- ✎ Updated
- ➫ Author:
Bryan Kesler, CPA

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bryan Kesler, CPA is a CPA Practice Advisor Top 20 Under 40, Licensed Certified Public Accountant, and founder of Kesler CPA Review, Community and Mentorship Platform.
Seeking to become a licensed CPA? You are in the right place!
After spending dozens of hours testing the top CPA exam courses and digging into their core and discpline sections.
I compiled a list of the best CPA review courses for passing the CPA exam in 2026 below.
Which leads us to the question of the day...
With so many options, which CPA exam review course is the best for you?
Key Takeaways
- Kesler, Becker, Gleim, Surgent, and UWorld (formerly Roger & Wiley) rank as the top CPA review courses for passing in 2026 for their proven pass rates, adaptive learning tools, and trusted reputations.
- This guide compares pricing, access duration, question banks, and support services to help you find the right course for your learning style and budget.
- For brand new CPA candidates, Kesler offers personalized mentorship and accountability coaching alongside comprehensive study materials, making it ideal for candidates who need structured guidance and coaching support.
- The AICPA provides free resources but no study materials, while paid courses deliver structured plans, pass guarantees, and performance tracking for candidates seeking confidence in their exam readiness.
- Choose based on your preference: Kesler for price and mentorship support, Becker for comprehensive content, Roger for engaging videos, Surgent for adaptive tech studying, Gleim for practice questions.
- Our Recommendation: Kesler CPA Review & Mentorship Program is our pick for best CPA exam prep course combo based on the price, quality of the textbook and test bank for brand new CPA candidates and for candidates struggling to pass and need to supplement.
Ultimately, it all depends on your learning style, budget and existing knowledge of the topics tested on the CPA exam.
You will find a breakdown of all of this below in my side-by-side comparisons and reviews of the top CPA prep courses.
Feel free to contact me at bryan@cpaexamguide.com if you have any questions - happy to help!
Link Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links are affiliate links to my partners or links to my Kesler CPA Review Course which I own, and at no additional cost to you, assume I will earn a referral fee if you decide to invest in a course listed below. Please only use my links if you feel that I have helped you in your review course decision.
6 Best CPA Review Courses & CPA Exam Study Materials Of December 2025:
- Best Pick: Kesler CPA Review Course
- Biggest Price: Becker CPA Review Course
- Adaptive Test Bank: Surgent CPA Review Course
- Biggest Test Bank: Gleim CPA Review Course
- Best Instructors: UWorld (Formerly Roger & Wiley) CPA Review Course
- Other CPA Review Courses
| blank spot | 》Most Popular | ✓ Biggest Price | ✓Most Video Lessons | ✓ Biggest Test Bank |
COMPARE CPA REVIEW COURSES |
Check Out The Kesler CPA Mentor & Study Promo - Deal Expires Soon! |
SAVINGS: Grab The Becker CPA Review Deals and Promo Codes Below - Expires Soon! |
Save big off Surgent CPA Review with their latest promo codes - Offers expires soon! |
SAVE up to $1,000 OFF Gleim CPA Review Premium Pro below |
Kesler CPA Review |
Becker CPA Review |
Surgent CPA Review |
Gleim CPA Review |
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Everything you need to pass the CPA exam at the most affordable price. |
Largest online CPA Self Study Review Course Company |
Most innovative adaptive learning technology |
Best CPA Exam Multiple Choice Analytics |
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(Learn Step-by-Step HOW To Pass & Avoid Rookie Mistakes) |
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7,400+ MCQs / 150+ TBS |
9,000+ MCQ (overkill) / 500+ TBS |
8,800+ MCQ / 450+ TBS |
10,000+ MCQ (overkill) / 1,300+ TBS |
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61 Mentorship Modules |
150+ |
700+ Video Lessons |
100+ |
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Email Support / Private Study Group |
Message Board Phone & Email Support (24-72+ Hour Wait Time) |
24/7 Homework Help Center |
Personal Counselor – Phone & Email Support |
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(Becker Pro-Tier Only) |
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BUY THE BEST CPA COURSE HERE --> |
KESLER CPA REVIEW GET DEAL |
BECKER CPA REVIEW GET DEAL |
SURGENT CPA REVIEW GET DEAL |
GLEIM CPA REVIEW GET DEAL |
| w Bel Be be be | ✓ Most Popular | 》Biggest Price | ✓ Most Lessons | ✓ Biggest Test Bank |
COMPARE CPA REVIEW COURSES |
Check Out The Kesler CPA Mentor & Study Promo - Deal Expires Soon! |
SAVINGS: Grab The Becker CPA Review Deals and Promo Codes Below - Expires Soon! |
Check out the latest Surgent promos Grab Deal Here |
SAVE up to $1,000 OFF Gleim CPA Review Premium Pro below |
Kesler CPA Review |
Becker CPA Review |
Surgent CPA Review |
Gleim CPA Review |
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Everything you need to pass the CPA exam at the most affordable price. |
Largest online CPA Self Study Review Course Company |
Most innovative adaptive learning technology |
Best CPA Exam Multiple Choice Analytics |
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(Learn Step-by-Step HOW To Pass & Avoid Rookie Mistakes) |
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(Large Classes, Limited Instructor Interaction) |
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7,400+ MCQs / 150+ TBS |
9,000+ MCQ / 500+ TBS |
8,800+ MCQ / 450+ TBS |
10,000+ MCQ / 1,300+ TBS |
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61 Mentorship Modules & 150+ Learn 'N Go Lectures |
150+ |
350+ Video Lessons |
100 |
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Email Support |
Message Board Phone & Email Support (24-72+ Hour Wait Time) |
24/7 Homework Help Center |
Personal Counselor – Phone & Email Support |
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(Becker Pro-Tier Only) |
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BUY THE BEST CPA COURSE HERE --> |
KESLER CPA REVIEW GET DEAL |
Becker CPA Review GET DEAL |
SURGENT CPA REVIEW GET DEAL |
GLEIM CPA REVIEW GET DEAL |
There is a new king in the CPA exam prep world, Kesler CPA Review has been the gold standard since 2015 for learning HOW to pass the CPA exam and is the new #1 rated CPA Review Course for brand new CPA candidates and for CPA exam retakers. It includes everything you need to pass the CPA exam on your first go.
