Nishvik,

I understand your questions, however, I believe these questions are premature right now. In my opinion, what you need to do is below:

1) Pick a state where you are eligible to sit for exam

2) The state may want you to evaluate your foreign education. Start on that process

3) Pick which CPA review course you want to go for. You will definitely need this.

4) Buy the books depending on the CPA review course you choose

5) Start preparing for the exam.

6) Schedule for exams

7) Take the exams

Now, Coming back to experience questions, having CPA certificate/License is very helpful in finding a job and CPE etc is also very helpful in updating yourself with the profession. Your state board is correct that you can not use CPA designation as licensed in VA, but you can certainly tell your future employer that you are CPA, licensed in XX state. Mostly in private industry, what they care is if you are CPA or not.

Just as a piece of advise, please try to avoid any short hand language in professional forum.

Hey Jay,

Will surely try to avoid short hand language in such forums.

Actually I have come down to few states that would allow me to give exams

1)IL: this is two tier state wherein it can give me certificate .But they do not accept evaluation from any evaluation agency,they do their own evaluation and need to send them all original copies

2)CO: it will allow me to give exams but for the license I need to have ssn and also CO is not substantially equivalent state.

3)Montana:this is also two tier state that gives me cpa certificate and they will allow me to give cpa exam but need to have ssn for certificate

If you have any idea about the above and can help me to make things a little simpler.Would help me a lot.

Thanks a lot till now for all your help.

Nishvik,

I am sorry, I do not have much idea on this. I hope someone else can help you here.

Good Luck

Jay,

No problem your replies have been so far very helpful to me.

Still I have to get my final year marksheet from India so cant start with any process for CPA.Hope I dont lose my intrest in pursuing CPA.

I really appreciate your help.

Got this info from Montana's site :

Montana is a two-tiered licensing state.  To obtain a certificate (inactive status), you must have passed all four sections of the exam and meet the education requirement.  A social security number is not necessary to obtain a certificateMontana is a two-tiered licensing state.  To obtain a certificate (inactive status), you must have passed all four sections of the exam and meet the education requirement.  A social security number is not necessary to obtain a certificate.

http://bsd.dli.mt.gov/license/bsd_boards/pac_board/board_pag e.asp

nishvik wrote: Hey Jay, Will surely try to avoid short hand language in such forums. Actually I have come down to few states that would allow me to give exams 1)IL: this is two tier state wherein it can give me certificate .But they do not accept evaluation from any evaluation agency,they do their own evaluation and need to send them all original copies 2)CO: it will allow me to give exams but for the license I need to have ssn and also CO is not substantially equivalent state. 3)Montana:this is also two tier state that gives me cpa certificate and they will allow me to give cpa exam but need to have ssn for certificate If you have any idea about the above and can help me to make things a little simpler.Would help me a lot. Thanks a lot till now for all your help.