Ara C.

Opalec BSA-5101

Reflection Paper on Seminar in BOA Updates

As an accountancy student who will be taking the CPA licensure exam next year, the
seminar on BOA updates is a good event to learn and be informed on what we should expect
before, during and after the board exam.

In line with things before the board exam, the seminar slightly talked about who are
qualified to take the CPA Boards. They put an emphasis that only those people who graduated
in Accountancy program are entitled to have the said examination and not just anyone who
wants to. Moreover, they also discussed important updates on the board subjects, what topics
are inside it, what they are about to add and remove. In that way, we can list down the topics
that we should look for an in depth learning aside from what the undergraduate school taught
us.

Moving on to what we should expect during the examination, Dr. Gloria T. Baysa from
the Board of Accountancy, also oriented us on some do’s and don’ts. From the simplest what
pencil no. we should use, how to shade the answer sheet right, to what are the allowable
calculators and watches to use and what possible cases you might face with the PRC if you
don’t follow the rules with respect to scratch papers. At least, we are now informed that we are
obliged to pass all the papers we used during the exam.

Finally, and for me is the most important, is the lecture about the passing percentage
and CPD units, that comes after taking the CPA Licensure Exam. I think being informed about
the passing percentage and any other conditions inclined with being a board passer
encompasses all stages I mentioned. We have to set our goals before the boards parallel to the
passing conditions of BOA, keep in mind your set goals during, and check it out after. The
lecture pertaining to the pass, fail or conditional is a little tricky, but because we had a short
group quiz bee, we eventually got the hang of it. It was very fun and educational at the same
time. At last, the topic related to the CPD units of accountants is a bit controversial for me. I get
the thought that accountants should be committed to learning and be always updated to new
standards as accounting is crucial and companies might face suits if their accountants aren’t
accurately applying set rules and standards, but I think the jump from 60 to 120 units is too
much. Comparing with other professional fields, like in medicine, if I am not mistaken, the PRC
requires them with only 45 CPD units to be complied every three years. That is questionable
considering that they are concerned mainly with the lives of people in their hands. 120 units
won’t be that easy to accumulate. It will demand so much of your effort, time and money. This is
something that PRC should look further and take many other things into consideration.