CPA Review Courses | Best CPA Review Courses
Updated June 6, 2023
Disclosure: CPAexam.com has affiliate (advertising) partnerships, and we may be compensated if you purchase through our links (at no additional cost to you). Additionally, this site and NINJA share the same parent company, so while we strived to make this an objective overview, take our inherent bias into consideration as you read it.
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CPA Review Courses
CPA Review courses are designed to help individuals prepare for the CPA exam and become a Certified Public Accountant. These courses offer structured study materials, practice questions, and exam simulations that mimic the format and difficulty level of the actual CPA exam. Many courses are available in the market, each with unique features and pricing.
The number of courses and options out there (and options within those options) can be quite overwhelming.
It's important to compare courses (and do free trials) before making an investment.
Each CPA Review course has strengths and weaknesses. There isn't a perfect course.
If you follow these three crucial guidelines, you stand a great chance of choosing the Best CPA Review course for you:
- Budget (What can you afford? Debt vs No Debt?)
- Learning Style (Powerpoint lectures? “Dry Erase Board” lectures? No lectures? Test Bank only?)
- The ‘5 AM Test' (Can you stomach studying with this course at 5 am, or will you most likely hit snooze for the next 2 hours until you really have to get up?)
CPA Review course discounts can also help you save money taking the CPA Exam because NASBA retake fees are very expensive and add up quickly.
Getting this choice right is critical to your success as a CPA candidate and becoming a CPA.
These three popular CPA Review courses are the majority of the CPA Exam prep market and represent three distinct price points:
- NINJA CPA – Cheapest ($67 monthly)
- Wiley CPA – Mid-Tier ($2,199 to $2,499)
- Becker CPA – Highest Tier ($2,249 to $5,999)
Want to find the best CPA Review course for your unique budget, learning style, and preferences?
Keeping reading…
NINJA CPA Review
NINJA CPA Review is the cheapest full CPA Review course.
NINJA was founded in 2011 by Jeff Elliott, CPA of Another7.com, and is the most-popular CPA Study Supplement with its NINJA Notes, Test Bank, and Audio.
NINJA CPA Review has since become a full course after increasing its offerings to include Course Lectures, CPA Tutoring, Review Books, Flashcards, Cram Lectures, and a large Test Bank with 7,100 questions.
NINJA had its first Elijah Watt Sells Award Winner (averaged 95.5 on CPA Exam) in 2012 and has several EWS Award winners each year.
The majority of NINJA EWS Award winners supplemented Becker with NINJA.
With a combined 350+ hours of course and cram lectures, NINJA has the largest course video library in CPA Exam prep.
The NINJA Monthly subscription is $67, which will appeal to those wanting only a supplement and a full CPA Review course alike.
Like Becker and Wiley, NINJA also offers CMA Prep which follows the same subscription pricing model.
NINJA's strengths are its popular NINJA Notes, Audio, Test Bank, and CPA Tutoring. NINJA is the only course to offer live CPA tutoring to all customers.
Another standout feature is that NINJA allows students to start and stop their subscriptions at any time, so there is no commitment.
NINJA is also the only major course with a 30-day refund policy, regardless of usage.
NINJA's weakness is a lack of a mobile app, although the dashboard is mostly mobile-friendly via browser.
Some students say that the CPA tutor (NINJA Mike) is hard to understand at times due to his accent.
This issue is not present in the audio course, as it's narrated by NINJA founder Jeff Elliott.
You can demo a tutoring video to see if you have similar issues.
Investopedia rated NINJA CPA Review “Best Price” in 2023.
NINJA also offers a download of Free CPA Notes.
| Course | NINJA CPA Monthly |
|---|---|
| Strengths | Notes, Test Bank, Tutoring, Price, No Commitment |
| Weakness | No App, Accent |
| Course Access | Monthly |
| Retail Price | $67 |
| Discount Price | $67 |
| Includes: | |
| Lectures | ✅ |
| Textbook | ✅ |
| Test Bank | ✅ |
| Study Guide | ✅ |
| Audio Review | ✅ |
| Cram Course | ✅ |
| Flashcards | ✅ |
| Live Tutoring | ✅ |
| CPE Included | 🚫 |
| CMA Included | ✅ |
| 30-Day Refunds | ✅ |
| Free Trial | Start NINJA Trial |
Wiley CPA Review
Wiley CPA Review represents the mid-tier pricing of CPA Review courses and is the second-most searched company in CPA Exam prep.
Like Becker, Wiley CPA Review has been a staple of the CPA Review industry for decades and has a great reputation.
