Best CPA Review Courses Of 2020

Updated:Feb. 28, 2020
Jessica Davis
CPA Course Discounts
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Best CPA Review CoursesThe best CPA study materials  are essential to your success and could be the difference between passing and failing your exams. Furthermore, there’s no one-size-fits-all course, so it’s important that you choose the one that best fits your own learning style and preferences.

Accordingly, these CPA study materials will be your best friend and constant companion for the next 6 to 18 months, so your choice had better be on point.

Lucky for you, I’ve accessed and personally tried each of the top Certified Public Accountant (CPA) review courses below to save you the effort!

The chart below shows what each of the top 7 courses provides (or doesn’t provide) and explains what I found most important in making this critical decision.

These Are The Top 10 Best CPA Exam Prep Course & CPA Exam Study Materials of 2020 (Updated: March 2020):

  1. Surgent CPA Prep Courses -- Best Prep Course
  2. Wiley CPAexcel CPA Prep Courses.
  3. Becker CPA Review Courses.
  4. Roger CPA Review Courses.
  5. Gleim CPA Review Courses.
  6. Fast Forward Academy CPA Review Courses.
  7. Yaeger CPA Review Courses.
  8. Other CPA Review Courses.

Top CPA Study Materials & Prep Courses Comparison

#1 Surgent CPA Review Course

surgent cpa reviews

RATING: ★★★★★

Experienced Instructors: Surgent CPA Review instructors each have at least 15-20 years of experience teaching accounting and CPA Exam prep courses. This gives them more insight and useful strategies than the average teacher. Video lessons are very short and often average 10 minutes in length, which makes it easy to absorb lessons.
New Dashboard: Surgent has released updates for its course designed in a way that is both intuitive and nice to look at. This is one of the cleanest-looking courses on the market and it’s something that sets Surgent review apart from other products.
Unlimited Course Access: With Surgent, you have complete access to course materials until you pass. This really defines Surgent from other CPA Exam course reviews as it removes the stress of worrying about extra fees if you fail to pass your test the first time.
Value: In terms of getting the most bang for your buck, it’s hard to beat the Surgent CPA Review. With a new design and more streamlined access to content, you’d expect a price tag that’s a little higher.
Free Flashcards: Surgent created a Free CPA Exam flashcard app that is available for both iOS and Android devices with a 5-star rating in both app stores. The app features 2,200 terms and definitions and is free whether you choose to buy the full course or not.
Surgent CPA Review A.S.A.P. Technology

Why Surgent? If you want to pass the CPA Exam quickly, Surgent and its learning technology makes it the best course for passing the CPA Exam as fast as possible. On average, their students pass the CPA exam in 3 weeks and are exam-ready in 58 hours of study time.

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 Surgent CPA Review Discounts & Promo Codes

#2 Wiley CPAexcel Review Course

RATING: ★★★★★

Bite-Sized Lessons: Wiley CPAexcel has created a model based on “bite-sized lessons” in which each lecture is broken down into shorter lessons that take as little as 30 minutes to complete. Shorter segments are more effective if you can’t commit to multiple-hour lectures in one sitting. Consequently, these bite-sized lessons allow you to cover more exam content at a faster pace.
Most High-Tech: CPAexcel is the most efficient system I’ve reviewed to date. The course uses analytics from your study progress to give you performance metrics and diagnostic exams to help find your areas of improvement. Furthermore, their most recent update shifted their focus toward a progressive study plan that’s generated to fit your individual needs
Study On The Go: The course is available for download on multiple devices, which gives you the option to study on any mobile device when you’re on the go. The course also has a mobile app that gives you access to 12,000+ multiple choice questions and 4,000+ flashcards when you’re not near a computer but have a window of time to study.
Free Continuing Access: With Wiley, you’ll enjoy unlimited access and free updates! The Wiley CPAexcel course has no expiration date and all updates and upgrades are free until you have passed the CPA exam. Additionally, another unique feature is that you’ll continue to have access to the course for up to one year after you pass.
Exam-Identical Software: The practice multiple choice questions and simulations are presented in the exact same format that you will see on the actual exam. When exam time comes, you’ll be familiar with exactly those functions and capabilities that are available at the testing center. Consequently, you won’t be overwhelmed or confused by the exam software.

Why Wiley? Wiley is the perfect course for you if you are looking for small sized lessons to squeeze into your busy schedule.

