Best CPA Review Courses Of 2017

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The CPA review course you choose could mean the difference between passing and failing your exams. There’s no one-size-fits-all course, so it’s extremely important that you choose the one that best fits your personal learning style and preferences. These study materials will be your best friend and constant companion for the next 6 – 18 months, so your decision had better be on point.

Lucky for you, I’ve gotten full access to and have personally tested each of the top CPA exam prep courses on the market 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.

Jump To Individual CPA Course Reviews

Top 7 CPA Review Course Study Materials

CPA Review Courses Surgent CPA Review Wiley CPAexcel Roger CPA Review Yaeger CPA Review Gleim CPA Review Fast Forward Academy Becker CPA Review
COMPANY wiley cpaexcel review course yaeger cpa review Gleim CPA Exam Review Course Fast Forward Academy Best CPA Review Course Becker CPA Exam Review Course
RANKINGS #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7
OVERALL
RATING		 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★
PRICE $1,799 $1,299
Show Coupon		 $2,450$1,950
Show Coupon		 $2,095 $1886
Show Coupon		 $1199$1079
Show Coupon		 $1,899$1599
Get Discount		 $1,749 $3,393
BEST FEATURE Most Experienced Instructors Bite-Sized Lessons Most Engaging Lectures Most Flexible Course Formats Most Comprehensive Content Adaptive Learning System Endorsed by Big 4 Firms
AUDIENCE Students who want to study at their own pace Self-studier with busy schedule and little time to study Structured auditory learner who needs to keep motivated Visual learners who want step-by-step explanations Dedicated self-studier Self-studier who focuses on weaknesses Dedicated self-studier who needs flexibility in schedules
COURSE FORMATS Online Only Online or Offline USB Online or Offline USB Online & Offline Online Only Online Only Online Only
PRACTICE QUESTIONS 6,840 12,000 5,800 4,300 9,200 5,000 7,200
SIMULATIONS (TBS) 295 600 400 164 1,000 230 400
VIDEO LECTURE HOURS 350 Video Lessons 110 120 104 100 80+ 100
FINANCING OPTIONS
AUDIO COURSE
MOBILE
APP
UNLIMITED COURSE ACCESS 18 months 24 months 18 months
FLASHCARDS $50 per Section $30-$50 per Section
FINAL REVIEW INCLUDED $225 – $295 per Section $165 per Section
STUDENT SUPPORT Live Chat, Email & Phone Support Professor Mentoring – 24 Hour Response Time 24/7 Homework Help Center Instructor Hotline – Phone & Email Support Personal Counselor – Phone & Email Support Email Support & Online Community Forum Phone & Email Support
PROS & CONS Read Review Read Review Read Review Read Review Read Review Read Review Read Review
FREE TRIAL OR DEMO START NOW START NOW START NOW START NOW START NOW START NOW START NOW


Surgent CPA Review

RATING:★★★★★

Experienced Instructors: Surgent CPA Review instructors each have at least 15-20 years of experience teaching accounting and CPA Exam preparatory courses. This gives them more insight and useful strategies than less experienced instructors. Video lessons are very concise and generally average 10 minutes in length making lessons easier to absorb.
Revamped Dashboard: Surgent has released an updated version of its course and this 2.0 overhaul is designed in a manner that is both intuitive and aesthetically pleasing. This is one of the cleanest-looking courses on the market and it’s something that differentiates the Surgent review from other products.
Unlimited Course Access: With Surgent, you have complete access to course materials until you pass. This really differentiates Surgent from other CPA Exam course reviews as it eliminates the stress of worrying about additional fees should you fail to pass.
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, regardless if you choose to purchase the full course or not.

Why Surgent? If you want to pass the CPA Exam quickly, Surgent and its impressive adaptive software makes it the best course for passing the CPA Exam as fast as possible.