Becker CPA Review and UWorld (Formerly Roger & Wiley) CPA are two of the most popular CPA review courses us by CPA candidates. For the price, UWorld Roger CPA provides more value than Becker CPA Review. Their practice question explanations are more robust but Becker CPA Review has better name brand recognition which is why it's the most popular course.
Becker CPA Review is by far the most expensive CPA review course currently available but is also the most recommended CPA prep course by the Big Four Firms. That being said, compared to other CPA courses like Kesler and UWorld Roger CPA the quality in their content is comparable. Since Becker CPA is such a significant investment, be sure to try free trials of multiple courses before picking Becker CPA Review.
Kesler CPA Review is the #1 mentorship and study supplement for Becker CPA Review. This self-study supplement teaches you HOW to use Becker CPA Review and includes a flashcard generator so you can create your own study materials on the fly as you study. Becker CPA + Kesler CPA review, mentorship is a powerful combination for any CPA candidate struggling to pass the CPA exam.
In terms of popularity, Gleim CPA Review Course and Becker CPA Review are the two most popular CPA review courses. Their teaching styles are also significantly different. If you prefer bite-sized lessons and lots of learning data to assist you then Gleim will be better for you. If you prefer long lectures and lots of highlighting then Becker CPA Review is better for you.
A CPA review course that will provide all the study materials you need to pass the CPA exam will typically cost between $1,600 and $2,600. Becker CPA Review being the most expensive CPA Review Course and Kesler CPA being the lowest priced course we recommend. The good news is that you can finance these CPA Review Courses to make them more affordable.
A CPA Review Course is exactly what it sounds like: it's a online self-study course designed to teach you exactly what you need to know to pass the CPA exam. Typically, CPA review courses include multiple choice practice question, task-based simulations, video lectures and textbooks built into a desktop and/or mobile app for you to access 24/7.
It's not the CPA Review Course you use that matters, but HOW you use it. Having a CPA exam mentor to teach you the HOW will be a critical piece to you passing the CPA exam. Kesler CPA Review is the largest CPA exam mentorship and CPA review course combo with a long track record of getting results for CPA candidates since 2015. It also includes AICPA blueprint based textbook and 7,400+ MCQ questions (many not used by any other courses) which makes it the perfect study platform for retakes or for brand new CPA candidates who need someone to teach them HOW to study and pass the CPA exam.
The Good
- Complete course with 3,200+ pages of textbook
- Gamification system (XP, levels, achievements, streaks)
- Cross-Platform Mapping works with ANY course
- 7,400+ unique MCQs & 150+ simulations
- Science-based tools (Pomodoro timer, Study Looping)
- Goal Crusher with 95% success rate
- 3,910+ intelligent KeslerCards
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Study break games that reinforce learning
- Kesler CPA mentorship included
The Bad
- Video lectures coming 2026 (comprehensive textbook covers everything needed to pass)
- Still expanding simulation library (adding monthly)
Kesler CPA Review
$997/year or $97/month
- Questions: 7,400+ MCQs & 150+ TBS
- Textbook: 235 lessons, 3,200+ pages
- Gamification: XP, 100 levels, achievements
- Cross-Platform: Maps to Becker, Surgent, Roger, etc.
- Mentorship: Complete Kesler CPA mentor program included
- Flashcards: 3,910+ KeslerCards + unlimited custom
- Mobile Apps: Full iOS & Android apps
- Study Tools: Pomodoro, Goal Crusher, Games
- Community: Private study group & support
- Free Trial: Yes! Try before you buy
Overview & Evolution of Kesler CPA Review
Kesler CPA Review was founded by Bryan Kesler, CPA (that's me!) in 2015 as the world's first CPA exam mentorship program.
After helping 3,000+ CPA candidates pass their exams, we've evolved into a comprehensive CPA review course that combines cutting-edge learning science with proven mentorship methodologies.
Today, Kesler is the ONLY CPA Review Course that offers:
• Complete study materials (235 lessons, 7,400+ MCQs, 150+ simulations)
• Gamification system that makes studying addictive (XP, levels, achievements)
• Cross-Platform Mapping to seamlessly integrate with ANY major course
• Science-based study tools (Pomodoro timer, Study Looping, Goal Crusher)
• Proven mentorship program that teaches you HOW to pass, not just WHAT to study
At just $97/month, it's the most innovative and affordable complete CPA review solution available.
What Makes Kesler CPA Review Different
1. Gamification That Actually Works: We use behavioral psychology to make studying engaging:
• Earn XP for every question answered
• Level up from 1 to 100 with visual milestones
• Unlock bronze, silver, gold, and platinum achievements
• Build daily streaks for multiplier bonuses (up to 2x XP)
• Play study break games like "CPA Exam Survival"
2. Revolutionary Cross-Platform Mapping: Use Kesler with ANY course you already have:
• Automatically maps to Becker modules
• Syncs with Wiley CPA lessons
• Aligns with UWorld Roger content
• Works with Gleim, Surgent, Yaeger, and more
• All content mapped to AICPA blueprints
3. Science-Based Study System: Tools that optimize how your brain learns:
• Pomodoro Sprint Clock: 25-minute focused study sessions
• Study Looping: Automatic review scheduling to prevent forgetting
• Goal Crusher: Weekly accountability with 95% success rate
• KeslerCards: Intelligent flashcards that adapt to your learning
Is Kesler CPA Review Worth It?
