As a Latino and first-generation college graduate, Jose Herrera, a financial due diligence associate at KPMG and 2016–17 INCPAS Scholar alum, sees earning the CPA license as a meaningful way to boost representation in the profession, especially for those who come from a similar background.
“I knew achieving this monumental deed would mean much more than just receiving my license. It would represent the possibility that more students like me would take on the challenge and realize that a dream like this was possible to accomplish,” he shared. “Add to that the numerous opportunities that came with having a CPA license, and the decision to pursue the CPA license seems clear.”
Earlier this year we caught up with Herrera in our INCPAS Scholars: Where Are They Now? series. Since then, he successfully passed his fourth and final section of the CPA Exam—a major accomplishment in his journey to becoming a CPA!
We asked Herrera to share more about his Exam experience and path to licensure. Read on for his story, tips and advice.
When did you first start studying for the CPA Exam? How long did it take you to pass all sections?
I first started to study for the Exam during an internship after graduation. It took me around eight months to finish due to a couple of breaks here and there.
What did your study process look like?
I would boil down my study process to one thing: putting in the time. I studied at any point I found myself with downtime. I was working while studying, and that meant knowing how to prioritize my time a lot better to be able to feel fully prepared come Exam time.
What study techniques did you find the most helpful?
I wrote down the entire lecture notes and areas in the book I thought could be on the Exam. Rewriting everything helped me understand the concepts and memorize them better.
I also found that doing a lot of practice questions and simulation exams helped in understanding the areas where I should be focusing on the most.
Were there any setbacks you experienced along the way?
The biggest setback I faced during my Exam journey was moving to a new city to start a new job in a different state, which took a lot of my time away from being able to study. It also meant I now had to take the remaining parts of my Exam in a different testing center and had to manage my time a lot better to still be able to be on track to finish the Exam. This could have easily been a stopping point in my CPA Exam journey—I could have given up and focused on other areas of my life at that time.
“The biggest setback I faced during my Exam journey was moving to a new city to start a new job in a different state...This could have easily been a stopping point in my CPA Exam journey—I could have given up and focused on other areas of my life.”
What kept you motivated?
My biggest motivation was always continuing to remind myself what my ultimate goal was. In addition, each Exam I passed gave me more confidence in knowing I could get to the end.
I also had an incredible support system from my family and loved ones who always pushed me to continue and acknowledged my accomplishments, which also helped fuel my motivation.
What is your advice for those just starting to prepare for the CPA Exam? What about those who are in the middle of the journey and might be feeling discouraged?
The biggest piece of advice I could offer someone who is starting to prepare for the journey or someone who is in the middle of it is to think of the big picture.
In my experience, I felt myself constantly focusing on the now and how I felt having to put in so much work every day. I focused on the pain points and how it made me feel. However, once I shifted my viewpoint from focusing on the now to focusing on the bigger picture and the long term, it helped me ground myself and realize what I was going through now would all be worth it in the long run.
In summary, for anyone going through the pain now or is anticipating the pain, just remember the pain will end but the sense of accomplishment is timeless.
"Once I shifted my viewpoint from focusing on the now to focusing on the bigger picture and the long term, it helped me ground myself and realize what I was going through now would all be worth it in the long run."
Is there anything else you'd like to share or think others should know about the experience?
The biggest thing others should know about the experience is that prioritization and communication become vital to a good experience. I often found myself having to skip out on important events in my life to study but always made sure those around me knew what I had going on.
Overall, the experience can be very rewarding as long as you give yourself all the necessary tools to succeed. Good luck to everybody embarking on this journey!
Thank you, Jose, for sharing your experience and advice! Jose is speaking at the 2024 INCPAS Celebration on November 22 to share more of his story and the long-term impact of his experience in the INCPAS Scholars program. Learn more and reserve your ticket here.