For those in the accounting field, a CPA license is one of the most prestigious designations someone can earn. CPA stands for certified public accountant. In order for someone to earn their CPA credential, they need to pass the CPA exam. The CPA exam is a rigorous exam consisting of four, four-hour sections. Candidates are expected to pass all four sections within 18 months, while earning a minimum score of 75 on each part.
Students who wish to refresh their knowledge on multiple topics while also learning new material should consider a CPA review course. CPA review courses will offer different strategies and test taking tips that will help students become more comfortable when taking the CPA exam. Students who are more comfortable with the materials and concepts they will be tested on will receive higher scores on the CPA exam.
Use our reviews of the top 6 CPA review courses to make your choice based on budget, learning style, guarantees and more.
Table of Contents
- Our Picks for Best CPA Review Courses for You
- Comparison Table
- Who Needs an CPA Review Course
- Surgent CPA Review
- Roger CPA Review
- Wiley
- Becker
- Gleim
- Yaeger
Find the Best CPA Review Course for You
There is no single CPA review course that is a perfect fit for everyone. The "best-fit" CPA course will depend on your preferred learning style. Use our CPA course decision tree and course reviews to help you choose.
CPA Course Decision Tree
-
- Best For Live, Online
-
- Visit Becker
-
- Visit Wiley CPA
-
- Best For Visual Learners
-
- Visit Surgent CPA
-
- Visit Becker
-
- Best for Readers
-
- Visit Roger CPA
-
- Visit Gleim
-
- Visit Yaeger
Best CPA Review Courses (2020)
scroll right on mobile to see entire table
| CPA Review | Surgent CPA Review | Roger CPA Review | Wiley CPA | Becker | Gleim | Yaeger |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Best For | Visual Learners | Readers, Flash Cards | Live, Online | Live, Online Visual Learners |
Readers, Flash Cards | Readers, Flash Cards |
| Rating | ||||||
| Pricing | $2399 $1749 See Coupons |
$1899 Get Discount |
$2499 | $3499 | $1999 | $1649 |
| Payment Plans | ||||||
| Subscription Length | Unlimited access | Until you pass | Until you pass | Unlimited access | Until you pass | 24 months |
| Live Expert Assistance | ||||||
| Guarantee | Pass guarantee or tuition refund | No | Access until you pass | No | Access until you pass | No |
| Practice Questions | 7700 | 6000+ | 17000+ | 1100+ | 10000+ | 5000+ |
| Practice Exams | ||||||
| Delivery Options | Online (self-paced) | Online (self-paced) | Online (self-paced), Live classes | Online (self-paced), Live online | Online (self-paced) | Online (self-paced) |
| Videos | 350+ hours | 100+ hours | 200+ hours | 400+ hours | 100+ hours | 120+ hours |
| Study Plan | ||||||
| Flashcards | ||||||
| Support | Expert CPAs | CPA Exam Advisors | Expert Mentors | Expert CPAs | Accounting Experts | Founder of prep course |
| Best Feature | ReadySCORE | SmartPath technology | # of practice questions | Hybrid learning style | Personal Counselors | Live resources |
| Summary | Review | Review | Review | Review | Review | Review |
| Learn More | GO! | GO! | GO! | GO! | GO! | GO! |
Who Needs a CPA Review Course?
The CPA exam is extremely challenging and passing is critical. CPA exam pass rates are typically around 50%. If you want to improve your chances of passing the exam, you should consider a top CPA review course.
Finding your best approach to preparing for the CPA exam can be challenging. CPA review courses can be time-consuming and expensive. Do you need an CPA review course? The answer depends on many factors.
Factors to Consider
- Study discipline – if you routinely have trouble maintaining a study schedule, you’ll find that a prep course is worth it.
- Improvement needed – take a free CPA practice test to see where you stand. If your score needs improvement, a CPA review course may be a good option.
- Need for encouragement – if you need encouragement, feedback and motivation, a prep course with an instructor (either in-person or online) is a good option.
- Budget – CPA review courses are expensive. If money is tight, consider our overall best recommendation, or self-study with CPA prep books.
- Learning style – if you have a history of successfully studying with books, a self-study approach with a good CPA prep book may be your best plan.
Benefits of a CPA Review Course
- Simulates actual test – the online exams included in a CPA review course do a great job of simulating the real CPA exam.
- Identify strengths and weaknesses – the best review courses offer advanced diagnostics to identify the topics you need to focus on.
- Latest information - the CPA exam is constantly changing due to changes in the accounting industry. The best CPA review courses are always on top of the latest changes.
- Quality instructors – courses that include live instructors will help you with efficient strategies, motivation, and one-on-one feedback.
- Personalized study plans – CPA review courses will help you craft, and stick to, a customized study schedule that works for you - and efficiently manages your time.
Why a CPA Review Course May Not Be Your Only Option
- Instructor-dependent – if you opt for an instructor-led course, the quality of your instructor will be a significant factor towards your success.
- Expensive – the best CPA review courses may be more than $2,000.
- Time-consuming – prep courses often require significant study/prep time
- DIY alternative - self-study using prep books may be a cost-effective alternative
Bottom Line - If your career is riding on your success on the CPA exam and you have the budget, a top CPA review course is a great option.
