Table of Contents
A lot of CPA candidates have been asking me to compare two popular review providers: Wiley CPAexcel vs. Becker CPA Exam Review. Both companies have been in business for a long time and have strong reputations. Today, I’m going to break down each review course and assess its overall value. (I’ve created more CPA course comparisons, too, if you need them.)
Wiley vs. Becker CPA Comparison Chart
CPA Review Attribute | Attribute Importance | Wiley CPA - Platinum Course | |
|---|---|---|---|
Access Until You Pass | High -- If your materials expire before you've passed the exam, you'll have to purchase new ones. | Included | Included |
Video Lectures | Medium -- Visual learners comprehend and remember more when studying from video lectures. | 190+ hours of video lectures | 140+ hours of video lectures |
CPA Test Bank | High -- Without working practice questions, you won't be prepared for the real CPA Exam. But quality can be more important than quantity. | 7,000+ | 12,000+ |
Books | High -- Books help you learn the concepts, especially if you don't like to watch video lectures. | Printed and digital | Printed and digital |
Flashcards | Low -- If you like to utilize flashcards, research shows you're more likely to retain the information if you created them yourself. | 1,350 printed and 1,250 digital flashcards | 1,000 printed and 4,000 digital flashcards |
The Winner of Wiley or Becker CPA Review
I’ll get right to the point: In this head-off between two strong CPA review courses, I am declaring Becker CPA Review as the winner!
However, please review my detailed analysis below to determine if Becker or Wiley is best for you.
To start, both Becker and Wiley CPAexcel offer adaptive learning platforms, study planners, sample exams, and plenty of TBSs. The Wiley courses start at a lower price point, have decently engaging video lectures, and offer access until you pass with all review packages.
But still, many CPAs argue that Becker’s approach is worth the extra bucks. Becker’s plans come with many more hours of video lectures, including video explanations of all simulations and many multiple-choice questions, and provide comprehensive study materials that are constantly updated. Becker CPA Review also includes several ways to reach professional mentors, and that personal touch can make a big impact on your success. What’s more, Becker’s courses even include access to 1-on-1 tutoring session, live online and in-person CPA classes, a 1-year CPE subscription, and a fun Accounting for Empires learning game. And when you add in the facts that 94% of Exam Day Ready Becker users pass their CPA Exams, it’s easy to see why Becker is one of the best CPA Exam review courses.
Wiley CPAexcel and Becker History
Becker CPA Review has a long history. In fact, Newton Becker created one of the very first CPA review courses in 1957. Since starting the Becker CPA Review company in 1960, Becker’s courses have received consistent praise from professionals. Today, Becker is the largest provider of review courses and boasts many accolades. Also, did you know that between 2006 and 2021, over 90% of the winners of the Elijah Watt Sells Award for high CPA Exam scores used Becker? Impressive. It’s not a surprise that Becker has a stellar reputation among the Big 4 accounting firms and serves 100 of the top accounting firms in the U.S.
Wiley also has a long history, although the company’s start was quite different from Becker’s. Wiley began as a major publishing house over 200 years ago. Although they initially published American literature, they expanded their focus and now distribute some of the most respected scientific and technical journals in the academic field. Wiley has also developed a series of digital learning assessment tools for the accounting, scientific, and medical fields. In 2012, Wiley purchased Efficient Learning Systems, Inc., and CPAexcel now provides outstanding test prep materials for several professions, including the CPA, CMA, and CIA exams.
Course Interfaces: Which is Best?
Wiley CPAexcel and Becker CPA Review both use platforms that adapt to your learning pace. The Becker CPA online interface is one of the best learning tools available. The well-designed course uses Becker’s Adapt2U technology powered by Sana Labs. After studying the suggested material and taking practice quizzes, the technology analyses your progress and recommends review material to strengthen your weak content areas. Furthermore, you receive detailed reports about your overall progress toward mastering the material likely to appear on the CPA Exam. Becker also gives you an interactive study planner that helps you manage your Becker CPA study time.
About a week before your scheduled exam day, the Becker CPA Final Review will lead you through new MCQs and TBSs to refine your knowledge and make sure you’re ready for all types of exam questions. Finally, when you compare the Becker CPA practice exam vs the actual one, the format of the Final Review looks just like the “real exam.” And in the end, this will help you feel more at ease at the testing site.