With over 3,000 successful CPA candidates since 2015, the results speak for themselves:
• 10-15 point score increases reported by users
• 50% reduction in study time with Study Looping system
• 95% success rate for Goal Crusher participants
• 3x better retention using KeslerCards vs traditional flashcards
Try it yourself with our FREE trial - no credit card required.
See hundreds of success stories at KeslerCPAReview.com
How Kesler Compares to Other CPA Courses & Supplements
vs Traditional Courses (Becker, Wiley, Roger):
• Price: $97/month vs $2,500-4,000+ for traditional courses
• Approach: Gamified and engaging vs traditional lecture format
• Flexibility: Works standalone OR enhances any existing course
• Innovation: Cutting-edge tools vs conventional study methods
vs Other Supplements (Ninja, i75, SuperFast):
• Complete Course: Kesler is a full course, not just a supplement
• Unique Questions: 7,400+ original MCQs (others use recycled AICPA questions)
• Gamification: Full XP and achievement system (others have none)
• Cross-Platform: Maps to ANY course (others are standalone only)
• Mentorship: Complete video-based mentor program included (others offer basic support)
Who Should Use Kesler CPA Review?
Perfect as Your PRIMARY Course if you:
• Want a complete course for just $97/month
• Learn better through gamification and interactive tools
• Need motivation and accountability to stay on track
• Value innovation over tradition
Perfect to ENHANCE Your Current Course if you:
• Already have Becker, Wiley, Roger, or another course
• Want unique practice questions and better explanations
• Need gamification to stay motivated
• Failed sections and need a fresh approach
Our Cross-Platform Mapping ensures perfect integration with UWorld Roger, Becker CPA, Surgent CPA, Gleim CPA, Wiley CPAexcel, and Yaeger CPA Review.
Special Offer for CPA Exam Guide Readers
As a thank you for visiting today, I've got exclusive access to our BEST membership prices PLUS special bonuses not available anywhere else!
Exclusive Kesler CPA Review Offer
LIMITED TIME:
Get the Complete Kesler CPA Course at our best price - Offer expires soon!
My Personal Recommendation
As the founder of Kesler CPA Review, I built this platform to be the course I WISH I had when studying for my CPA exam.
After personally failing 5 CPA exam sections with traditional methods, I learned it's not about studying harder - it's about studying smarter.
That's why Kesler CPA Review focuses on:
• Engagement over exhaustion (gamification keeps you motivated)
• Quality over quantity (7,400+ unique questions that actually prepare you)
• Science over tradition (tools based on learning psychology)
• Community over isolation (accountability and support when you need it)
Whether you use Kesler as your complete course or to enhance what you already have, you're joining 3,000+ successful CPAs who discovered a better way to study.
The Good
- Big-Four backed CPA Review Course
- Thousands of questions
- Tutoring options available
- Powerful question analytics
- SkillMaster videos for each task-based simulation
- Detailed textbook and video lectures
- Flashcards
- Integrates with Kesler CPA Mentorship
The Bad
- Tedious video lecture format
- Digital notes can't be searched and are locked to individual modules
- Can't copy and paste any text inside of the platform
- Complaints on forums that content doesn’t help you understand the material
- Slower support
Overview and CPA Exam Guide Ranking
Becker CPA Review has been around since 1957 and is by far the most popular CPA review course in the industry. That being said, just because it’s the most popular does not mean Becker CPA Review is the best CPA prep course for you after our research.
There are tons of features that Becker gets right but like every CPA review course there are flaws.
What To Expect With Becker CPA Review
Becker CPA Review is a big-box CPA exam course so expect the materials to be high quality, the support to be a bit slow and for them to lock their platform down in a way that makes it harder to use.
The Becker format focuses on watching video lectures that walk you through the textbook page by page with recommended highlights and notes. You can also take digital notes inside each lecture but there isn’t a single place that you can search all your notes at once which makes the feature pretty much useless.
In my experience using Becker to study plus the feedback we see on the Becker forums is that this style of teaching isn’t very effective, especially if you are someone who struggles with focusing.
That being said, the best part of Becker CPA Review is their test bank which includes high quality question explanations, question analytics and SkillMaster videos for their 400+ Task Based Simulations. Sadly, they lock the question explanations down by disabling copying any text. This is obviously done to prevent pirating but makes it harder for students to make notes quickly.
Is Becker CPA Review Any Good?
Absolutely, Becker CPA Review gets passing results for CPA candidates who understand the limitations and design roadblocks inside of the Becker platform. Becker CPA Review is by far the biggest CPA review course and helps the most CPA candidates pass but they also have the most candidates who fail.
The thing that irks me about Becker CPA Review (and other courses) is that they claim to have a 94% pass rate for their users, but you need to read the fine print that this is not scientific and they rely on their students to self-report.
It’s crucial that if you use Becker that you understand how you learn best and make Becker work for you and not the other way around.
If you want to increase your odds of passing the CPA Exam with Becker I do recommend finding a CPA exam mentor to help you get started on the right foot and help you understand how to overcome the Becker design frustrations.
When you have this, it can get you great results with the platform!
How Does Becker CPA Review Compare To Other CPA Exam Review Courses?
Becker CPA Review vs UWorld Roger CPA: Becker CPA Review and UWorld Roger CPA are neck and neck in terms of ease of use and course design. Both courses have excellent mobile apps, question analytics and textbooks. The biggest difference is in the video lecture teaching style which I believe UWorld Roger CPA is slightly better over Becker.