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 Wiley CPAexcel Review

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. These smaller lessons allow you to cover more material at a faster pace.
Most Technologically Advanced: CPAexcel is the most efficient system I’ve reviewed to date. The course uses analytics from your study progress to give you specific performance metrics and diagnostic exams to help determine your areas of improvement. Their course focuses on your personal “Study Strategy” to assess your progress and optimize your study plan for success.
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. 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. This way 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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 Roger CPA Review

RATING:★★★★★

Engaging Video Lectures: The biggest selling point of this CPA exam review course is Roger himself. He’s a truly dynamic and engaging teacher who makes you want to pay attention. His positive energy pulls you in and makes the material so much more interesting and it’s obvious 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. You know you’re getting high quality study material based on Roger’s experience and expertise.
Memorization Techniques: “The Roger Method” uses memory aids and mnemonics to help you retain the information. This makes it easier to remember the overwhelming amount of information come test day.
Flexibility to Study Your Way: Roger CPA Review offers great flexibility in how you study with convenient 24/7 online access, availability on mobile devices, offline access with USB, and audio lectures. With the various study options, you can study anywhere, at any time.

Why Roger? If you struggle to stay focused with boring accounting lectures, you need the easy-to-read and engaging style of Roger CPA Review.

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 Yaeger CPA Review


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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 Gleim CPA Review

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 9,000+ multiple choice questions. 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 $1,399 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. 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 will remain current for 18 months from your purchase date, but if you do not pass within that time frame by using Gleim materials, they offer extended “Access Until You Pass.” If you do not 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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 Fast Forward Academy CPA Review

Fast Forward Academy Best CPA Review Course Horizontal Logo

RATING:★★★★★

Affordable: Fast Forward Academy CPA review is relatively affordable at $1,349 for the Online Bundle package, or $1,749 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. 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, so I would recommend this for you if you are on a strict budget.

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 Becker CPA Review

OVERALL RATING:★★★★★

Challenging Practice Questions: Becker CPA Review has more than 7,200 challenging multiple choice questions that link directly to eBook pages and lectures.
Study Anywhere: Use your laptop, Iphone or Android phone to study anytime and anywhere. Best of all, your progress is always saved across all devices making it convenient when you’re on the go or just want to pick up where you left off. Still, other courses have better mobile offerings.
Cost: The Becker CPA Review is the most expensive option available. Even though Becker has a decent course and unlimited support, Becker cannot compete with other courses that include much more for a cheaper cost.
No Audio Courses: Becker CPA Review doesn’t offer audio courses. Other review courses have audio courses since many students like to have the freedom of studying on the go. Becker does not even offer audio courses for an additional cost, so check out other courses that have this option, especially if you are an auditory learner.
Inconsistent Live Classes: Students report that Becker’s live classes are inconsistent and can be hit or miss, depending on the instructor and location. I’ve talked with many Becker students and most agree that the live classes are below par and the online course option is much better.

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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Top-Rated CPA Supplemental Study Materials

While all of the prep tools listed above are awesome, 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 study materials you can use to add on to your CPA exam prep course 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 study materials.

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.

Gryfin CPA Test Bank 

The most affordable and effective CPA test bank on the market offers 4,639 multiple choice questions and detailed answers, along with 73 task based simulations. All of this for less than 1/3 the cost of Wiley’s CPA Test Bank.

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. The Online Cram gives you two months of access from start of activation, while the portable Flash Drive Cram provides a full eight months of access time and offers the convenience to study without an internet connection.

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.

Gryfin CPA Cram Course

The Gryfin CPA Cram Course is both affordable and comprehensive, so now you can boost your scores without breaking the bank. Its adaptive learning technology helps you hone in on your weak areas and eliminate repetitive studying of concepts you already know.

The software creates a custom study plan catered to your specific needs and is backed by a 100% pass or refund guarantee.

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 more than 250 printed flashcards for each section of the CPA exam with their Platinum course. You can also buy them a la carte to supplement your primary review course studies with which is a great way to boost your memorization skills.

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 CPA Review Course Has the Best 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 Course Video Lecture Hours
Surgent CPA Review 350
Wiley CPAexcel 110
Roger CPA Review 120
Yaeger CPA Review 104
Gleim CPA Review 100
Fast Forward Academy 470
Becker 100

 

 

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 Prep Course has the most Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ’s)?

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 Course Multiple Choice Questions
Surgent CPA Review 6,840
Wiley CPAexcel 12,000
Roger CPA Review 5,800
Yaeger CPA Review 4,300
Gleim CPA Review 9,200
Fast Forward Academy 5,000
Becker 7,200

 

 

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 Course Number of Task-Based Simulations
Surgent CPA Review 390
Wiley CPAexcel 600
Roger CPA Review 400
Yaeger CPA Review 164
Gleim CPA Review 1,000
Fast Forward Academy 230
Becker 400

 

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

 

CPA Prep Course Discounts & Financing Compared – What CPA Course is the Best Deal?