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Wiley CPAexcel Review Discounts & Promo Codes

#3 Becker CPA Exam Review Course

becker cpa review

RATING: ★★★★★

Robust Study Material: There is no end to the study material provided by Becker. Students can pull from a substantial library of educational resources with exceptional quality and design, including a large library of supplementary study materials for harder portions of the exam.
Online Features:  All a student needs is an internet connection to access a wealth of features through Becker’s CPA exam prep courses and study packages. Essentially, any studying conducted through these channels are stress-free and allow for each student to learn at their own pace.
Live Courses: It doesn’t matter if students want to learn in person or through their computer; Becker provides them with the opportunity to enroll in a fleshed-out live course. Students will be able to receive high-quality education taught from a real instructor in real time if they enroll in one of these courses.
Price: Although it is possible to find discounts and set up payment plans, there’s simply no getting around the fact that Becker is one of the most expensive options available for CPA test prep. They’re well worth the price, but the price is far from cheap!

Why Becker? Honestly, you should use Becker only if someone else is going to pay for it. Otherwise check out other review courses if you want better chances at passing the CPA Exam.

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Becker CPA Review Discounts & Promo Codes

#4 Roger CPA Review Course

Roger CPA Review

RATING: ★★★★★

Fun Video Lectures: The biggest selling point of this elite CPA exam review course is Roger himself. He’s a truly dynamic and engaging teacher who makes you want to pay attention. Furthermore, his energy pulls you in and makes the material so much more interesting; it’s clear that he has a passion for helping students pass the CPA exam.
High-Quality Material: Roger writes his own book, creates the multiple choice questions in-house based on released AICPA questions, and teaches every lecture in the program himself. Consequently, you know you’re getting high-quality CPA study material based on Roger’s knowledge and expertise.
Memory Techniques: “The Roger Method” uses memory aids and mnemonics to help you retain the information. Hence, this makes it easier to remember the sheer volume amount of information you need on your test day.
Flexibility to Study Your Way: Roger CPA Review offers great flexibility in how you study with 24/7 online access, mobile device support, offline access with a USB drive, and audio lectures. Ultimately, with the many different study options, you can study anywhere, at any time.
Negative Feedback: After a recent update due to Roger’s partnership with UWorld, many customers are unsatisfied with their CPA review course mobile app. Multiple reviews left by customers have expressed difficulty navigating the new layout and mention that the software is prone to frequent crashes.

Why Roger? If you’re interested in exciting video lectures and don’t care about using a functional mobile app, Roger CPA Review has the tools you need!

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Roger CPA Discounts & Promo Codes

#5 Gleim CPA Review Course

RATING: ★★★★★

Comprehensive Material: The Gleim material covers every topic that could appear on the exam and goes into great detail. By studying every possible area, you can be certain that there will be no surprises when you take the actual exam.
Number of Questions: Gleim provides students with over 10,000 multiple choice questions and over 1,300 task-based simulations. Using Gleim as a supplement for FAR, I found that the questions were a lot more difficult than those on the actual exam. By mastering the difficult practice questions, I was more than prepared for the questions on my exam.
Affordable: At $1,999 Gleim is the best bang-for-your-buck course on the market. Thousands of practice questions and sims, a customizable study planner, audio lectures, and a personal counselor all make this course stand out. If you just want to use this program as a supplement, you can even purchase individual test prep for a single section of the exam for under $200.
Audio Review: An audio review is provided with the purchase of the Gleim Review System package. It can be downloaded to multiple devices to facilitate studying on the go. I used an audio review while I studied and it helped me tremendously. Ultimately, the information is relevant and set up logically in 20 audio lectures (per section) that last approximately 30 minutes each.
Access Until You Pass: Gleim Online offers extended “Access Until You Pass” to all students. If you don’t pass the CPA exam sections for which you have purchased Gleim Online, you will receive unlimited continued access to Gleim Online until you pass.

Why Gleim? If you’ve been out of school for a number of years and want access to a personal counselor throughout your studies, Gleim is the right fit for you.