Becker CPA Review vs Kesler CPA: Becker CPA Review is a complete CPA review course but lacks proactive mentorship, a cohesive study group, accountability partner program and efficient/affordable tutoring options. A study supplement that helps fill the gap in support is Kesler CPA Review which not only provides you with study supplements, teaches you HOW to pass with Becker. The feedback we have received is that Kesler CPA enhances your Becker CPA experience and it works hand in hand to help you pass.
Does Becker CPA Review Offer Any Discounts And Promo?
Becker CPA Review does run $1,000+ off promotions and discounts from time to time. Check out the latest promotions below before buying!
Best Becker CPA Reviewmo Codes
CURRENT PROMO: SAVINGS: Grab The Becker CPA Review Deals and Promo Codes Below - Expires Soon!
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
If your firm is paying for your study materials then Becker CPA Review will be one of your best options, but I would compare it to Kesler CPA Review and Gleim CPA Review first. I would also consider adding a CPA exam mentor to your study toolset as well to ensure you use Becker CPA review efficiently.
The Good
- Boasts the largest MCQ & TBS Test bank
- Gold standard for self-study
- Adaptive learning platfor
- In-depth text and lectures
- Flashcards now available
- Audio lectures available
- Great customer support
- Integrates with Kesler CPA Mentorship
The Bad
- Adaptive Teaching format a bit awkward
- Lectures are dry
- No Mobile App
Overview and CPA Exam Guide Ranking
Gleim CPA Review has been around since 1974 and I wouldn’t be a CPA today if it wasn’t for their test bank. It was the missing piece to my study materials that helped me increase my failing scores. But how is their full CPA review course? Does it compare to the competition?
Long story short, Gleim CPA Review is close to the mark but is still lags behind in a few key areas which is why we currently rank Gleim CPA Review #4 on our list.
What To Expect With Gleim CPA Review
Gleim CPA Review is a smaller CPA review course which is good news in terms of support.
Their personal counselors are very hands on in terms of helping to set you up the right way with the CPA exam process. They hold your hand through nearly every step if you need them to which is great.
The platform itself takes a bit to get used too. Gleim tries to use an adaptive learning system to assess your existing understanding of topics by having you answer multiple choice questions first.
The problem I have with this system is that answering multiple choice doesn’t truly assess your understanding since they don’t test your higher order learning skills.
Once you dive into the content that Gleim provides, it is very top notch. Their textbook is detailed and full of examples to work through. They also have decent video lectures that, while not as engaging as other courses, gets the job done.
Gleim CPA Review does lack a mobile app which makes it a bit difficult to study on the go.
Is Gleim CPA Review Any Good?
Absolutely, we have many success stories of our students who only use Gleim CPA Review.
They provide you with more than enough multiple-choice and task-based simulations that you can be assured that you will cover any possible topic that could be tested on the CPA exam.
Mentorship platforms such as Kesler CPA Mentorship have also cracked the code to studying smarter with Gleim CPA Review and overcoming the inherent weaknesses of this adaptive learning platform.
When you combine mentorship and Gleim, you can get you great results with the platform!
How Does Gleim CPA Review Compare To Other CPA Exam Prep Courses?
Gleim CPA vs Kesler CPA Review: Gleim CPA Review and Kesler CPA Review approach teaching the CPA exam very differently. Gleim focuses on quantity of questions and Kesler focuses the right questions and in-depth explanations.
Gleim CPA Review vs UWorld Roger CPA: Gleim CPA Review is difficult to compare to UWorld Roger CPA just because they are so different. UWorld Roger CPA has Gleim beat in terms of studying on the go, more engaging lectures and easier to use learning platform but Gleim has UWorld Roger CPA beat in terms of quantity of questions.
Becker CPA Review vs Gleim CPA: Gleim and Becker CPA have been rivals for decades and are ultimately the first two CPA review courses still standing. Becker CPA is more popular than Gleim by a long shot, but those who prefer to self-study and don’t need live classes will prefer Gleim to Becker.
Does Gleim CPA Review Offer Any Discounts And Promos?
Gleim CPA Review is always running a discount that takes up to 20%+ off their list price. Use the link below to save before buying.
Best Gleim CPA Review Discounts
SAVE up to $1,000 OFF Gleim CPA Review Premium Pro below
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
If you need a personal counselor for the CPA exam then Gleim CPA Review is right for you. They will give you more CPA questions you will know what to do with and a textbook and video lectures that will cover all your AICPA blueprint bases.
The Good
- QBank with SmartPath Predictive Technology™
- Most engaging lectures
- Great question explanations with visual guides
- Fully integrated mobile app
- Flashcard creator with spaced-repetition technology
- Complete textbook to teach you the AICPA blueprints
The Bad
- Limited support
- Basic study planner
- Fewer practice questions
Overview and CPA Exam Guide Ranking
UWorld Roger CPA Review was founded in 2001 and is by far one of the easiest platforms to use. Backed by UWorld's award winning software platform it is perfect for CPA learners on the go with their mobile app that syncs to their desktop software.
They also offer the most engaging video lectures in the industry and have some of the most comprehensive practice questions explanations.
After spending dozens of hours testing UWorld Roger CPA and seeing the results that they get for our mentees, we strongly recommend UWorld Roger CPA to CPA candidates and rank them #2 overall.
What To Expect With UWorld Roger CPA
Unless you invest in the UWorld Roger CPA Ultimate bundle, you won’t be given much guidance on where to start with the CPA Exam other than a spreadsheet with recommended modules to complete. Be sure to find a CPA exam mentor first if you plan to use UWorld Roger CPA.
Once you figure out scheduling, diving into the study materials is a breeze and they will help you efficiently bounce back and forth between the practice questions and learning materials.
The SmarPath will also be a crucial tool to your success as it compares your results against other candidates who have already passed.
Is UWorld Roger CPA Review Any Good?
Absolutely, we have seen hundreds of candidates find success using only UWorld Roger CPA. The key is to learn HOW to study the right way and find help with scheduling and planning due to the limited support offered compared to other courses.