Wiley CPA Review also uses an innovative adaptive learning platform, although I think it’s a little more clunky to use than the Becker platform. As you work through sample problems and practice quizzes, the adaptive system tracks your progress and recommends additional study materials to fill in your knowledge gaps. Wiley helps you study more efficiently by pinpointing your weak areas, so you don’t have to waste time studying content you’ve already mastered. CPAexcel utilizes “bite-sized” lessons, which are less than 30 minutes, to maximize your learning even when you’re short on time. Additionally, the platform constantly updates your progress so you can keep your studies on track.
Wiley Compared to Becker CPA Materials
Video Lectures
Wiley and Becker both offer 100+ hours of videos that reinforce important concepts. However, since so many students rely on quality videos as one of their main sources of instruction, it's essential to learn how each course's videos prepare you.
Becker Videos
If you choose Becker CPA Review, you’ll get access to hundreds of hours of videos. The Pro and Premium packages include 190+ hours, which is plenty of video lectures to get you up-to-date on the CPA Exam material. All videos are led by CPA instructors with experience in accounting, business, or law. The information is presented in small chunks of 2-5 minutes.
I will admit that some of the Becker videos feel a little boring and can get too long. Still, at their core, they are quite comprehensive and break down complex issues in a way that makes them easy to understand.
Plus, Becker has created additional SkillBuilder videos that outline specific steps to grapple with the exam’s complicated task-based simulations. The instructors give deep-dive explanations about WHY they solved problems in a certain way, increasing your overall logic and problem-solving skills. In fact, Becker understands how important the simulations are to conquer the entire CPA Exam. For that reason, they include these walk-through videos for each and every simulation you come across in the Becker program.
What’s more, Becker has just added ExamBuilder videos to their courses as well. While the SkillBuilder videos focus on the task-based simulations in the coursework, the ExamBuilder videos show you how to answer the multiple-choice questions and task-based simulations in the mini-exams and simulated exams. Therefore, if you’re ever stuck on a question, you have a short video close at hand for further discussion.
Just so you know, the SkillBuilder and ExamBuilder videos are a big deal. No other CPA Exam review course has taken the time to prepare this many short videos to teach users about specific questions. In my opinion, this time of instruction is important for the finer points of the CPA Exam questions.
Wiley Videos
The Wiley CPA 2024 courses come with over 140 hours of videos, which is still impressive. The “Bite-Sized Lessons” combine video lectures, text, and multimedia visual elements. Some Wiley users complain that the video lectures could present material in more depth, although the Wiley CPA books provide ample supplemental information. Also, Wiley CPAexcel’s Platinum CPA Review Course includes Deep Dive Videos, which are 10-20 minute lectures that break apart difficult problems; they’re especially useful for CPA candidates without a strong accounting background. Additionally, the Platinum course also includes on-demand lectures that happen in real-time. You can ask questions during the lectures and participate just as you would in a real classroom.
So, in conclusion, Becker offers more hours of videos. And many of them are quite in-depth. To help keep your interest during the longer videos, you could take notes to keep you engaged. But both Becker and Wiley have created shorter videos that explain complicated problems, and I think that’s crucial for your success.
Access Length
CPA candidates often ask me, “How long will I have access to a CPA Exam review course?” The important answer may have a big impact on the overall success of your CPA journey. The CPA Exam can change; the AICPA usually makes small adjustments to the CPA Exam twice a year, and major modifications are made as needed to cover contemporary issues that CPAs face. Therefore, it is important to choose a review provider that adjusts materials to reflect the current CPA Exam accurately.
In my professional opinion, it’s also crucial to pick a CPA review course with unlimited access to the materials until you pass the CPA exam. You probably already know that once you begin the process, you have a 30-month rolling window to pass all 4 sections. Most candidates fail at least one section once so that 30-month timeline easily turns into much longer than 30 months. But let’s say you sign up for a review course that only gives you access for 18 months—the pressure is now on to pass all 4 sections in that time frame or pony up more money to renew your access to study materials.
Wiley CPAexcel provides access until you pass with all of their review courses. For this reason alone, Wiley is a good value.