CPA Review Course Reviews
Surgent CPA Review
- Test-Guide Rating:
- Best For: Visual Learners
- Price: Starting at $1,599
- Discounts: Available Here
Surgent CPA Review Feature Summary
-
Price
- Great value. Starting at $1599 for unlimited access.
-
Guarantee
- Pass guarantee - or full tuition refund.
-
Content
- Proprietary technology paired with CPA materials makes this a great course.
-
Questions
- 7700 practice questions.
Surgent CPA Review Pros and Cons
-
Pros
- Proprietary technology
- Unlimited access
-
Cons
- Online only
- -
Surgent CPA Review Summary
Surgent offers a variety of CPA prep courses ranging from $1599 to $2999. For our purposes, we will look at the Surgent Ultimate Pass CPA prep course. This course costs $2999 and candidates will have access to this course forever. This course reviews all 4 parts of the CPA and follows the blueprint given by the AICPA.
The Ultimate Pass prep course includes 7,700 multiple choice practice questions, 400+ simulations and 350+ videos. The videos provided are nano-sized and are designed to be quick and to the point to keep the attention of the user. The course also includes e-books and lecture notes for all 4 sections of the CPA exam and flashcards with terms and definitions. Candidates get access to 1-on-1 virtual coaching from a CPA expert if questions or problems arise.
One of the coolest and innovative features of Surgent is their ReadySCORE feature. Candidates will complete an initial assessment of their knowledge when they start the course and ReadySCORE will tell them what they would score on the CPA exam if they were to take it today. As students complete the course, their ReadySCORE will improve and it will tell the candidate when they are truly ready to pass.
Another unique feature of Surgent is their A.S.A.P technology. This technology identifies what students need to improve on the most and implements the necessary time needed into the student’s study plan. This technology helps optimize study time and can save students up to 400 hours of study time.
Best features of Surgent CPA Review – ReadySCORE and A.S.A.P technology.
Rating:
Bottom Line
Very progressive prep course that uses technology to increase efficiency and save students time.
Roger CPA Review
- Test-Guide Rating:
- Best For: Readers, Flash Cards
- Price: Starting at $1899
- Discounts: Available Here
Roger CPA Review Feature Summary
-
Price
- Good value for content provided.
-
Guarantee
- No guarantee offered.
-
Content
- Good combination of digital textbooks, videos, and flashcards.
-
Questions
- 6000+ practice questions.
Roger CPA Review Pros and Cons
-
Pros
- Price - good value
- Technology
- Content
-
Cons
- Little light in terms of video hours
- -
- -
Roger CPA Review Summary
Roger CPA offers three different CPA prep courses ranging from $649 to $2999. The Elite course is their best seller and is priced at $2999. This course is a 4-part CPA review course and candidates get access to the course until they pass the CPA exam.
The Elite CPA prep course includes 100+ hours of video lectures by Roger Philipp (CPA), downloadable video lectures, digital textbooks, audio lectures, flashcards, and a 4-part cram course. This prep course also comes with 6000+ multiple-choice practice questions, hundreds of task-based simulations, and customizable practice tests that follow the CPA exam format.
Roger CPA takes pride in their SmartPath predictive technology. This software provides targeted recommendations on how candidates should focus when studying. The software compares your progress and performance to others who have already passed the CPA exam and guides you in the right direction based on your performance. SmartPath automatically provides students with data-driven targets – it takes the guessing work out of studying. Students will save a ton of time with the use of this software.
Best features of Roger CPA Review – SmartPath technology and price.
Rating:
Bottom Line
Strong technological features and content make this a worthy CPA review course.
Wiley CPA Prep Review
- Test-Guide Rating:
- Best For: Live, Online
- Price: Starting at $1,799
- Discounts: Available Here
Wiley CPA Feature Summary
-
Price
- $2499 for as long as it takes to pass your CPA.
-
Guarantee
- Access until you pass.
-
Content
- I200+ hours of video lectures.
-
Questions
- Most practice questions out of any of the courses we reviewed.
Wiley CPA Pros and Cons
-
Pros
- Number of practice questions
- Access until you pass
- -
-
Cons
- Not as many video hours as other courses
- -
- -
Wiley CPA Summary
Wiley offers three different CPA prep courses ranging from $1799 to $2499. All courses are available to candidates until they pass the CPA. For the most part, the courses have similar features, but we will be taking a look at the platinum CPA course that is offered for $2499.
The platinum course includes over 200 hours of video lessons and lectures, 2200+ pages of online CPA study materials, and 500+ task-based simulations. Wiley also offers 12000+ multiple-choice practice questions and 5000+ true/false practice questions. The course also has more than 5000 digital and printed flashcards to help candidates learn and retain as much information as possible. Wiley updates their CPA study guides twice a year and makes sure they align with the latest CPA exam layout. Students can feel confident they are studying the right material when using this prep course.
Like Becker, Wiley also offers a hybrid learning setting. Most of the material will be learned via on-demand videos, but candidates have the option of learning via live online CPA classes led by top accounting instructors. On top of that, candidates also receive exclusive help from expert mentors throughout their time using the prep course.