Prior to its acquisition of CPAexcel in 2012, Wiley licensed its course textbooks and test banks to several prominent review courses.
Wiley was acquired by UWorld in 2023.
In addition to CPA Review, Wiley features CMA Prep, among others.
Wiley CPA Review has two main CPA Review courses: Platinum ($2,499 retail) and Pro ($2,199 retail).
Wiley also sells a standalone test bank called the Wiley CPA Test Bank.
Combined with the Wiley Test Bank, the Wiley Platinum package has the most CPA Exam questions (12,000) in all of CPA Review.
Wiley's strengths are its large CPA Test Bank and its diversity of instruction.
Different professors have different teaching styles, and it's good to get a mix of perspectives on the material.
Wiley's weakness is also its strength: diversity of instruction. There are currently 20 instructors listed for Wiley CPA Review.
Compared to a course with 1-3 instructors, there won't be a consistency of user experience across the lectures, although this is probably nit-picking.
For the money, Wiley CPA Review is a great value.
Wiley also offers a Free Trial for prospective students.
| Course | Wiley CPA Platinum |
|---|---|
| Strengths | Test Bank, Instructors |
| Weakness | 20 Instructors |
| Course Access | Unlimited |
| Retail Price | $2,999 |
| Discount Price | $1,799 |
| Includes: | |
| Lectures | ✅ |
| Textbook | ✅ |
| Test Bank | ✅ |
| Study Guide | ✅ |
| Audio Review | 🚫 |
| Cram Course | ✅ |
| Flashcards | ✅ |
| Live Tutoring | ✅ |
| CPE Included | 🚫 |
| CMA Included | 🚫 |
| 30-Day Refunds | 🚫 |
| Free Trial | Start Wiley Trial |
Becker CPA Review
Becker CPA Review is the most-expensive course, most-popular course, and the most-searched company because they are the biggest name in CPA Exam prep.
Becker has the trust of all Big 4 accounting firms.
While Becker is the most expensive CPA Review course, it offers steep discounts on the Becker Pro course, putting it within $500 of most mid-tier price offerings.
Becker also features CMA Prep and CPE Courses for Continuing Education.
The four Becker CPA Review courses are Concierge ($5,999), Pro ($3,799), Premium ($3,099), and Advantage ($2,499).
Becker Concierge was added in 2023 and offers one-on-one tutoring and a host of other features.
According to Becker, over 90% of Elijah Watt Sells Award winners used Becker CPA Review from 2007 to 2021.
Becker has a popular cram course called the Becker Final Review.
Becker's strengths are its tech platform which provides a seamless user experience across desktop and mobile, and its reputation as the “gold standard,” as some call it.
With many competitors nipping at its heels, Becker continues to innovate (e.g., Concierge package) in order to stay #1.
When companies innovate in response to competition, the customer wins.
Becker's weakness is obviously its price. That gold standard comes at a high cost.
Again, with discounts, Becker Pro is as affordable as the mid-tier options but has upper-tier features (CPE Included).
Investopedia rated Becker CPA Review “Best Overall Course” in 2023.
Becker has a Free Trial for prospective students.
| Course | Becker CPA Pro |
|---|---|
| Strengths | Big 4, Tech, Reputation |
| Course Access | Unlimited |
| Retail Price | $3,799 |
| Discount Price | $2,299 |
| Includes: | |
| Lectures | ✅ |
| Textbook | ✅ |
| Test Bank | ✅ |
| Study Guide | ✅ |
| Audio Review | 🚫 |
| Cram Course | ✅ |
| Flashcards | ✅ |
| Live Tutoring | 🚫 |
| CPE Included | ✅ |
| CMA Included | 🚫 |
| 30-Day Refunds | 🚫 |
| Free Trial | Start Becker Trial |
CPA Review Discounts
Promo Codes
| Course | Discount | Promo Code |
|---|---|---|
| Becker CPA Pro | Save $1,600 | See Site |
| Wiley CPA Platinum | Save $1,200 | See Site |
| NINJA CPA Monthly | $67 subscription | See Site |
CPA Review Course FAQ
Which CPA Exam review course is the best?
Whether it's Becker, Wiley, or NINJA, the best CPA Review course is the one you'll actually study with.
Are CPA review courses worth it?
Yes. NINJA CPA Review is relatively affordable and has no commitment if money is an issue.
Which CPA review course has the best pass rate?
The AICPA claims that the pass rate is 45-65%, depending on the section. The pass rate for most review courses likely follows the same pattern.
What is the best CPA course for working professionals?
One that has an audio course to maximize study time while commuting. This leaves NINJA.