Becker CPA Review also provides unlimited access with the Pro and Premium packages.
Help from Experts
Personalized support from expert CPAs can make a big difference in the success of your studies. I highly recommend reaching out to competent and knowledgeable professionals when you have a question or can’t quite wrap your head around a concept.
Becker’s CPA Exam review course comes with access to professors who will answer inquiries within 48 hours. Plus, Becker archives these questions in a forum; users can search the archive and find answers to common questions. If you choose the Becker Pro plan, you’ll also receive up to five one-on-one academic tutoring sessions. Furthermore, if you are someone who really thrives with the help of a tutor, this is an important feature to consider. What's more, the new Becker Concierge package gives you access to up to 50 tutoring sessions with a Becker CPA instructor!
Wiley’s Platinum and Gold courses include online mentoring support from professors with demonstrated content expertise. The Wiley forum is similar to Becker’s. Students can post questions to the forum and receive a reply from a professor within 48 hours, or students can search the forum for common questions. You can also reach professors in the Live Virtual Classroom Series, which I discuss below. But still, Becker provides more help from experts overall, especially when you consider the one-on-one access to tutors.
Flashcards
Many CPA candidates use flashcards to quiz themselves on concepts. When my friends and I were studying for our CPA exams, we got out the glue sticks and markers and made our own flashcards. And while CPA craft time might be fun, it may not be a very efficient use of your time.
Each of Becker’s full review courses includes 1,350 digital flashcards with brief questions and answers. The online flashcards are searchable by topic if you just need to drill certain concepts, which is a nice feature. Or, you can electronically “flip” through the flashcards in random order and track your progress as you correctly answer questions. If you purchase the Pro package, you’ll also receive 1,350 printed flashcards. Otherwise, if you want printed flashcards, you’ll have to purchase them separately for an additional cost.
Wiley’s courses come with 1,000 printed flashcards—250 per CPA Exam section—and access to an additional 4,000 digital flashcards online or via the app. Wiley also gives you Focus Notes, printed spiral-bound cards similar to flashcards but with more information.
Therefore, if you’re someone who likes to use flashcards to study, Wiley’s offerings are definitely more comprehensive.
MCQs and TBSs
The CPA Exam has two kinds of questions: multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and task-based simulations (TBSs). (The CPA Exam used to have written communications (short essays), too, but they were eliminated at the end of 2023 along with the old BEC section that was replaced by the Discipline sections.) Therefore, most CPA candidates do the bulk of their exam prep by practicing MCQs and TBSs. Moreover, you’ll want lots of practice questions to keep you studying.
Wiley’s Platinum course, for instance, includes 12,000 MCQs and 500+ TBSs. Plus, about 150 of the TBSs come with short videos that explain how to work out these tough problems.
Becker, in contrast, has about the same number of TBSs but fewer MCQs (7,400+ MCQs with another 1,100 MCQs in a bonus bank and 800 more in a Final Review capstone course). Still, how similar are Becker questions to the CPA Exam? Or put in another way, are Becker CPA questions harder than the exam? Well, many candidates think that when you compare Becker vs the CPA Exam, Becker is a little harder.
So in sum, Becker has fewer questions, but the questions are tough and will definitely get you ready for the CPA Exam. Plus, Wiley only has short video explanations of 150+ of its same TBS problems. Becker, in comparison, has short SkillBuilder videos for every TBS in the coursework and another 900+ ExamBuilder videos for all of the MCQs and TBSs in the mini-exams and the simulated exams. That level of instruction from Becker will help you master every kind of question that the CPA Exam throws at you.
Wiley and Becker CPA Mock Exam vs. Actual
Before your exam day, you should plan to take one or more full-length practice exams. After all, sitting down and taking a mock test is the only way to truly know that you’re ready to pass the CPA Exam.
To start, Wiley’s Platinum course comes with the Wiley 11th Hour Final Review. Basically, you can start this cram session about a week before your CPA Exam. The short videos in the review go over topics that will probably appear on the exam. Plus, the review also includes a mock exam with questions that don’t appear elsewhere in the Platinum course.
