According to Robert Half’s report on CPA unemployment statistics, the rate for certified public accountants is low, dipping under two percent in some years. This demonstrates how important it is for accounting professionals to use the CPA designation as a stepping stone toward a solid career. Becoming a CPA requires several steps, including passing the CPA exam.
This shouldn’t be attempted without using a CPA prep course to help you pass.
So, which course should you choose?
Many candidates are turning towards Ninja CPA Review, known for its unique, flexible approach to CPA exam preparation, but is it good enough to use as a solo review?
Keep reading to find out my thoughts on Ninja and how I rate it.
Key Takeaways
- Flexible Subscription Model: Ninja CPA Review offers a monthly subscription at $67/month, allowing candidates to access an extensive suite of study materials, including MCQs, simulations, and notes, without a long-term financial commitment.
- Comprehensive Resources: The review includes over 8,000 multiple-choice questions and simulations, detailed notes, audio learning options, and intensive cram sessions, providing a wide range of CPA tools to cater to different learning styles.
- Cost-Effective Learning: Ninja CPA is popular for its affordability, particularly appealing to those who need supplementary materials alongside a primary CPA review course or those with a limited budget for exam preparation.
- Enhanced Study: With resources like Ninja Audio, candidates can add 5–10 hours of study time per week by integrating exam prep into daily activities such as commuting or exercising.
- Supplementary Use Recommended: Ninja CPA Review is generally recommended as a supplementary tool rather than a standalone option due to its less structured approach and the need for more comprehensive support in understanding complex CPA exam topics.
Ninja CPA Review Course Overview
With its subscription-based model, Ninja CPA Review has carved a niche in the CPA review market. This model provides access to comprehensive practice questions, simulations, and concise study notes. This approach is particularly appealing to CPA candidates who prefer a flexible study schedule without the commitment of a hefty upfront fee.
Ninja CPA Review employs a simple, effective subscription model that caters to a variety of learning preferences and schedules:
- Monthly Subscription ($67/month): This option provides unrestricted access to the entire Ninja suite, which includes multiple-choice questions (MCQs), simulated exams (SIMs), comprehensive notes, books, flashcards, and more. This flexible approach allows candidates to customize the length of their study period without the pressure of a long-term financial commitment.
Ninja CPA Review Materials
Here are some of the Ninja CPA exam prep course features:
- NINJA Book: Concisely presents key concepts without extraneous content, focusing solely on what’s needed for the exam.
- NINJA Audio: Maximizes study flexibility, allowing you to learn via headphones during activities like commuting or working out, potentially adding 5–10 hours of study time per week.
- NINJA MCQ and SIMs: Provides access to a highly intuitive test bank with over 8,000 multiple-choice questions and hundreds of simulations, renowned for its sleek interface.
- NINJA Notes: Ninja CPA review notes are ideal for repeated reading and rewriting, ensuring readiness for exam day.
- NINJA CRAM: Offers intensive review through live and recorded weekend-long sessions that cover the entire blueprint of an exam section.
Pros
- Cost-Effective Supplement: The monthly fee of Ninja CPA Review makes it an appealing choice for those seeking additional resources to complement their primary study tools. This financial flexibility allows candidates to manage their CPA preparation without a significant upfront investment.
- Highly Recommended by Peers: Many students have praised Ninja CPA Review as an invaluable addition to more extensive CPA review courses. Positive feedback often highlights its utility in reinforcing knowledge through additional practice questions and detailed study notes, which enhance the CPA exam journey. However, it’s important to note that most suggest using it as a supplement to a better course, like the Becker CPA Review.
- Ninja Sparring Sessions: These include live Zoom sessions for real-time tutoring and problem-solving, available multiple times a week, along with open sparring on Saturdays for any exam-related questions. This direct access to expert guidance helps clarify doubts promptly and keeps learners engaged and motivated.
“I use both. Becker is my primary source, which I am very satisfied with. Ninja is my supplementary source, which I am very satisfied with. I feel like so long as I put in the hard work (do my part) I should have a pretty good chance of passing the exam. No matter which reputable source I use (and they both are), the onus of being prepared to pass is on me.”
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Cons
- Supplementary Use Recommended: While Ninja CPA Review materials offer a decent set of tools, they typically do not suffice as the sole preparation tool for the CPA exam. Those in search of an exhaustive CPA review may find it lacks the necessary depth and structured learning required to fully understand the complexities of the CPA exam, which might necessitate additional resources or courses.
