little dare. Thinking now to try that. ;)
Ow, cute name, scratch. :)
Glad to see you Cathy. Tc XO
Nice author. Good luck to all who will take the Board Exam. Passing percentage is increasing. Do you recognize that? So, everybody has a big chance of becoming a CPA. Just study hard and don’t forget to call HIM. May the GOD bless us all.
Yup, CPA passing percentage is going up a hill curve. Prayers help so much. Goodluck to all CPA soon to be.. :) Thank you JNSmartirez :)
thanks for the tips.... god bless ...
Nice post...Passing rate for CPA Exam is really going up like what you said, twentyfive!
yeah..it's really tough..just review well..PRC is unpredictable, so read and read..=1
Yup, read and read and practice solving Accounting and Auditing problems and there wouldn't be no problem later ;)
Hello. I am the last batch of BSC-major in Accounting 1993 and was able to took the exam last May & Nov.2005 but still failed. My question is I hope you guys can help me can I still take refresher course and take the examination eventhough i am a BSC-major in Accounting and Not a BS Accountancy graduate? I am now an OFW for 6 years here in the middle east and there is a special examination conducted here twice a year for CPAs I'dd like to take my chance again this time more serious. But the dilemma is my undergraduate degree If it is still allowed by PRC to take the exam? Please help salamat
hello, i have my degree in Business Management. I want to b a CPA. Is there a way that I can take the CPA board exam the fact that I'am not a BSA? Are there suplemental courses to take just for me not to study a all over again a BSA?
Hi Renzkied! I’m not so sure with your situation. But I know they used to allow BSC major in Accounting grads to take the CPA exam before and if you had taken it before and they allowed you, I think you can still take it coz wala pa masyado talaga BS Accountancy dati. And you have the right to take coz you wanna be a CPA. I suggest approach the PRC on this to be so certain. Good luck!
Hi 42! The only way I can think of if you just graduated in a Business Management course is to take up another degree which is BS in Accountancy. The course is related anyway so you just have to take accounting subjects and maybe few law subjects. You can finish maybe a year or two. You must look at the whole scope of the new BS Accountancy course and see the subjects that would be accredited from your Business Management and take up the remaining curriculum. Thanks for dropping by. :)
thanks 4 the tips and advice... GODBLESS ALWAYS!
sure..
congratulations to the new CPAs who passed the latest CPA board exam in the Philippines!
Thanks for the tips. God bless.
By the way, do you have free cpa board exam sample questions?
Thank you so much for the tips. It really helps!
@zinette Hello! It's a pleasure. :) I don't have a free cpa board exam questions. Luckily, I know there are lots available outside the PRC and Recto. They are so affordable. And if you know anyone who's in a CPA review school, they give them handouts. You can ask your friends for photocopies. They are the latest I know. Review schools help a lot. God bless :)
@Angelica Hi! You are very welcome :)
godbless:)
Hi Twenty five..working na ko...bumagsak na ko last oct .2006 exam dahil sa mga "dont's" mo in taking sa exam..nagtry ko magreview ulit last June 2011, night shift..ngalang kasi sa pagod na ng work, sa pag aaral...nawala na ko sa focus at tuluyang d na pumasok...i tried naman sa nov. pa enroll weekend kaso full swing na..so d na ko enroll...
anyway i really want to pass...pls naman ano gagawin ko...nawawalan ko ng confidence pag d ko nasasagutan mga problem solving...i know sabi mo practice...pero pano ko mapra-practice if asa office ako at halos OT naman sa gabi,...pls...need ur advice..
hello OperA - I think kng gusto mo talaga mkapasa and sabi mo din na di ka mkpg review and makafocus sa mga topics- you must to choose- to giveup your w0rk for a meantime and go for he gold grab the oppurtunity n mkpgfocus s reviews- "kung kaya nila makapasa - makakaya din natin"
about the dont's
even if you dont know HOW TO AUDIT..you can still take the board exam..
auditing theory and auditing problems subjects are really, in my opinion, just an intro from what "true auditing" is.
auditing theory applies in the whole audit engagement while auditing problems is mostly on execution part.