Follow this tutorial to learn how to use UWorld Roger CPA the right way.How Does UWorld Roger CPA Compare To Other CPA Test Prep Platforms?
UWorld Roger CPA vs Becker CPA: UWorld Roger CPA hands down has better lecturers to keep you engaged. They also focus on shorter lectures compared to Becker’s 50+ minute lecture run times. Becker CPA Review has more questions but we observed that UWorld Roger CPA has invested in more comprehensive question explanations and visual guides.
Wiley CPAexcel vs UWorld Roger CPA: UWorld purchased Wiley CPAexcel so the Wiley team and the content now resides in the UWorld platform.
UWorld Roger CPA vs Kesler CPA: UWorld Roger Elite-Unlimited is a complete CPA review course but it lacks proper CPA exam support. Kesler CPA provides the missing mentorship, accountability partner program and access to 1-on-1 tutoring. While Kesler CPA Review is only a study supplement it provides the very important service of teaching you HOW to pass with UWorld Roger. The feedback we have received is that Kesler CPA enhances your UWorld Roger CPA experience and it works hand in hand with Roger to help you pass.
Does UWorld Roger CPA Offer Any Discounts And Promo?
UWorld Roger CPA Review typically has discount promotions available for CPA candidates.
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
If you want a top CPA prep course that is easy to use, has engaging lectures, an option to add mentorship and tutoring, and a powerful mobile app that syncs with the desktop software then UWorld Roger CPA has the best CPA study materials program for you.
The Good
- AICPA Blueprint integrated textbook and video lectures
- Powerful test bank
- Engaging Instructors
- Get phone support from instructors
- Affordable pricing
- Integrated with Kesler CPA Mentorship
The Bad
- Test bank lacks advanced analytics
- No mobile app
- Limited flashcard functionality
Overview and CPA Exam Guide Ranking
Yaeger CPA Review has been around since 1977 and has consistently been a top-performing CPA review course. Its founder Dr. Phil Yaeger is hyperfocused on providing top-notch support to students.
As with most smaller CPA review course companies, there are some limitations and quirks in their learning platform that hold it back from being one of the flagship CPA review courses in the industry. For this reason, we currently rank Yaeger CPA Review #5 on our list.
What To Expect With Yaeger CPA Review
Yaeger CPA Review prides itself on being a family-owned CPA review course platform. You will quickly notice the personal touches of this CPA review course in the fact that you can interact directly with the instructors who teach you.
The Yaeger CPA Review platform itself is very simple to use and is fully integrated to mirror the AICPA blueprints to ensure you understand exactly what you need to know to pass.
The problem with the platform is that it lacks a mobile app and advanced question analytics to help you dig quickly into your weakest areas. They are more high level than I would like but still usable.
They also provide flashcards but don’t give you a way to organize them which is a bit frustrating.
Is Yaeger CPA Review Any Good?
Yes, we have observed many of our students passing the CPA exam with only Yaeger, especially when they combine their platform with Kesler CPA Mentorship and follow the Study Loop and Study Funnel methodologies.
How Does Yaeger CPA Review Compare To Other CPA Exam Study Programs?
Yaeger CPA vs Wiley CPAexcel: Yaeger CPA Review is less complex but lacks some of the advanced learning technology that Wiley CPAexcel provides its users. Yaeger CPAs instructors are more engaging than Wiley CPAexcels but provide more a classroom instruction feel vs Wiley CPAexcel’s bite-sized lesson format.
Yaeger CPA Review vs UWorld Roger CPA: These courses are quite similar in terms of quality of content and instructor classroom format. The clear difference is in UWorld Roger CPAs platform technology. It’s much cleaner, easier to use and the mobile app is a game-changer compared to the Yaeger CPA Review software application.
Becker CPA Review vs Yaeger CPA Review: Both Yaeger and Becker follow a very similar teaching style. Start in the textbook and have an instructor walk you through the material. Then you complete questions and repeat. Both courses have varying quality of instructors but where Becker beats Yaeger is in its test bank that includes more questions and SkillMaster videos for task-based simulation questions.
Does Yaeger CPA Review Offer Any Discounts And Promo?
Yaeger CPA Review runs weekly or monthly sales on their CPA review course that are typically $1000+ off their list price.
Best Yaeger CPA Review Promo
Promo Codes Saves You $1100 Off Yaeger CPA Review Mentorship Bundle (Most Premium Tier)
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
If you want direct access to Dr. Yaeger and his team then you can’t go wrong with Yaeger CPA Review. The quality of the content taught is top-notch and it integrates directly with the AICPA blueprints. Just don’t expect all the bells and whistles that the other courses offer such as deep question analytics, mobile app, or digital note/flashcard creator.
The Good
- Visual focused teaching
- Multiple choice explanation videos
- Unlimited access until you pass
- Direct access to Joey and Matt
- Integrated with Kesler CPA Mentorship
The Bad
- Test bank lacks advanced analytics
- No mobile app
- No mock exams
- No flashcards
Overview and CPA Exam Guide Ranking
Universal CPA Review was founded in 2017 and is the newest player in the CPA Review Course space and they have some very innovative approaches to teaching the AICPA blueprints to CPA candidates.
They understand that no one wants to read blocks of text and that the best way to learn is by visualizations and flow charts that break down the complex to make them easy to understand.
Our students have been seeing a boost in their scores after using this course in conjunction with their primary course but until we receive more feedback on candidates who have only used Universal CPA Review to pass and until they add some missing functionality to their platform, we will be keeping them ranked #7.
What To Expect With Universal CPA Review
If you enroll in Universal CPA Review, you can expect to interact directly with Joey and Matt, the co-founders of Universal CPA Review.
