Last verified: 2026-08-10
Becker
The industry standard for CPA exam prep
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Up to 35% off Pro and Pro+ — Pro $2,499 (MSRP $3,845), Pro+ $2,698 (MSRP $4,044). Labor Day Sale, 8/18 through 9/8, with an extension scheduled through 9/14. No promo codes needed, auto-applied via affiliate link. Becker's on-site fine print states the sale ends 9/8/26 at 11:59pm CST.
Additional offers:
Last verified: 8/18/2026
How they calculate this: Exam Day Ready students (watched 80% of videos, answered 80% of MCQs/TBS correctly, scored 50%+ on simulated exams) vs. all other exam takers. This figure represents a specific subset of students, not all purchasers.
Becker does not publish pass rate statistics. This isn't necessarily bad—some excellent courses simply don't track or report this data.
Quick Verdict
Becker is the default choice when your employer is paying. The brand recognition with Big 4 firms is real, Newt AI adds a genuine study advantage, and the "Becker Bump" phenomenon has decades of anecdotal backing. But if you're paying out of pocket, you're likely buying more structure and brand prestige than you need. Self-motivated learners can get strong results from Surgent or UWorld for less.
Well-Suited For
- Candidates with employer sponsorship
- Those targeting Big 4 or major accounting firms
- Visual learners who benefit from live instruction
- Structured learners wanting a defined curriculum
Consider Alternatives If
- Budget under $2,000
- Highly self-motivated learners
- Those who prefer fully self-paced study without any preset structure
- Candidates who want a purely algorithm-driven study path (Becker's Adapt2U adds adaptive elements, but Surgent's A.S.A.P. is more deeply adaptive)
Pros & Cons
Strengths
- Most recognized brand by employers and Big 4 firms
- Comprehensive live class schedule with daily options
- The "Becker Bump" - students report scoring higher on exam day vs. practice exams (anecdotal, not officially verified)
- Simulated exams closely mimic the real CPA exam experience
- Newt AI exam assistant included with all packages — the only major provider offering AI-powered study help at every price tier
Considerations
- Premium pricing ($2,499–$6,349 MSRP; $2,499–$4,999 on the current Labor Day Sale) — Pro and Pro+ include a $1,000 Pass Guarantee, Concierge includes a full refund guarantee
- Answer explanations less detailed than UWorld or Roger
- Content can feel like overkill - covers material rarely tested
- Structured approach with a customizable Study Planner — works well for candidates who want a clear path, but still more guided than fully self-paced options
What to Expect
The Study Experience
Studying with Becker feels like being in a structured academic program. The Study Planner maps out your daily assignments and can be adjusted to fit your schedule — choose how many hours per week, build in days off, and readjust if you fall behind. Lectures are thorough but can feel slow. The question explanations are shorter than competitors — you'll understand the right answer, but may not fully grasp why other options are wrong. Newt AI is available throughout to answer questions and clarify concepts.
Where Candidates Commonly Struggle
Being aware of these challenges helps you prepare for them:
- Falling behind the study plan when work gets busy — the planner is adjustable, but the sheer volume of material still requires consistent time commitment
- Feeling overwhelmed by content that seems excessive for the actual exam
- Wanting more detailed explanations when you get questions wrong
- The cost at the Advantage tier if you need longer than 24 months — higher tiers include unlimited access
Week-by-Week Study Timeline
6-8 weeks per section, 20-25 hours/week recommended. Becker follows a structured "Nail the Concepts" approach.
Nail the Concepts
Build foundation through video lectures and initial exposure to material
- Watch Mike Brown lectures (10-60 min videos broken into 2-5 min sections)
- Take notes while watching to stay engaged
- Read corresponding textbook sections
- Complete end-of-module MCQs to check understanding
Deep Learning
Heavy practice with MCQs and Task-Based Simulations
- Work through 50-100 MCQs per day
- Complete TBS with SkillBuilder video explanations
- Review weak areas identified in progress reports
- Re-watch lectures on struggling topics
Final Review
Mock exams and targeted weak area review
- Take full mock exam 2 weeks before test date
- Use Becker Final Review condensed course
- Focus 1 day per chapter during final review
- Hammer weak areas identified from mock scores
A Day in the Life
What a typical study session looks like with Becker
You sit down at your desk, open the Becker dashboard, and see today's assigned module. The weekly calendar shows you're on track. You start with a Mike Brown video lecture - his explanations are clear, almost like he's teaching to a room of beginners. You take notes in the integrated notepad. After the lecture, you flip to the textbook section for a quick review, then dive into 25-30 MCQs. Each question gets about 2 minutes. When you miss one, the explanation tells you the right answer but you sometimes wish it explained more about why the wrong answers were wrong. You finish with a Task-Based Simulation, watching the SkillBuilder video afterward to see how an expert approaches it. Three hours fly by.
Session Breakdown
Watch Mike Brown explain the topic in digestible segments
Read the corresponding textbook section to reinforce concepts
Work through 25-30 multiple choice questions at ~2 min each
Complete 1-2 TBS with SkillBuilder video walkthroughs
Review missed questions and create flashcards for difficult concepts
LIFTS Breakdown
Learning Style
How well the course adapts to different learning preferences
Investment
Value across different budget ranges
Flexibility
Study format options available
Time
Suitability for different study timelines
Support
Level of guidance and assistance
Ready to find my best CPA course match?
Find My Best MatchFeatures & Capabilities
Becker Pricing & Plans (2026)
Advantage
~$3.47/day
- All 4 exam sections
- 8,000+ MCQs, 500+ TBS
- 900+ video lectures
- Digital textbooks
- Practice exams
- Newt AI exam assistant
Premium
one-time investment
- Everything in Advantage
- Printed textbooks
- Unlimited access
Pro
one-time investment
- Everything in Premium
- $1,000 Pass Guarantee
- LiveOnline classes
- Final Review + ExamSolver
- 5 tutoring + 5 coaching sessions
- 1 year CPE
Pro+
one-time investment
- Everything in Pro
- Becker Academy FAF1 course
Concierge
one-time investment
- Everything in Pro+
- 100% money-back Pass Guarantee
- All Academy courses
- 25 tutoring + 25 coaching sessions
- CPA license navigator
- Deep Dive Workshops
Note: Prices shown are as of 2026-08-10. Verify current pricing on Becker's website. Pass guarantee subject to terms and conditions. Links are affiliate links—we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who Becker Is Best For
Based on LIFTS scoring, Becker is a top recommendation for these candidate profiles:
Career Changers
Transitioning into accounting from another field? You may need more foundational support and structured guidance to build your accounting knowledge while preparing for the CPA exam.
View profileInternational Candidates
Pursuing the US CPA from outside the United States comes with unique challenges, including different accounting standards, time zone considerations, and potentially limited support options.
View profileBig 4 Employees
Working at a Big 4 firm means your employer likely covers your CPA review course and you have access to premium resources. You need efficient, proven courses that maximize your chances of passing quickly.
View profileFree CPA Study Schedule Template
Organize your exam prep across all four sections with our downloadable template.
Ready to Get Started with Becker?
Becker offers comprehensive CPA exam preparation. Check their current pricing and discounts.
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