Hi all!
Yung bf ko ay gustong magreview ulet ng board exams, since nagfailed sya sa board a few years ago, since then ay nawalan sya ay nag give up na sya to review, Then now, naisip nya ulet na magreview. Am hoping na maipasa nya ito this time.
You mentioned here na if its in your genes, u should pass...well, his father was an accountant and his late mom was a topnotcher in both CPA-LAW exams..and my bf is good with his job too! He is now working at one of the government job here and have gained awards in his field. The only thing missing is to pass the board so that he will be qualified to be called a CPA.
Best of luck to your boyfriend. i think he'll pass it. :)
Hi i am a graduate of accountancy last 2003, and never took the board exam since then, pero nagreview ako , nagtayo kasi kami ng business kaya medyo nagfocus muna ako dun, now it's gone, i feel the need of importance of having a board exam passed... could you please help me if i can still make it to do the review and pass the exam? its been 8 years na rin and marami ng changes.....
possible b ako mkapasa kung mgdepend ako s mga latest tetxbooks ng accounting subjects - as of now im working here at saudi arabia - last jan2012 ngfile ako s PRC and bumili ng mga texbook reviewers- tanong ko lang sir/madam malaki ba ang chance ko pumasa kung self review lang (no choice na mg-review center kasi nagun andito n ako ulit s saudi and 2-3hrs reading and refreshment ng mag subjects) ignore the style or way ng pgrereview ko--- my nkakapasa ba s exam ng self study lang without any idea what review center is? - - medyo weird mga tanong ko pero it helps me a lot - ^_^ God bless Us all -
Hi! everyone i am planning to take cpa board exam but ang problema ko i dont know where to start again hnd kasi ganun ka strong foundation ko in school. nabagsak nko one and still have 1 chance bgo p mn ako marefresher course nagtake ako last May 2007 but unfortunately i was failed now, im starting to have my self review and then later on maybe i will enroll in review school. Now, im working here in brunei as accounting staff. Do i have a chance to pass the CPA exam?
@Trisha hi. I think you should go in a review school to know the latest updates in the Accountancy here in Phil. CPAR and RESA are one of the best review schools I know in Manila. I think the latter has branches in some provinces.
@Olie hi there. Yes of course you can pass even if you just self-review as long as you know the latest Accounting Standards, Laws and Tax Rules, PAS and the likes to be applied in all your accounting then that’s ok. If you know anyone in a CPA review school, you can just ask his handouts to photocopy them to know the latest standards and policies in the current accounting practice. Good luck. Thank you for dropping by.
@Jtl27 hello. Of course you will always have the chance. Since you have gained more experience, and have experienced taking the exam before, you now have the perfect picture what’s gonna happen next –which is as you know so tough. Just review, practice solving, audit and know the latest PAS in the Philippines. Thank you. Good luck. :)
Good day twenty five - im still on dreaming ^_^ what if i passed the Cpa board exam and after a month i need to back abroad to work. My question is It is possible to get my PRC lisence ID without oathaking? or possible to get abroad -phil embassy-? or what if 1 or 2 years na nkalipas at hindi p din ako nakaattend ng-oathaking ceremony - maiinvalid b ung lisence ko -if nkapasa na ako-... thanks
*license
Wow thanks for the tips. I'll be taking the board exam this coming may. Sana makapasa. :)
@Olie you can take your oath before a Philippine Consul. You can download this important form and see all the requirements in getting your license. http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/rd%20oath
Thank you for dropping by and goodluck :)
@Eunice It's a pleasure dear. Best of luck to your exam. Cheers!
accountancy is one of the most highly paid profession,
and it can assure you a better future in this career !!!
but it is up to us in what field where going to excel
thanks for the tips and more power ;)
Pleasure :)
is it qualified to take the CPA exam if you are not a graduate of BS Accountancy but BS Commerce major in Mngt. accounting?
before it is allowed, now not anymore
Mentalist acer Level 6 Commenter 20 months ago
You've given a neat peak into my niece's world as a cpa,thanks twentyfive;)