Reviewed and Updated January 15, 2012

Roger Philipp is generally known as the most energetic and entertaining CPA exam review course instructor. Those that need Roger’s high energy to keep them interested in the material swear by his videos. Roger CPA review uses lots of memorization and mnemonics if you like that sort of thing.

The class is offered in 3 formats.

1. Live. There are limited locations for attending the live classes. Most are in California.

Price – $595-$695 per part / $2,095 for all 4 parts

2. Online. Online access to video lectures, textbooks written by Roger Phillipp, Wiley homework books, Wiley exam review software, and access to the Roger CPA staff and teacher’s assistants. Each video can be watched 3 times. If you want to watch the videos a 4th time, you have to contact customer support and have them reset the counter so that you get another 3 viewings.

Price – $595-$695 per part / $1,695 for all 4 parts

3. USB. The USB includes all of the items from the online review, except it is delivered on a USB drive instead of online. The USB software can be installed on up to two computers. With the USB, you get 12 months of access to the review materials.

Price – $595-$695 per part / $2,095 for all 4 parts

The Good

1. Energy and Enthusiasm – Roger is widely regarded as the most energetic and enthusiastic of all the CPA exam review course instructors. Some students enjoy his energy and insist it helps keep their interest.

2. Efficiency - Roger does not cover the material as in depth as other courses. He focuses on subjects he thinks will be heavily tested on the exam based on his experience. Some students prefer this approach.

3. Audit – His audit course is generally considered the best of all the review courses.

4. Online Access – If you sign up for the online version (not available with the USB option), you can watch the videos anytime you have an internet connection, even on your iPhone, iPad or other mobile device.

5. High Pass Rate – Roger students have an 86% pass rate. This is high, but not as high as Yaeger’s 88%.

The Bad

1. Sequence of Review – Lectures do not follow the Wiley books, so students often feel they are moving randomly from subject to subject.

2. Lack of Depth – Does not cover the material as in depth as other courses. Roger calls this “cutting the fat.” Some students feel this is a weakness because if certain subjects are tested, they will not be well-prepared.

3. Lecture Style – With all that energy and enthusiasm, some students feel he speaks too quickly, especially when it comes to some of the more complicated topics. Roger also likes to joke around while lecturing. Some students feel this is distracting and the jokes are sometimes offensive.

4. Access - If you are doing the self study, you cannot get live access to the Roger. You have to post your message on a message board and wait for a response. You can call or live chat with Roger’s staff or teacher’s assistants.

5. Extra Fees – If you take the live classes, you have to pay $10 to make up a session. You do not get access to the videos. There is a $50 admin fee you have to pay when you sign up. There is also a $50 per part re-enrollment fee if you elect to use your “unconditional repeat” option.

6. Limited Use – Your online access expires after 9 months. You can elect to use your “unconditional repeat” option anytime after the first 5 months and that will get you an additional 9 months of access (18 months total). As noted above, this does come with an additional $50 per part re-enrollment fee. Your USB access expires after 12 months. At the time you make your original USB course purchase, you can purchase an additional 6 months for $200. If you elect to extend your USB access at some point after your original purchase, it will cost you $300.

7. Textbooks – Some students feel his review textbooks read like essays. The material is not presented in an easy-to-understand format and as noted in #1 above, is out of sequence with the Wiley homework books.

8. Technology Hassles – You can watch each online lecture 3 times and each USB lecture 5 times before that lecture becomes locked. You have to call Roger to get them reset if you want to watch a lecture more than 3 or 5 times, depending on the course you chose. If you buy the USB course and you want to install it on more than 1 computer, you have to call Roger to get them to tell you how to install it on a second computer.

The Bottom Line

Roger is a good course that is the right choice for you if you like his entertaining style, his emphasis on mnemonics, and his choice to skip over certain material in order to gain efficiency. Roger is also fairly priced. If you are looking for a more in depth review and are more concerned with learning the material than being entertained, Yaeger is a better choice that has a higher pass rate.