Both in their 30s and with industry experience, they saw deficiencies in the ways that CPA review courses have traditionally taught which is why they focus all their time on building visual guides for you to follow as you learn their material.
You will quickly see this not only in their textbook but their complete video lectures and test bank which has a video explanation for each question.
Is Universal CPA Review Any Good?
Yes, we have observed our mentees seeing a boost in their scores when they use Universal CPA Review, especially when they combine their platform with Kesler CPA Mentorship and follow the Study Loop and Study Funnel methodologies.
The real value that we have heard from our students is that Universal CPA Review has done a better job at breaking down complex concepts and making it more simple to grasp.
How Does Universal CPA Review Compare To Other CPA Review Courses?
Universal CPA vs Wiley CPAexcel: There are many things that Universal CPA Review does better than Wiley CPAexcel, such as providing a video explanation for all their questions and teaching from visual guides. However, CPAexcel has significantly more questions, they dig deeper into the content and have mock exams and a mobile app.
Universal CPA Review vs UWorld Roger CPA: Both of these courses are focused on teaching with the assistance of visual guides instead of massive blocks of text. UWorld Roger CPA has been around longer than Universal CPA Review, has more CPA exam questions, and has a more complete learning platform in terms of functionality, flashcards, and question analytics.
Becker CPA Review vs Universal CPA Review: Many of my students are using Universal CPA Review in conjunction with Becker CPA Review. Universal does a great job of teaching the complex topics that Becker just glosses over or assumes you already know. Universal also has a video explanation for each multiple-choice question which can help you solidify the concepts faster than with Becker’s written explanations.
Does Universal CPA Review Offer Any Discounts And Promos?
Universal CPA Review offers weekly and monthly discounts that typically save you $1,000+ off their list price.
Universal CPA Review Bundle Promo
NONE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
Universal CPA Review is well on its way to becoming a contender in the CPA review course space. Once they add a mobile app, question analytics, flashcards, and mock exams to their platform it will be a much more attractive course for the price. Until then it will be a great supplement to your current course if you are struggling to grasp the concepts.
How To Pick The Right CPA Review Course For You In 5 Steps
Now that you are fairly familiar with the most popular players in the industry, the next step is to understand how to pick the right course for your situation.
These are the five rules for picking a CPA Review Course:
1) Always sign up for the free trial and do real studying before buying.
2) Never believe the marketing hype or fancy tech promises.
3) Take a CPA Exam study personality quiz to identify what study tools you need to succeed.
4) Just because your firm gives you a CPA course for free doesn’t mean it’s the right course for you.
5) Find a course with a built-in CPA Exam Support System.

What’s The Expert Recommendation:
Since Wiley CPAexcel consistiently gets our students results and is customizable to fit any study personality type, Wiley CPAexcel is our most recommended CPA review course.
Which CPA review course has the best price and financing?
Wiley CPAexcel has the best price and financing plan of all current CPA study material bundles currently available.
Get $3199 worth of study materials, mentorship, and tutoring for just $1899 with financing available that starts at $158/month.
Here are other popular discounts and financing plans:
Best CPA Review Course Financing And Promo Offers - Comparison
CPA Prep Course Company |
Financing Offered | Promotion Pricing |
Kesler CPA Review |
Yes | $97/month |
Gleim CPA Review |
Yes | $1599 |
Yaeger CPA Review |
Yes | $1,399 |
Becker CPA Review |
Yes | $2,399 |
UWorld Roger CPA Review |
Yes | $1,699 |
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
Since Wiley CPAexcel gives you the most CPA study materials, mentorship and tutoring for the price, Wiley CPAexcel is the most competitively priced CPA review course.
Which CPA Review Course has the best textbook?
Your textbook is going to be a crucial piece of your study routine. It’s the source material that you need to use to understand WHY a specific question is right or wrong.
So who has the best CPA exam textbook in the industry?
Best CPA Review Textbook - Comparison
CPA Prep Course Company |
Printed Book Available | Take Digital Notes | In-Depth Examples |
Kesler CPA Review |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
Gleim CPA Review |
Yes | Yes, but search limited | Yes |
Yaeger CPA Review |
Yes | No | Yes |
Becker CPA Review |
Yes | Yes, but search limited | Yes |
UWorld Roger CPA Review |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
Universal CPA Review |
No | No | Yes |
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
Wiley CPAexcel and UWorld Roger CPA have some of the most in-depth and example-heavy textbooks currently available. They focus on covering all of the areas and topics included in the AICPA blueprints.
Becker and Gleim are also worth comparing their content. The issue with Becker is that their digital textbook is pretty locked down and not as easy to take digital notes on.
Which CPA Review Course has the best video lectures?
Defining the best video lectures across all the major CPA review courses comes down to personal taste.
UWorld Roger CPA has the most engaging and energetic video lectures that make the most tedious accounting topics interesting.
Becker CPA focuses on longer-form lectures and walking thru the textbook page by page, highlight by highlight.
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
Out of these three UWorld Roger CPA has our vote for best video lectures in terms of engagement, content and length of each video lecture.
Which CPA Review Course has the best CPA Exam multiple choice?
The number of multiple-choice is not necessarily the most important factor to consider. When rating the quality of multiple-choice you need to look at the explanation itself and assess their philosophy on explaining the WHY behind each answer.
Does it explain WHY the question is right? Does it explain why the other options are wrong? Does it provide links to the source material for you to research further? Does it make it easy to mark questions for later review and make notes on each question?
