So, today is my first day of “college” or “tuition” as the Brits call it.  It is pretty pragmatic, though, since if you ever read college in this blog, I’m probably talking about training for the qualification exams.  Training is internal training: how to use the internet/email, EY Global Audit Methodology, etc.  So, for those of you who knew me this past summer, you should know what I mean by the this entry’s title.

I graduated the first week of June 2009 from The University of Denver. (Much love to the alma mater ;).)  But, as soon as I left, I was working full time and studying for the CPA exam.  The CPA exam is a four-part examination: Financial Accounting and Reporting, Auditing and Attestation, Regulation, and Business Environment and Concepts. The tests range from 2.5 hours to 4.5 hours, and a typical student takes one a month.  Since every third month is off limits, a typical student will finish the first attempts in five months.  It’s a grueling schedule for most, but I consider myself to be very well prepared by DU (Daniels) to take the exams.  So, I opted to take all the exams before I left for London.  This meant I would sit for all four in a week.  This accelerated schedule required me to study hard this summer, and while I didn’t get as far as I would have liked to in my studies, I think I did will enough.

So, June through the second week in August was CPA time.  Now, I’m getting ready to start a whole new set of exams for the qualification in the UK.  In the UK, there are two accounting/audit qualifications (as far as I understand so far).  The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales are similar in their utility in the country: members of each can attest to financial statements, the primary reason for the designation.  I will be studying for the ICAEW: Two stages, twelve exams in the first and two exams plus a case study in the second.  As with the CPA exam, we’re starting with the basics:  what is accounting, what is bookkeeping, what is double-entry bookkeeping, etc.  I’m trying to stay interested in hopes that I’ll find something different between the US and UK systems.  Those differences should come later, though, in the specifics.  For now, I’ll just have to grin and bare it.  If I love being a student as much as the title tells me I do, I should have no problem doing that.