If candidates are looking for specific study materials for the CPA exam, Wiley offers those materials individually as well. Candidates can purchase study guides, focus notes, flash cards and more separately if that is all they are interested in.
Best features of Wiley – Continuously updated content and number of practice questions.
Rating:
Bottom Line
Solid course that offers a ton of practice questions. If you like learning via practice questions, this is your course.
Becker CPA Review
- Test-Guide Rating:
- Best For: Live, Online and Visual Learners
- Price: Starting at $1,899
- Discounts: Available Here
Becker Feature Summary
-
Price
- Most expensive course we looked at.
-
Guarantee
- No guarantee offered.
-
Content
- Backed by Big 4 accounting firms.
-
Questions
- 1100+ practice questions. On the lower side, but content makes up for lack of practice questions.
Becker Pros and Cons
-
Pros
- Hybrid learning style
- Unlimited access
- 400+ videos
-
Cons
- Not as many practice questions
- Price
- -
Becker Summary
Becker has a couple of different options for their CPA prep courses. The pro version costs $2499 and candidates get unlimited access. The premium version costs $1999 and candidates also get unlimited access to this course. The advantage version costs $1899 and candidates get access to this course for 24 months. All of these courses offer similar features, but for our purposes, we will take a look at the pro version.
The pro version includes more than 400 SkillMaster videos, 12 simulated exams that match the CPA exam style, and more than 1100 multiple-choice practice questions. Candidates who purchase this CPA prep course will also have up to 5 one-hour 1-on-1 tutoring sessions and 1-on-1 academic support from expert CPAs. The course also comes with 1400+ digital flashcards and 1400+ printed flashcards.
While this course is predominantly done online on the student’s own time, there is an option for live classroom scheduling. This is a nice feature and a good change of pace if a student gets bored with the traditional online learning environment. Students can access this course through their computers, tablets, or mobile phones.
Best Feature of Becker – Hybrid learning style combined with tutoring from expert CPAs.
Rating:
Gleim CPA Review
- Test-Guide Rating:
- Best For: Readers
- Price: Starting at $999
- Discounts: Available Here
Gleim Feature Summary
-
Price
- Middle of the pack in terms of pricing.
-
Guarantee
- Access until you pass.
-
Content
- 100+ hours of lectures, flashcards, and personal counselors.
-
Questions
- 10000+ practice questions.
Gleim Pros and Cons
-
Pros
- Number of practice questions
- -
-
Cons
- Light in terms of video lecture hours
- -
GLEIM Summary
Gleim offers a variety of different prep course options. The options range from $999 for their Mega Test Bank all the way up to $1999 for their Premium Review System. The Premium Review System is their most popular course - we will be looking at the prep course for our review.
The Premium Review System includes over 10000 multiple-choice practice questions, 1300 task-based simulations, 100+ hours of video lectures, audio lectures, and digital flashcards. This course also lets candidates seek guidance from personal counselors and assistance from accounting experts. The personal counselors are there to support candidates throughout the whole CPA exam process – these counselors will help track your performance and help plan your studies in conjunction with the SmartAdapt tool.
Like the other courses, Gleim offers a tool called SmartAdapt that helps candidates study more efficiently. This tool detects weaknesses and recommends a personalized study plan. The tool also shows candidates detailed visual analytics.
Best feature of Gleim – Personal Counselors.
Rating:
Yaeger CPA Tutor Review
- Test-Guide Rating:
- Best For: Readers
- Price: Starting at $1,649
- Discounts: Available Here
Yaeger Feature Summary
-
Price
- One of the cheaper courses we reviewed.
-
Guarantee
- No guarantee provided.
-
Content
- Solid offerings. Nothing special, but very similar to other courses reviewed.
-
Questions
- 5000+ practice questions.
Yaeger Pros and Cons
-
Pros
- Price
- Large number of practice questions
-
Cons
- Nothing proprietary
- Limited use of technology
Yaeger Summary
Yaeger offers two different options when it comes to prep courses. They offer a single part course bundle that is available for $449 while also offering a 4-part course bundle for $1649. We will be looking at the 4-part course bundle for our CPA prep course review.
The course includes 120+ hours of in-depth video lectures, downloadable PDF textbooks, audio lectures, and flashcards. Also included in the course are 5000+ multiple choice practice questions, practice tests, and custom study plans. This CPA prep course reviews all 4 parts of the CPA exam and follows the blueprints laid out by the AICPA.
Yaeger offers 1-on-1 instructor access for candidates. This access is important for candidates that get hung up on certain topics or questions and allows them to get the help they need. On top of that, candidates also get two 15-minute phone calls with the found, Phil Yaeger. Phil will help you set up a personal study plan and will also provide a progress review.
Best Features of Yaeger – Live resources offered – 1-on-1 instructor access and meetings with Phil Yaeger.
Rating:
Bottom Line
No bells and whistles with proprietary technology but gets the job done. Price reflects this.
CPA Review Courses FAQ
Which CPA Review course has the best pass rate?
Which CPA exam is the hardest?
Is Becker the best CPA review?
Last update: 7/29/2020