Becker, on the other hand, includes several mock exams with its CPA courses. In fact, Becker gives you 12 shorter mini-exams and 8 simulated full-length exams (2 per CPA Exam section). And in terms of looks and functionality, Becker vs the actual CPA Exam are practically the same. That is, a Becker CPA practice exam replicates the pacing and general appearance of the AICPA exam.
But is Becker harder than the CPA Exam? Well, if you’ve read about the “Becker bump,” then you know that many CPA candidates think that Becker’s questions are harder than the ones on the CPA Exam. Specifically, when candidates compare their Becker mock exam score and their actual score on the CPA Exam, they often find that their actual scores are higher. In fact, I’ve heard from candidates who have reported that their “real” CPA Exam scores can be 10-20 points higher than the score they received on their final Becker exam.
Updates for a Wiley or Becker CPA Exam Review Course
Many CPA candidates don’t realize that some of the questions on the exam can change up to twice per year to reflect new tax laws and accounting standards. Therefore, it’s important to use a review course that gives you access to content updates when the exam changes.
Wiley Updates
Since Wiley CPAexcel courses have access until you pass the CPA Exam, Wiley also updates online material as needed. So when the AICPA makes content changes, Wiley will also update your online course for free. And you don’t have to do anything – the changes will be automatically updated.
Becker CPA Exam Changes
Likewise, when the CPA Exam changes Becker also automatically updates your online materials. However, the Becker CPA Exam Review update schedule is published, so you can anticipate when those changes will happen:
- December updates: AUD, FAR, and REG
- June updates: Discipline sections
Looking where to download Becker CPA Exam Review updates? Your online course will automatically change, but you’ll have to request copies of hard materials (like textbooks.) You’ll find instructions to do so from your course dashboard. Or, you can call Customer Support.
Wiley vs. Becker: Pass Rates
CPA candidates are usually concerned about pass rates for the different review providers on the market. I get it: you don’t want to waste your money on a system that doesn’t work. However, it’s complicated to report on pass rates, because many review providers don’t publish their pass rates at all.
The strong Becker CPA Exam statistics are well-known in the accounting industry. Specifically, the Becker CPA pass rate is 94% for users who are “Exam Day Ready.” That is, the Becker users who worked through most of their course (watched 80% of the videos, correctly answered 80% of the practice questions, and scored at least 50% on mock exams) passed the CPA Exam 94% of the time.
Plus, according to Becker, 90% of the Elijah Watt Sells Award winners between 2006 and 2021 used Becker to review for the CPA Exam. The award is only given to those CPA candidates with the highest scores, so this fact alone speaks about Becker’s quality.
And finally, Becker also reports that about one-third of all candidates who passed their CPA Exam studied with Becker.
Wiley, on the other hand, also advertises its pass rates. According to Wiley, about 90% of CPA candidates who use Wiley to review for the CPA Exam pass. And while this pass rate is strong, it’s still not quite as high as Becker’s. And Wiley can’t brag about as many Watt Sells winners as Becker, either.
Wiley vs. Becker CPA Review Learning Styles
In many ways, the Wiley and Becker courses are both geared toward CPA candidates who are visual learners, since they combine a variety of printed materials and videos. I’ve already reviewed many of the courses’ features like learning platforms, test banks, flashcards, and access to professionals. But we haven’t covered one important topic yet: classroom settings. Both Wiley and Becker offer some sort of live or live online classroom experience to supplement their other materials.
Wiley CPAexcel delivers live instruction through the Virtual Classroom Series with the Platinum-level full course. In this online platform, you “sit” in a virtual environment with other students while professors lecture on given topics. You can even interact with fellow classmates and ask the professor questions in real time.
Becker’s most expensive plans, the Pro and Premium courses, include live online courses similar to Wiley’s. However, the Pro course features in-person classes held weekly at university campuses across the country. Depending on your location, you may want to consider Becker’s Pro plan if you need this type of face-to-face instruction.
Wiley and Becker CPA Exam Prep Study Hours
Of course, before you pick a CPA review course, you’ll probably want to know how long you’ll need to study, too. For instance, how long does it take to complete a Becker CPA Exam review course compared to a Wiley course? Of course, everyone’s total study hours will vary based on your experience and education. Still, we can report on some averages.