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Gleim CPA Review Discounts & Promo Codes

#6 Fast Forward Academy CPA Review

Fast Forward Academy CPA Review Course

RATING: ★★★★★

Affordable: Fast Forward Academy CPA review is relatively affordable at $1,014 for the Online Bundle package, or $1,224 for the Smart Bundle package, which comes with physical textbooks. The course is designed for students who prefer not to use physical textbooks, but let’s be honest—there’s better options out there!
Responsive Study Planner:The study planner is customizable and responsive. Once you select your study period and exclusion days, your daily study tasks are set up for you. Students can opt to receive notifications by text message to remind them of daily tasks. Some people have noted that this system isn’t too great, as it’s annoying and not really anything that can’t be done via another app or calendar.
30 Day Refund: Fast Forward has a guarantee that grants you access to the course until you pass. But what if you don’t fit well with the course structure and want to use a different course. Well, you’ll only have 30 days to figure it out in order to receive a refund. This isn’t much time, especially if you find out the course didn’t work for you when you don’t pass. Alternatively, other courses don’t have a time limit on their refund and instead abide by a pass or refund guarantee. You’ll have to make sure you meet all of Fast Forwards 30 day refund qualifications too in order to get your money back.
No Mobile App: Although Fast Forward Academy’s learning platform can be accessed from most mobile devices, including iPads, iPhones, and most Android phones, there is no dedicated app to make studying on your phone or tablet more streamlined and convenient. Other courses have awesome mobile apps that makes quick study sessions easy and simple. It helps to have an app that you can use to quickly fit in a topic or two on-the-go.

Why FFA? Fast Forward Academy is still a new course with a lot to prove. Therefore, I would recommend this for you if you are on a strict budget.

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Fast Forward Academy CPA Discounts & Promo Codes

#7 Yaeger CPA Review Course

RATING: ★★★★★

Excellent Customer Support: Some students may have reservations about the lack of live lectures or fear that their questions won’t be answered. However, Yaeger provides direct access to instructors via their live Instructor Hotline, a feature most other courses do not offer. Live help comes from the instructors who teach the video lectures, including Phil Yaeger himself!
Flexible and Customized Format: Yaeger caters to all types of students and offers flexibility by offering different types of study formats. The new AdaptaPASS course reflects students’ own preferences in how they like to study and takes into account the upcoming changes to the CPA exam in 2017 whether you prefer video lectures or textbook format.
Teaching Approach: Yaeger’s instructors will walk you through each topic in their video lectures step-by-step, while they reinforce your understanding of each concept by working through hundreds of multiple choice questions and simulations right alongside you. Their goal is to make sure students understand concepts, as opposed to rote memorization.
Affordable and Flexible Pricing: The complete Yeager online course includes the 100+ hours of video lectures, interactive textbooks, test bank software, instructor handouts, and access to the Instructor Hotline. Yaeger allows you to buy different packages, individual section materials, or various time subscription plans depending on how quickly you expect to pass each part.
Additional Study Help: Yeager provides the option of audio lectures, the CPA review quiz generator, CRAM courses, and mobile flashcards. I recommend Yaeger for those students who need a comprehensive course that provides in-depth explanations and multiple study options. Honestly, I don’t think there’s a student who couldn’t benefit from all the choices Yaeger has to offer!

Why Yaeger? Yaeger is a good fit for you if you want a comprehensive course that gives you more than enough information to successfully pass the CPA Exam.

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Yaeger CPA Review Discounts & Promo Codes

#8 Universal CPA Review Course

Universal CPA Review

RATING: ★★★★★

Reasonable Prices: As a supplemental CPA prep course, Universal CPA Review offers their coursework for extremely low prices. Furthermore, students who are only interested in focusing on a particular section of the exam, like REG or FAR, will only have to pay for that particular section of the test bank. This makes for one of the most affordable study tools available for CPA students!
Ample Course Content: Despite being designed as a companion to a full CPA prep course, Universal CPA Review contains a full course’s worth of content. Their test bank is made up of over 4,000 multiple choice questions and 200 task-based simulations. Best of all is the fact that their entire catalog of study materials is completely unique and original.
Mobile Functionality: It’s important for many students to be able to access their study tools wherever they are. To accommodate this, Universal CPA Review designed their testbank and eBook to function on mobile devices, including tablets and smartphones. This way, you don’t need to be on your desktop or laptop in order to squeeze in a quick study session.
No Trial or Guarantee: Unfortunately, something else that distinguishes Universal CPA Review from other CPA prep courses is their lack of a free trial. Additionally, nowhere on their website does it state that they will offer any sort of guarantee to improve your exam scores. You’re just going to have to take them at their word, as well as the students who have left positive reviews on their website.