Best CPA Exam Multiple Choice Questions - Comparison
CPA Prep Course Company |
Total Questions | Explain WHY Question Is Right | Advanced Question Analytics |
Kesler CPA Review |
7,400+ | Yes, Written | Yes |
UWorld Roger CPA Review |
6,000+ | Yes, Written | Yes |
Becker CPA Review |
9,000+ | Yes, But Can't Copy Or Paste To Notes | Yes |
Gleim CPA Review |
10,000 | Yes, Written | Yes |
Yaeger CPA Review |
6,000+ | Yes, Written | Yes, But Limited |
Universal CPA Review |
3,000+ | Yes, Video Included | No |
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
When taking all of these factors into consideration, we found that Wiley CPAexcel and UWorld Roger CPA hit all of these boxes and had the best explanations overall.
Becker CPA Review and Gleim came in a close third.
Which CPA Review Course has the best Task-Based Simulations?
Task-Based Simulations now make up 50% of your score on the CPA Exam so finding a CPA review course that will prepare you for anything is crucial to your success. When you truly understand the AICPA blueprints it doesn’t matter what TBS you get on the real exam, you will be able to master it.
With that being said, which CPA review course is going to best prepare you for the complex Task-Based Simulation CPA exam questions?
Best CPA Exam Task-Based Simulation Questions - Comparison
CPA Prep Course Company |
Total TBS | Video Explanation | Written Explanations |
Kesler CPA Review |
60+ | No | Yes |
UWorld Roger CPA Review |
400+ | No | Yes |
Becker CPA Review |
500+ | Yes | Yes |
Gleim CPA Review |
1200+ | No | Yes |
Yaeger CPA Review |
150+ | No | Yes |
Universal CPA Review |
50+ | Yes | No |
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
In our research, we found that Gleim CPA Review and Becker CPA Review have the most TBS.
Becker CPA Review also include video explanations for most of their TBS to further explain in-depth the right way to answer each of their TBS.
Which CPA Review Course Has The Best User Support?
User Support that is fast and accurate is crucial when you are in a crunch.
The bigger courses like Wiley CPAexcel, UWorld Roger CPA and Becker CPA struggle with providing fast support but excel on the accuracy.
Smaller courses such as Yaeger, Gleim and Universal CPA give you closer access to instructors and personal counselors.
Depending how much hand holding you need, here is our ranking for best user support across the major CPA courses.
Best CPA Review Course Customer Support - Comparison
CPA Prep Course Company |
Tutoring | Phone |
|
Kesler CPA Review |
Yes | No | No |
UWorld Roger CPA Review |
Yes | No | No |
Becker CPA Review |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
Gleim CPA Review |
Yes | No | Yes |
Yaeger CPA Review |
Yes | No | Yes |
Universal CPA Review |
Yes | No | Yes |
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
While support is important, most CPA prep courses do a great job of teaching the material to you without any issues. While we do recommend that you otusource anything you are spinning your wheels on trying to understand, as long as your course has email support you should be good to go.
Which CPA Review Course has the best mobile app?
Having a CPA review course mobile app is crucial if you are an accountant on the go.
The three CPA review courses with mobile apps are Becker CPA, Wiley CPAexcel and UWorld Roger CPA.
Becker CPA and UWorld Roger CPA have full course functionality built into their apps while Wiley CPAexcel is a bit more limited in terms of features that mirror the desktop software.
Best Mobile App For CPA Exam - Comparison
CPA Prep Course Company |
Has App | Syncs Activity With Desktop App? |
Kesler CPA Review |
Yes | Yes |
UWorld Roger CPA Review |
Yes | Yes |
Becker CPA Review |
Yes | Yes |
Gleim CPA Review |
No, Mobile Browser Friendly Only | NA |
Yaeger CPA Review |
No, Mobile Browser Friendly Only | NA |
Universal CPA Review |
No, Mobile Browser Friendly Only | NA |
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
After testing the available mobile app for CPA Test Prep, we found that the UWorld Roger CPA Review mobile app works best for studying on the go.
Which CPA Review Course has the best study planner?
Having a functional study planner is key as life inevitably gets in the way of studying. You want a study planner that will automatically update based on your situation and can adapt in real time.
Best CPA Review Course Study Planner - Comparison
CPA Prep Course Company |
Dynamic Planner |
Kesler CPA Review |
Yes |
UWorld Roger CPA Review |
Yes |
Becker CPA Review |
Yes |
Gleim CPA Review |
Yes |
Yaeger CPA Review |
Yes |
Universal CPA Review |
No Built In Planner |
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
CPA prep courses like Kesler CPA, Becker, and Wiley CPAexcel are by far the best in the industry. They are date based and dynamically update based on your progress.
Surprisingly, UWorld Roger CPA only gives you a spreadsheet based planner that you have to update manually which makes it the least useful in the industry in terms of study planning.
Which CPA Review Course has the best flashcards?
Flashcards are an essential learning tool for CPA candidates. It’s a great way to quickly review concepts and identify areas you are struggling to understand.
So who has the best CPA exam flashcard system?
Best CPA Exam Flashcard Deck - Comparison
CPA Prep Course Company |
Printe/Digital Flashcards | Flashcard Creator |
Kesler CPA Review |
Yes | Yes |
UWorld Roger CPA Review |
Yes | Yes |
Becker CPA Review |
Yes | No |
Gleim CPA Review |
Yes | No |
Yaeger CPA Review |
No | No |
Universal CPA Review |
No | No |
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
Kesler CPA Review & UWorld Roger CPA have by far the most advanced flashcard system that includes pre-built decks and built-in spaced repetition technology to ensure that flashcards you had mastered last week stay mastered until you sit.
They also have a flashcard builder that you can use to create flashcards based off nearly any content you want inside the course.
Wiley CPAexcel, Becker CPA, Yaeger and Gleim have flashcards but don’t have as good of organization capability or the ability to make your own decks.
Kesler CPA Review & UWorld Roger CPA clearly has the best flashcard organization and setup of all the available CPA Review Courses.
Which CPA Review Course has the best Cram Course?