CPA study time with Wiley
Wiley has outlined how many hours the company recommends users study for the CPA Exam:
- AUD = 110 hours
- Displine = 130 hours
- FAR = 190 hours
- REG = 120 hours
Therefore, Wiley suggests that CPA candidates study for 550 hours to pass the CPA Exam.
How long should I study each section of Becker CPA Exam review?
In comparison, Becker also has suggested the number of hours to study per exam part. However, if you stick to your Becker CPA Exam schedule, you could end up studying fewer overall hours:
- AUD = 90+ hours
- Discipline = 90+ hours
- FAR = 150+ hours
- REG = 120+ hours
Moreover, if you follow your Becker CPA Exam study plan, you’ll probably study about 450+ hours before passing the exam. Although that’s a significant amount of time, it’s still about 100 hours less than the average number of hours that Wiley users study.
CPA Discounts for Becker and Wiley
Wiley and Becker both give generous discounts to their full courses. The Becker CPA promo code can be especially deep—discounts as much as $500-$1,500—to help bring the overall cost closer to less-expensive review courses. I always keep my candidates updated with Becker's offers. What’s more, I often have exclusive Becker discount codes, too. So it’s worth coming back to this site to check for a current Becker coupon when you’re ready to purchase.
I also have a Wiley CPA discount code available for my readers. With my discount, you’ll pay even less for their popular review courses.
Must-Know Info about Becker CPA & Wiley CPAexcel
Course Costs
How Much Does Becker Cost?
The Becker CPA cost is higher than its competitors because it includes so many tools with each package. Becker has three different course review packages. The most comprehensive course, the Pro, costs $3,799 before any Becker CPA discount. The Premium course is $3,099, and the Advantage course costs $2,499. Separate parts of the review courses are available, too, if you only need to review one section of the CPA Exam.
How Much Does Wiley CPAxcel Cost?
Wiley CPA Review is a little less than Becker. Wiley’s CPA Platinum course is $2,999, followed by the Pro Course at $2,199. Users can also purchase reviews for separate sections for a discounted price.
So although Becker’s top course costs more than Wiley's (before discounts), I think you receive more learning tools, more personal support, and an overall higher level of instruction.
Renewal Costs
How Much Does It Cost to Renew Becker CPA Review?
The Pro and Premium Becker courses both come with access until you pass the CPA Exam. If you choose the Advantage plan, you only have access for 24 months. However, the Becker CPA guarantee, also known as the “Becker Promise,” gives you some financial protection. If you finish your entire Becker CPA Review course within a given time period but still fail to pass the CPA Exam, Becker will provide a tuition waiver to repeat the course. However, there are a few catches. Consequently, here's the catch explained at a high level: you’ll need to correctly solve at least 90% of the course’s MCQs and TBSs, take at least one simulated exam and get a score of at least 50%, and provide your failing CPA Exam scores.
To me, since the Pro and Premium packages already have unlimited access, the Becker Promise is most applicable to the Advantage review course that only has access for 24 months.
Becker provides a 50% discount on course renewals, though. But if you're worried about having to pay renewal fees in the future, I'd recommend purchasing the Becker Pro or Premium Course (at a discount, of course), or picking another review course entirely.
How Much Does It Cost to Renew Wiley CPA Review?
All of Wiley’s full review courses have an access until you pass guarantee. So, you will not have to pay renewal fees if your CPA journey takes longer than you originally planned.
Access Length
How Long Does Becker CPA Last?
With Becker’s Pro and Premium full courses, you’ll receive unlimited access. However, access to the Advantage plan expires after 24 months.
How Long Does Wiley Last?
As I mentioned above, all of Wiley’s courses have unlimited access until you pass the CPA Exam. That said, you won't have access forever, which I know could be disappointing, especially for CPA candidates who would like to have their course as a resource they can utilize in their careers as a CPA.
Sales
Becker Sales
Becker CPA Review periodically has sales. However, there are no best times to buy Becker, as their promos are inconsistent and very much depend on the supply and demand of CPA candidates. Access the Becker CPA discounts and avoid paying full price!
Wiley Sales
Wiley CPA Review also puts courses on sale, even more frequently than Becker does. It is rare to see a Wiley course at its full list price, although you'll save the most money if you purchase all 4-sections at once.
Refunds
What Is the Refund Policy for Becker CPA?
If you purchase an online Becker CPA Review course, you can receive a full tuition refund if requested within 10 days of your initial purchase or your first course login, whichever comes first.
If you purchase an online review course, Becker will issue a full refund within 10 days of purchase at your request. If you purchase items like flashcards or supplemental MCQs independent of an online course, those items are non-returnable.
What Is the Refund Policy for Wiley?
Wiley CPA Review also has a 10-day refund policy. If you are unsatisfied with your materials, you can request a full refund (minus shipping charges and e-book fees) within 10 days of your initial purchase. Once you request a course refund, you will have 14 days to return your hard-copy materials (like books), which Wiley’s staff will inspect upon receipt; hard-copy materials must be returned in a like-new condition. E-book purchases are not eligible for refunds.
Best CPA Review
Is Becker the Best?
The Becker CPA study resources have a strong reputation. And based on my reviews and the feedback from my readers, I think that Becker is the best review course on the market right now. The Becker CPA team provides quality materials and an adaptive learning platform that makes studying more efficient. Their videos promote understanding concepts over strict memorization, and the simulation videos will definitely help you master those difficult problems. The number of flashcards is limited, and the test bank is average, although Becker’s Premium and Pro review courses do include over 400 TBSs.
But still, the Becker CPA books are thorough and detailed. The Pro and Premium plans come with access until you pass to keep you studying, so that’s a great value. And the live, live online, and one-on-one tutoring sessions could be a big boost if you thrive on that kind of personalized support. For these reasons, a Becker CPA course could be right for you.
And how does the CPA Exam compare to the Becker exams? Well, when you read comments on sites like Reddit, you’ll find that many users think the Becker CPA mock exams are harder than the real exam. For example, when you take a Becker practice test, your Becker vs actual CPA Exam results could be 10-20 points different. This is called the “Becker bump,” and it basically means that Becker might actually over-prepare you a bit. That’s one reason why the Becker pass rates are so high.
Is Wiley CPA the Best?
Wiley’s full courses feature quality CPA study materials at an affordable price point. With video lessons, Deep Dive videos, books, and flashcards combined with the adaptive learning platform, Wiley gives you lots of ways to study for the big exam day. The Wiley test bank vs. Becker is certainly larger, although all of Becker’s questions are high quality and stick to the AICPA Blueprints. The no-gimmick access until you pass policy removes some of the inherent pressures of studying for the CPA Exam. Finally, since 9 out of 10 CPA candidates who study with Wiley pass the exam, it could be a good review course for you.
Who Should You Pick? Becker CPA or Wiley CPAexcel?
Course Features | Wiley CPAexcel | |
|---|---|---|
Video Lectures | 1 | .5 |
Access Until You Pass | 1 | 1 |
Help From Experts | 1 | .5 |
Flashcards | 1 | 1 |
Pass Rates | 1 | 1 |
Course Quality | 1 | .5 |
Total | 6/6 | 4.5/6 |
From this table, you can see that my team of CPAs gave Becker CPA Review a score of 6/6. Wiley received slightly fewer points—4.5/6—because Wiley CPAexcel includes fewer hours of video lectures, no detailed video walk-throughs of simulations, and offers less personalized support from experts.
Conclusion about Becker CPA vs. Wiley
Is a Becker CPA course enough to pass the CPA Exam? Well, I used Becker to study for the CPA Exam and passed on the first time.
With that being said, even after comparing Wiley CPAexcel to Becker CPA Review, I encourage you to consider Becker. Becker’s breadth of study tools, coupled with live classes and personal support, could help you proficiently study for and pass the CPA Exam. So, if you're a visual learner, you'll likely get more out of the Becker course than a course built for a tactical learner. Therefore, if you learn best by watching instructors and attending live lectures, Becker is likely the best course for you.
Your Next CPA Review Steps
I hope that my comparison of Wiley and Becker helps you decide between these review providers. But if you’re still unsure, please contact me—I can give you a personalized recommendation based on your learning needs and budget. And if you need more information about the journey to becoming a CPA, you'll want to get my free CPA Exam details.
Additionally, if you'd like to review more of my comparisons, you can check out:
- Becker vs. Surgent
- CPA Course Comparisons (For 2024)