Why Universal CPA Review?If you’ve tried the other CPA study courses and need something different, this supplementary course is a breath of fresh air.

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Universal CPA Review Discounts & Promo Codes

Best CPA Study Materials

While the CPA study materials listed above are really good, sometimes the course that is right for you is missing a couple helpful features that can enhance your studies. Don’t stress. There are a variety of different supplemental CPA study materials you can use to add on to your CPA exam study material to make sure it has everything you need to pass. Some popular CPA exam supplementals are mobile apps, test banks, flashcards, and cram courses.

Let’s walk through all of these and look at why you may consider buying them. Remember that buying supplemental products from a different company besides your main CPA exam review course can be beneficial. It gives you a different study method and a variety of the best CPA study materials.

Best CPA Review Course

Which CPA Test Banks Are Best?

Studying for the CPA exam is made easier thanks to numerous practice questions. The best source for these helpful study tools is supplemental CPA test banks. Below are some of the best options available to those who are getting ready to sit for the exam.

Wiley CPA Test Bank

One of the most popular supplemental products in the CPA exam industry, the Wiley Test Bank includes 4,500+ CPA Exam practice questions with detailed answer rationales and 160 task-based simulations, including new Document Review Simulations (DRS).

Gleim CPA Test Bank

With more than 10,000 exam-emulating multiple-choice questions and simulations of the largest test bank on the market, Gleim tests your knowledge and skills at the levels of the CPA Exam to ensure that you’re completely prepared.

Which CPA Exam Cram Courses Are Best?

Whether you need to improve your CPA Exam score by 10 points or you simply want to solidify difficult concepts for final review, a solid Cram Course is the best study supplement to get you there. A CPA exam Cram Course is the best way to reinforce your understanding of the most heavily tested test topics in a short amount of time.

Roger CPA Cram Course

Roger’s Cram Course is offered in two convenient formats, Online and a portable Flash Drive.  All practice questions covered during the lectures come with full, in-depth explanations. The course also includes Cram Textbooks that were written by expert CPAs alongside the infamous Roger Philip.

*Update Oct. 1, 2019 -- Roger now includes the Cram Course with their Elite Course package and it’s no longer sold as stand alone product.

Which CPA Exam Flashcards Are Best?

There’s a reason that a lot of the older study methods still exist: the way that humans learn hasn’t changed that much! CPA exam flashcards are a popular study tool because these help to reinforce key topics and are perfect for rote memorization. Check out these great CPA flashcards below:

Roger CPA Flashcards

Roger offers hundreds of print flashcards that come in one convenient spindle. Each card has two definitions on the front and detailed explanations on the backside.

Wiley CPA Flashcards

Wiley CPAexcel includes digital flashcards in all their course packages. Thanks to a recent update, these flashcards have been integrated directly into the main course dashboard for easy access. They’ve also been seamlessly integrated with the rest of their course through the aforementioned progressive learning program.

Which CPA Exam Mobile Apps Are Best?

Studying on the go is incredibly important for students and those who are working full time. Studying on your phone during your subway commute or lunch hour is invaluable, as it can turn downtime into productive breaks. CPA exam mobile applications are the best way to squeeze in twenty or thirty minutes of studying, especially when the app is fully optimized!

Surgent CPA Review Mobile App

Surgent is offering a completely free Flashcard app for iPhone and Android giving you the chance to study 2,200+ CPA exam terms and definitions on your smartphone. Every candidate should be taking advantage of this offer while it lasts!

Roger CPA Review Mobile App

Roger offers two iPhone apps to students. The first one is a multiple choice app with over 3,400+ questions and the second is a flashcard app.

Which Is The Best CPA Review Course for Video Lectures?

CPA video lectures are ideal for those that prefer to learn by watching a teacher go over the important accounting concepts. Since many students prefer this style of learning, video lectures are one of the most important parts of any CPA review course.

Roger CPA Review has some of the best video materials in the industry with his engaging lectures. Another great course for video lectures would be Surgent CPA Review and its knowledgeable instructors.

CPA Review CourseVideo Lecture Hours
Surgent CPA Review350
Wiley CPAexcel110
Roger CPA Review120
Yaeger CPA Review104
Gleim CPA Review100
Fast Forward Academy470
Becker CPA Review100

Bottom Line: Since Roger is the most engaging instructor in the industry, Roger CPA Review is the best review course for video lectures.