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 my great CPA promo codes. If you can’t pay for a pricey CPA review course, check out the financing options from Surgent and Roger CPA Review.

 

CPA Review Course Price with Discount Financing Available?
Surgent CPA Review $1,799 Yes, 0%
Wiley CPAexcel $1,950 No
Roger CPA Review $1,886 Yes, 10-30%
Yaeger CPA Review $1,079 Yes
Gleim CPA Review $1,439 No
Fast Forward Academy $1,749 Yes
Becker $3,393 Yes

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

 

 What is The Best CPA Review Course?

 2017’s Top 7 Best CPA Review Courses Compared

CPA Course Company Ideal For..
1. Surgent CPA Review Students who want to study at their own pace
2. Wiley CPAexcel Self-studier with busy schedule and little time to study
3. Roger CPA Review Structured auditory learner who needs to keep motivated
4. Yaeger CPA Review Visual learners who want step-by-step explanations
5. Gleim CPA Review Dedicated self-studier
6. Fast Forward Academy Self-studier who focuses on weaknesses
7. Becker CPA Review Dedicated 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!

Best CPA Review Courses
Written by: Jessica Davis
5 / 5 stars

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6 replies
  1. Omar
    Omar says:

    Hey! Since there is a new version of the CPA exam starting in 2017, should I wait before purchasing the study materials, or should I just purchase study materials for the Exam I am taking first?

    Reply
    • Jess Davis
      Jess Davis says:

      If you have time you should get started right away! I would say it’s better not to make too many assumptions.

      Reply
  2. Lexie
    Lexie says:

    I’m trying to pass the CPA exam before the 2017 changes can you recommend the best courses that will help me pass the CPA in 3 months?

    Reply
  3. Michelle
    Michelle says:

    Hi Jess. I took the exam about 10 years ago and passed 2 parts using Bisk, but then I started law school and lost my credits. So, I’ve finally circled back to take the exam again and I was wondering which course would be best for me now. I have a self-directed study style and my company will pay for Becker. However, I remember going to the Becker live courses and hating them because they were so boring and did nothing to help me pass, hence the switch to Bisk. I really enjoyed the Bisk software, so Surgent intrigues me. With all that said, I have a few questions I’d like your opinion on:

    1. Has today’s version of the Becker review and software really changed much, outside of the obvious content revisions?
    2. Would it make sense to purchase the Surgent review and use the adaptive software to focus my studies on my weak areas? I’m currently a Tax Manager and Attorney, so I have a strong understanding of REG, AUD and some FAR concepts.
    3. Based on your answer to Q1 above, would it make sense to get the company to purchase Becker and I purchase a supplement with strong software?
    4. Should I just skip the Becker and purchase something altogether different since my past with Becker (albeit 10+ years ago) is not that great? Note that if I decide to take something other than Becker, I will get reimbursed up to $1,500.

    Sorry for the LONG post, but my situation is atypical so I felt the background was necessary. 🙂 Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

    Reply
    • Jess Davis
      Jess Davis says:

      Michelle,
      I understand your frustration with finding a course that will fit your learning style, especially when Becker is being offered to you for free. But to answer your first question, Becker has not changed much and still is my lowest ranked course.

      Since you do have real world experience in specific fields, I think Surgent would be an incredible option since it utilizes adaptive software. It will allow you to cut down your the amount of studying you have to accomplish as well as spending your study time only on subjects you need to improve on. Very efficient!

      If you want to get Becker and choose a supplement course for financial reasons, I would suggest the Welker CPA Cram Course. It’s one of the only supplemental courses that uses adaptive software to optimize your study plan. If you do decide to just skip Becker, the Welker CPA Cram Course is great on its own! And you be able to afford other material with your $1,500 reimbursement since Welker’s Cram Course is only $175. I would also trial run Wiley and Surgent to see if those intensive courses fit your self-directed study style.

      Good luck on your journey to becoming a CPA!

      Reply

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