Accounting is a field that comes more easily to some people than others. However, just because you need a little help doesn’t mean you can’t be a very successful accountant. For example, the certifying exams that many professional accountants take are very difficult and require a lot of studying. Fortunately, if you do need a little help, whether for a professional certification or an academic course, there are plenty of accounting tutors, online and elsewhere, who are ready to help you succeed.
Anyone looking to receive a degree or professional license in accounting can probably benefit from tutoring. For instance, here are some specific individuals who might want to hire an accounting tutor.
Whether you’re trying to pass an intro course or nearing completion of an accounting degree, it can’t hurt to have a mentor who already knows the ropes. Additionally, students may find one branch of the field easy and yet struggle with another. You might consider searching for a managerial accounting tutor or financial accounting tutoring online if these specialties give you trouble.
The specific requirements to become a CPA vary by state. All states, however, require a certain number of college credits and work hours, plus a passing score on the Uniform CPA Exam. This 4-section test is difficult enough that only about 20% of students pass on the first try. Thus, those who are serious about this profession may wish to hire a CPA tutor.
To become a CIA, you need 2+ years of postsecondary education and 1-5 years’ work as an internal auditor. Additionally, you must provide a character reference and pass the CIA exam. In 2019, only 42% of people who took the exam passed it. In other words, the majority of test-takers failed the exam, as it is notoriously difficult. So anyone interested in internal auditing could benefit from a CIA tutor.
CMA accounting focuses on executive and management tasks, so accountants in this field tend to earn more money than others. To become a CMA, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree or professional accounting certification plus two years’ work experience. Additionally, you’ll need to pass the CMA exam, which has about a 50% pass rate. Many candidates find the help they get from a CMA tutor vital to passing both parts of the test.
The exact process will depend on the type of accounting tutor you hire. For instance, you may be able to work on an open-ended basis. Or you may need to commit to a certain number of hours up front. Subsequently, you and your tutor will set times to meet and expectations for each session. Even if your free time is limited, there are enough online accounting tutors that you should be able to find someone to work with your schedule.
Many students swear by the results of one-on-one tutoring. To clarify, here are some of the benefits of accounting tutoring over exam prep review courses.
Obviously, you’d love to receive free accounting tutoring. However, when it comes to tutoring, you often get what you pay for. If you’re attending a university with a tutoring center, this is usually included in your tuition and worth checking out. Otherwise, do not ask accounting tutors to work with you for free. Asking a knowledgeable friend or family member a few questions is one thing. But expecting someone to spend hours tutoring you for free is disrespectful.
Tutoring prices will vary by tutor or company. Tutors generally charge by the hour and can range from $20 an hour to well over $200 an hour. Because you’re looking for a specialized accounting and finance tutor who will at least have a bachelor’s degree, expect to pay on the higher end of that scale. Specific prices for a few companies are listed below.
Above all, the best tutor for you is the one who is able to answer your questions and help you address your weaknesses. Moreover, this person will be supportive while also pushing you to do your best. To help you find such a tutor, here are several companies that offer online accounting tutoring to fit your schedule.
MyGuru is a tutoring company that offers private instructions in a number of subjects rather than an accounting test prep company. However, in addition to offering tutors for general accounting, it also has some tutors who specialize in preparation for the CPA, CFF, and CMA exams. MyGuru tutoring customer reviews are generally positive. This includes 5 out of 5 stars and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
MyGuru tutoring starts at $99 an hour. If you commit to 5, 10, or 15 hours at a time, you’ll pay a lower per-hour charge.
Darius Clark, the man behind CPAExamtutoring.com, calls his CPA Exam prep materials the i-75 Review Course. He offers several different packages of these review materials. With the Tutoring Bundle, you’ll also receive ten hour-long, one-on-one tutoring sessions with the man himself. Moreover, Clark claims that students he tutors can add ten or more points to their exam score.
The Tutoring Bundle, which includes access to all i-75 materials until you pass, costs $1,599. However, when you use the code ipasscpa, you’ll save 12% on your tutoring.
Becker offers full CMA and CPA Exam review courses, but you can also purchase online tutoring sessions by the hour. All Becker tutors are experienced accounting instructors who can answer your questions about the content of the exam.
Becker tutoring costs $149 an hour.
In short, you may need to do a little research to find the best accounting tutor for your specific field and needs. If you’re looking for help preparing for an exam, look for a tutor with experience and knowledge specific to the test.
I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley) and the publisher of this and several accounting professional exam prep sites.