A CPA Exam Cram Course is perfect for nailing the key AICPA blueprints you need to know in the final days before your exam.
Typically a Cram Course will include targeted video lectures summarizing exactly what you need to know and related questions.
So who has the best CPA exam cram course?
Best CPA Review Cram Course - Comparison
CPA Prep Course Company |
Has A Cram Course | Includes Questions |
Kesler CPA Review |
Yes, Ultimate Study Supplement | Yes |
UWorld Roger CPA Review |
Yes, 4 Part Cram Course | No |
Becker CPA Review |
Yes, Final Review Product | Yes |
Gleim CPA Review |
No | No |
Yaeger CPA Review |
No | No |
Universal CPA Review |
No | No |
What’s The Expert Recommendation:
Kesler CPA Review is the clear winner here with it's built in mentorship, test bank of questions you've never seen before and access to 1-on-1 tutoring for last minute help.
What Is Our Ranking Factor For These CPA Review Courses
When picking how to rank these courses we take into account the following.
Real Life Results
Do we see our CPA exam mentees getting results with these courses. We have over 2,000 CPA candidates in our program and work with them on a daily basis and hear their complaints and their praises for all of the major CPA review courses.
Personal Testing
I also do extensive research and testing with each course. I work directly with these companies to get access to their platforms and I compare and contrast the quality of their:
- Video lectures
- Textbooks
- Questions
- Course design
- Mobile apps (or lack thereof)
- Aggressiveness of their marketing
- Support for CPA candidates
- Learning technology
- And much more
Forums and Facebook Groups
We also scour the inter webs seeing what CPA candidates are saying on the various forums and public Facebook groups.
Due to the fact most of these people are anonymous we do take this feedback and customer reviews with the least credence compared to our customers and our own research.
FAQ
Each state is slightly different in the various CPA exam requirements you need to hit in order to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam.
The most important factor to consider is whether your state allows you to sit for the CPA exam with 120 credit hours or 150 credit hours.
Other factors to consider are residency, age and the mix of college credits you have received. If you are international, the requirements get even more complex because you will have to have your transcript evaluated to ensure you hit the necessary education requirements to sit.
Starting the CPA exam process is simple. Submit your application to your state board of accountancy of choice. Include your transcript and an application fee. Then wait for 4-8 weeks for your state to evaluate your application and transcript.
The CPA exam is by far the most difficult professional exam in accounting. This is for a good reason because it is also the most valuable and recognized across nearly all industries in business. Your odds of passing the CPA exam on your first try without failing are around 20-30%. Don’t let this scare you from starting the CPA exam process. Becoming a CPA will change your life and help you become the best accountant you can be.
Here are 25 CPA exam study tips that will help make passing the CPA exam easier if you follow them step-by-step.
The CPA exam is absolutely worth pursuing. Being a CPA is by the far the most recognized professional license in business. It will also set you apart from the thousands of accountants who have masters degrees and a CIA, EA, CMA or other lesser known professional license.
A typical accountant can easily pass the CPA exam in 6-12 months with the proper support.
The key to passing the CPA exam is to have a robust CPA review course and someone to mentor/coach you through the passing process. When you have someone with experience helping people pass the CPA exam it will reduce your risk of making mistakes and speed up your passing process.
Your study personality is all about optimizing how you study. Depending how you learn best you need to cut certain study activities out of your routine. To start, determine if you are a visual learner or more of a self-studier. Do you prefer to be in a classroom setting or do you prefer to teach yourself.
With trial and error you will be able to perfect your study methodology based on your study personality.
There are several CPA Review Courses that aren’t as popular as others but still deserve to be mentioned.
Ninja CPA Review is a popular supplement founded by Another71s Jeff Elliot. Over the years I have found several significant issues with the course, such as outdated content that took him years to remove and lots of complaints about the platform from my students, that prevents me from recommending this supplement.
Universal CPA Review like Ninja CPA Review is a popular study supplement for Becker CPA Review users. They are a very visually focused CPA review course with lots of cartoons and videos to help explain the concepts.
Surgent CPA Review is an adaptive technology company that prides itself on it’s artificial intelligence powered test bank.
Lambers CPA Review is a small CPA Review Course that I don’t have any data on based on the fact that none of my students have used it to study and pass. Will dig in if someone wants me to research this company. Please shoot me an email: bryan@cpaexamguide.com.
MDS CPA Review is another small CPA Review Course based out of Ohio. I knew their founder Steve Martin but he has since retired and I haven’t interacted with the new owners or heard anything about the direction the company has taken in terms of teaching style or quality.
Fast Forward Academy was recently purchased by CeriFi Company and no longer offers CPA Exam test prep products.
CPA Review For Free was purchased by Fast Forward Academy (who no longer sells CPA exam prodcuts) and appears to be a subscription service with a free tier. It also has a CPA review course comparison page but obviously it's a bit biased as it's owned by Fast Forward Academy and doesn't include CPAexcel or Gleim or Surgent so take it with a grain of salt.
The AICPA recommends around 300-400 total hours of study time. The key is to study at your own pace and with high intensity. We recommend not giving yourself more than 12 weeks per section due to the fact that you risk buring yourself out. If you are working full time we don't recommend giving yourself less than 8 weeks due to the fact that you won't have time to cover everything on the exam.
Thankfully there is no limit to the number of times you can fail a section of the CPA exam. The only limitation is that once you pass your first section you will have 30 months to pass your remaining 3 sections. If you can't pass the other 3 sections then you will lose credit for your first section.
Hands down the hardest section of the CPA exam is Financial Accounting and Reporting or FAR. FAR is the largest section and covers the most content and has the highest fail rate year over year of any section of the CPA exam. It is highly recommended that you start with FAR as your first section. If you can pass FAR then you can pass ANY section of the CPA exam.














