If you pass the CFE doesn't it count as passing one section of the CIA?

Also, I heard (from many people) that when you use the review software for the CFE, it is basically the same exact questions as the actual test.  Do you guys know anything about this?  Further, can't you just take the CFE at home whenever you feel like it?

I am thinking about doing the CFE after the CPA just for comparison purposes.

Dokim / Lelik -

Thanks for the insight.  You description of the IA world makes it sound like there are better advancement opportunities elsewhere for the CPA with some ambition.  There may be many IA positions, but if you've got to be the IA director to earn a good wage, and each firm only has one IA director, I perceive a bit of a bottleneck in the upward mobility.  Is this a misperception?

Since I opened this thread I found a website which gives accountant salary data for Public, Management (including IA), Forensic, and Tax accounting.  http://www.allbusinessschools.com/faqs/accounting-salaries.p hp  The mid-level Management accountant salary range they give is $43 to $67k, and the mid-level Forensic accountant salary range is $65 to $80k.  I can't vouch for the accuracy of their data, but it certainly looks interesting.  Becoming a CFE/CFF to go after financial crooks sounds more intriguing anyway.

I have a job right now, but plan to be sending out resumes within the next few months.  I am currently comptroller at a bankruptcy trustee's office, which I anticipate will be closing within the year because the trustee is retiring.  (Applying to become the successor trustee was not an option - I'm not a lawyer.)  Having passed the CPA exam I am now studying for the CFE so that I can pass that exam and put more on the table than "just" a CPA.  I'd like to get auditing and forensics.

I haven't started floating resumes yet because I am waiting for our auditors to sign my CPA experience letter.  Louisiana allows a firm's independent auditors to sign the experience letter when the employer doesn't have an active CPA on staff.  I anticipate having my CPA license and starting my job hunt by the beginning of summer.

Mayra - I used the Becker self-study course with flashcards and Final Review program, and passed all 4 parts on the first sitting.  I had to pay for the whole thing out of my own pocket (and am doing the same for the CFE).  There's nothing like financing your own education to make you study really, really diligently.