Which CPA Course has the most Multiple Choice Questions ?

Multiple choice questions are the core of any CPA review course, as these mirror the exam content and are the best way to practice for the test. The number of MCQs isn’t always the most important metric for these questions. You must also note that some questions are harder and more like the actual exam than others. Wiley has plenty of great questions, but Surgent has multiple choice questions specific to your level of knowledge that will help you prepare for the test. 

CPA Review CourseMultiple Choice Questions
Surgent CPA Review7,500
Wiley CPAexcel12,000
Becker CPA Review7,200
Yaeger CPA Review5,000
Gleim CPA Review10,000
Fast Forward Academy6,000
Roger CPA Review5,800

Bottom Line: Wiley CPAexcel provides more multiple choice questions than any course, so you’re not going to run out of practice questions.

Which CPA Course has the Best Task-Based Simulations (TBS)?

Task-based simulations are increasingly important because of the changes made to the CPA Exam in 2017. Because of this new test that places more importance of simulations, CPA review courses now place more emphasis on these questions, ensuring you can pass after practicing the TBS section. Surgent and Wiley are the best courses for TBSs that have included up to date TBS materials and have optimized these sections for the new CPA exam blueprints.

CPA Review CourseNumber of Task-Based Simulations
Surgent CPA Review417+
Wiley CPAexcel600
Becker CPA Review400
Yaeger CPA Review164
Gleim CPA Review1,300
Fast Forward Academy230
Roger CPA Review400

Bottom Line: While Surgent has extremely up-to-date materials, Gleim CPA Review has the most task based simulations for you to practice.

CPA Study Material Discounts & Financing Options Compared

Why pay full price for a CPA review course when there are plenty of great CPA discount codes that are available! Take hundreds of dollars off of the Surgent CPA Review or Wiley CPAexcel with these great CPA course promo codes. If you can’t pay for a pricey CPA course, check out the financing options from Surgent and Roger CPA Review.

CPA Review CoursePrice with DiscountFinancing Available?
Surgent CPA Review$1,799Yes, 0%
Wiley CPAexcel$2,100No
Roger CPA Review$2,987Yes
Yaeger CPA Review$1,079Yes
Gleim CPA Review$1,599Yes
Fast Forward Academy$1,749Yes
Becker$1,886Yes

Bottom Line: Surgent CPA Review offers the best financing options, with 0% and a low monthly rate thanks to an affordable price point.

 2020’s Top 7 Best CPA Exam Review Courses Compared

CPA Review CourseIdeal For..
Roger CPA ReviewStructured auditory learner who needs to keep motivated
Surgent CPA ReviewStudents who want to study at their own pace
Wiley CPAexcelSelf-studier with busy schedule and little time to study
Yaeger CPA ReviewVisual learners who want step-by-step explanations
Gleim CPA ReviewDedicated self-studier
Fast Forward AcademySelf-studier who focuses on weaknesses
Becker CPA ReviewDedicated self-studier who needs flexibility in schedules

Additional Resources to Get You On the Right Track

Not sure which review course is right for you? Don’t worry, I’ve got your back! Check out my side by side comparison of Wiley CPAexcel vs. Becker. You can also learn more about other accounting certifications including EA Review Courses and CIA Study Materials. If you have any specific CPA questions, just drop a comment below and I’ll personally help find the right course for you!

CPA Review Courses FAQ

Is becoming a CPA worth it?

The total amount that you will have to spend to pass the exam is about $4,400. Of course, this sum could vary based on the CPA Review Course that you choose. Additionally, each state has its own rules and charges, so this could also result in a higher (or lower) total cost. You also have to remember that you may not pass on your first attempt. This could mean additional exam fees and registration charges. However, the total expenditure for passing the CPA exam is a small fraction of the financial gains that you can make as a member of one of the world’s most respected accounting bodies.

 

How long does Becker CPA Review last?

According to Becker, your license will expire at the end of 18 months from the date of first login or 24 months from the date of purchase, whichever occurs first.

 

Is Wiley CPA better than Becker?

What’s most important to note is the difference in price between the two. Becker is the most expensive course on the market, so unless someone else is covering payment for it I would recommend Wiley.

 

What is the average salary of a CPA?

According to Payscale, the average annual salary of a CPA is slightly over $65,000.

 

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