How do I choose the right CPA course for me?
Budget, Learning Style, and Peer Review. What can you afford? What clicks best for your learning style? What do others say about the course?
What is the Best CPA Review course for international students?
Each person is different, but if English is your Second Language (ESL), free trials are important to ensure that you can understand the lecturer(s).
Are Live CPA Review classes still offered?
Becker and NINJA still host live classes online.
Can I get College Credit for my CPA Review Course?
Possibly. Some MAcc programs have the CPA Review course integrated into their program. If you're looking into a Master of Accounting program, it might not hurt to email the CPA Review course you're looking at (I'd start with Becker CPA Review or Wiley CPA Review) and ask them if they have any partnerships with colleges or universities where you can accomplish this very thing. Then, see if that school has an online program.
Where do I find the Coupon Codes for the Best Deal?
To counter the affiliate farms advertising that they have the “best CPA Review coupon codes [you don't BELIEVE how much money you'll save!!! MUST SEE!!! Click our Link!!!!], CPA Review courses now put the coupon code directly on their sites to avoid paying unwarranted affiliate commissions. Go directly to the course website for the best deal.
Which CPA Test Banks Have Adaptive Learning?
Adaptive Learning in a CPA test bank was a major feature a few years ago. Today, most courses have some form of adaptive technology. You can still pass the CPA Exam without it (as people have done for decades), but you could make a case that you're at a disadvantage vs. other CPA candidates using it. Adaptive Learning allows the test bank to ‘feed' you more questions based on your weak areas. Your strong areas are still tested but less frequently. Different courses have different names for them – and each company uses its own adaptive algorithm, so they aren't the same.
Becker CPA Test Bank: Adapt2U
NINJA CPA Test Bank: RECON
Wiley CPA Test Bank: N/A
Can I get College Credit for my CPA Review Course?
Some MAcc programs have CPA Review courses integrated into their program. If you're looking into a Master of Accounting program, it might not hurt to email the CPA Review course you're looking at and ask them if they have any partnerships with colleges or universities where you can accomplish this very thing. Then, see if that school has an online program.
Wiley has partnerships with schools like the University of Northern Alabama.
Is Buying Used CPA Review Courses a Bad Idea?
Nowadays, many things are digital, and reselling a course – especially a digital version of a course with logins- violates the terms of use for a course. Not only is it unethical (to violate the terms of use) as an aspiring CPA (oh, the irony), but you also run a significant risk of buying someone else's course access only to have it shut off by the course. If the “customer” lives in California and logged in 435 times from LA, and you live in New York and start logging in, good luck explaining that. Don't start cutting ethical corners to save a buck. Not a good start to your CPA career.
Do Accounting Firm employees get discounted CPA Prep courses?
The bigger firms have relationships with the various CPA Review courses. The courses set up bulk pricing with the firms (usually far below retail), and then new hires pick from the list of “approved” courses, and the course gets paid whatever the contracted amount is. If the employee leaves within X amount of time, they have to pay the firm back for the course. If the firm employee needs a second course or an add-on like NINJA, it's on the employee's dime. If you work for a CPA firm – best sure to ask about special pricing from your HR department.
Do CPA Review Courses have Military Discounts?
There are two types of Military Discounts for CPA Review: Direct Bill and your regular “discount” code used at checkout.
Direct Bill
The CPA Review course has a direct billing relationship with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Becker CPA Review has this and is the only course with direct billing.
Military Discount
Other courses have a flat military discount, but with the competitive nature of the CPA Review course industry right now and courses discounting the packages $1,000+ OFF, the military discount isn't likely going to be any better than the regular discount, and depending on the timing, it might be a lower discount.
Do Courses Have Former Student Discounts?
CPA Review courses are always happy to get their former customers back vs them going to a competitor, which is why most courses have attractive former student discounts. Some courses even offer discounts to former students of other courses and are happy to convert them as well.
Do CPA Review Courses offer Financing?
Yes – most courses offer financing. Double-check the fine print. Some of those payment plans have high interest rates.
Should I hire a CPA tutor?
No. NINJA hosts four CPA Exam tutoring sessions weekly, and Becker also offers live tutoring services.
Should I be concerned about CPA Review Course Return & Refund Policies?
Most CPA Review Return Policies are not friendly.
Ironically, despite being the cheapest, NINJA is the only course on this list with a 30-day return policy.
Why are CPA Free Trials so important?
Because it's hard to return a course that you don't like.
Some even have a stiff monetary penalty for returning their courses.
Choose wisely.
CPA Review Course Websites: