Should I give up a 6-figure earning opportunity to focus on CPALE?
Hi everyone! I’m a fresh BSA graduate and I’m currently at a crossroads about whether I should go all-in on the CPALE or continue building my freelancing career while reviewing.
For some background, I’ve been freelancing for around 5 years. I started before senior high, and throughout college I was juggling BSA, freelancing, and leadership positions.
During most of undergrad, academics and leadership were still my priorities. I was earning around ₱30k–₱40k/month while working roughly 3–4 hours a day, although my clients were very flexible and I could often organize my workload around my studies. I was also living with my sister at the time, so financially I had more room to focus on school. I was able to travel occasionally and still perform well academically and sometimes nagtatop sa subjects like FAR and AUD. But really my foundation is a mess esp on AFAR + TAx.
Things changed during my 4th year when I moved out of my sister’s home and became financially independent. I started taking on more serious work in bookkeeping and digital operations. Before that, most of my experience was in operations and marketing, but over the past year I’ve expanded into bookkeeping, marketing strategy, SEO/digital operations, web development, and web design.
It’s a somewhat unusual combination of skills, but it has worked out professionally. My current founder/client trusts me quite a lot I’ve touched many parts of his business operations, he finance my current MacBook, and he has recently started referring me to his own bookkeeping clients.
Because of these opportunities, my current earning capacity is around ₱120k/month, with a maximum of around 40 hours/week and a flexible schedule. I’m not working graveyard shifts, and I can potentially reduce my workload if necessary. I’m also living independently now, so I do need to consider my finances, although I could survive if I reduced my workload substantially.
At the same time, I genuinely want to become a CPA just so I have an option. I don’t want to work in public firms for now.
I’m currently enrolled in REO online. I was consistent for about a month earlier in the year, but then I became very inconsistent for a couple of months because I was focusing heavily on work, freelancing, and building some of my own projects/business ideas.
I’ve recently started reviewing again, but I’m still behind compared with many of my batchmates.
This is where I’m really torn.
On one hand, I know that a CPA license can give me professional security and more options in the long term. I also know that if I want to take the CPALE seriously, I probably need a period where I significantly prioritize studying instead of constantly trying to grow my freelancing career.
On the other hand, I’ve spent around 5 years building my freelancing career, and I finally feel like I’m at a point where my earning capacity is scaling significantly. It’s difficult to voluntarily slow down something that I worked on for years, especially when the opportunities are currently coming to me rather than me having to chase them.
I also have other projects/business ideas that I’ve built over time, some of which I’ve already had to put on hold for school.
My dad thinks I should stop overthinking it and focus on the CPALE. Most of my batchmates are also currently reviewing, which obviously adds some pressure.
At the same time, I’ve always felt that I’m not necessarily meant to follow the traditional path. I genuinely enjoy working, building things, and being independent. I’m not financially dependent on my family, and I’ve worked hard to build my current situation.
So I’m trying to figure out what makes more sense:
Option 1: Pause or significantly reduce freelancing for around 6 months, go all-in on CPALE preparation, and aim for the May 2027 exam.
Option 2: Continue freelancing, perhaps at around half my current workload, while reviewing consistently.
Option 3: Continue working close to my current capacity and take a longer/slower review path.
My question is whether it is strategically wise to do both when I genuinely want to give myself a serious chance at the CPALE.
For those who have already taken/passed the CPALE, especially those who were working, freelancing, running a business, or financially independent while reviewing:
- What would you do if you were in my position?
- Did you regret continuing to work during your review?
- Did you regret stopping/reducing work?
- If you had a strong earning opportunity waiting for you, would you still temporarily sacrifice it for the license?
I’d really appreciate honest perspectives, especially from people who have actually gone through the CPALE while working. Thank you so much.