CTA exams - tax lawyers & accountants

[crumpetsolo]

I'm expecting DC2 and have been a SAHM since DS was born 18 months ago, so by the time I am ready to go back to work I will have been off for 2 1/2 years.

I used to work in personal tax, and was thinking of doing the CTA exams so I have something on the professional front to show for my time out of the workplace.

I was wondering if anyone had done these, and whether it is realistic to think about doing them with a toddler and a baby in a year, or am I kidding myself. I've heard they are pretty demanding.

On the offchance - does anyone have any course provider recommendations?

Thanks

I did cta exams in 2005 and now work as ct manager for big 4 firm. The exams are hard and gave become harder in the past few years as they've allowed people to resit individual papers. We train people in house and the pass rate is pretty low (about 30 odd per cent I think) even though our students have excellent academic records and loads of time off to do nothing but study.

I don't mean to depress you but as the mother of a two year old I can't imagine doing cta exams while looking after a toddler.

If you do decide to go ahead I've heard that tolleys study notes are much better than kaplan's. Can't advise on course providers sorry.

If you do go ahead, good luck!!

Please excuse typos - I'm on iPhone

I did mine in 2005 as well. And I worked my socks off.

The pass rate is low as pp says. I also can't imagine doing it now I have DD 20 months - but one of my juniors recently sat his with a 9 yr old, 2 yr old and baby on the way; another bloke in the office did them with two under 5s (but note they were men so I suspect more able to offload responsibilities )

I think it is easier now they are modular.

Good luck if you decide to go for it - hard work but well worth it.

I did mine at Reed college - but I don't think they do them anymore.

Also re pass rate - pass rate for those without ACA is even worse than 30%. Again, don't mean to depress you but they take seriouswork!

I did my ATT and CTA with BPP. In all, it took 3 1/2 years.

The exams were really hard work, the year I passed my CTA at a big 4 firm 8 of us in our dept of 600 sat it and I was the only one who passed, and we all had As at A level and 2:1s from, shall we say, traditional universities. Work paid for me to do the 2 week courses and I also went to the CIOT annual conference at my own expense as I was 100% determined to pass, there was no way I would have resat as it was so hard. I also took 2 weeks holiday and spent 6 hours each day doing timed exam practice.

Have you passed the ATT already? If not, even if you are exempt (ACA or a qualified lawyer) then I would still start there as tax law changes so much every year and the ATT flows better into the CTA. I know a surprising amount of tax lawyers who have failed the CTA repeatedly.

As I said, I passed with BPP but from what I have seen more recently I prefer Tolleys now, I like their online stuff.

It is very hard but for me it was completely worth it. I qualified 8 years ago and now earn £125k. I was on £40k before qualifying and £60k afterwards, it definitely helped me to be promoted.

It's not just the money, either, it's the level of professional confidence you get personally, the trust and respect from colleagues, and it's practically a guarantee of employability. Think of the old saying that there are only 2 certainties in life - death and taxes!

Good luck, you can do it if you are completely committed but you have to be sure it's the career you want.

Wow, thank you everyone, I really wasn't expecting this many responses as it's a bit of a specific question. I am expecting it to be hard, but think I can manage the 15 hours a week study BPP recommend even with two littlies, as I'm not trying to work at the same time. I know lots of tax lawyers who have failed as well, so I am expecting it to be hard. Thanks for the advice about doing ATT first, but to be honest as I'm funding it myself I think I'll plough on without it.

Cheers again