- Potential for High Cumulative Costs: Although the subscription is initially economical, the Ninja CPA review cost can add up over time, particularly for those who extend their preparation period. This prolonged financial commitment can exceed the costs of more comprehensive, one-time payment courses, making it less economical in the long run for some candidates.
- Comparatively Lower Pass Rates: Ninja CPA Review has helped fewer than 8,000 candidates pass the CPA exam, a modest number when compared to the successes reported by established providers like Surgent CPA Review or Becker, each boasting over a million passes. This statistic may concern candidates seeking a proven track record of success.
- Video Lecture Quality: Ninja CPA review’s video content may not reach the extensive coverage or high production quality of top-tier CPA review courses. This shortfall can leave visual and auditory learners seeking more detailed and engaging educational materials, potentially impacting their overall learning effectiveness.
“I used only Ninja and passed all 4. I can’t recommend it highly enough. I am not someone who will sit and watch video lectures, so I knew the standard review courses weren’t for me. You have to be pretty disciplined to use Ninja, though, because there aren’t modules, etc. There is a book, notes, audio, and of course, MCQs. If you are good with reading and hammering MCQs, Ninja is a great choice.”
Ninja CPA review course user.
How Does Ninja CPA Review Stand Out?
Ninja CPA Review is noted for its flexible, user-centric approach, which merges efficient study tools with an adaptable learning environment. Here’s a more balanced perspective on its offerings:
Structure, Content, and Technology
Ninja CPA aims to supplement your primary CPA review course by filling in gaps and reinforcing essential concepts. It utilizes a comprehensive test bank and adaptive learning technology, which are designed to tailor the study experience to individual performance metrics. While this can offer a structured approach through the Ninja CPA review framework, it might not fully replace the depth provided by more comprehensive primary CPA review courses.
Ninja CPA Review Course Video Lectures
Ninja CPA Review offers a range of video lectures that are beneficial for visual and auditory learners, providing convenient access across multiple devices. However, these videos often receive mixed reviews. While they cover essential topics effectively, some users find them lacking in depth and engagement compared to higher-quality productions from competitors like Becker or Surgent. The overall presentation may not consistently captivate or maintain viewers’ attention, particularly during longer study sessions.
Ninja CPA Test Bank
The test bank from Ninja CPA Review is recognized for its extensive collection, featuring over 8,000 multiple-choice questions and simulations that closely reflect the actual CPA exam. Its intuitive interface and adaptive learning technology are highly praised for helping candidates focus on weaker areas by customizing the difficulty of practice questions.
However, while the test bank provides excellent practice, some users note that the explanations for answers could be more detailed to better help them understand complex topics. This suggests that while Ninja’s test bank is effective for exam preparation, it might be complemented with other detailed study resources for optimal learning.
Value
Ninja CPA is recognized for its affordability, making it an appealing option for many CPA candidates. Its flexible subscription model allows for payment only for the necessary duration of access, which can be cost-effective for those with a clear study plan. However, for those who may need prolonged preparation time, this cost advantage could diminish as monthly fees accumulate over an extended period.
Support
While Ninja CPA offers a range of essential study materials and technological tools, it lacks the one-on-one tutoring support offered by some competitors, which can be a significant drawback for students who prefer personalized guidance. The program does include Ninja CPA sparring sessions and a responsive customer service team, which helps mitigate this gap somewhat by providing forums for real-time help and feedback. Yet, the effectiveness of this support can vary, depending on the responsiveness to specific student queries and the ability to engage effectively with the provided materials.
“…Becker has better support, though. If you need help understanding a SIM or MCQ, it’s very easy to ask it and get a timely reply with a solid answer..”
Reddit discussion on Ninja CPA review vs Becker CPA review.
Ninja CPA Review
Ninja vs. the Competition
Ninja vs. UWorld
I see Ninja as a helpful add-on, but not a full replacement for a primary CPA course. It’s useful for staying engaged and answering quick questions, while UWorld gives me clearer explanations, better visuals, and more confidence that I actually understand the material.
My take: Ninja supports review; UWorld carries the heavy lifting.
Ninja vs. Becker
Ninja feels light and flexible, which can be nice, but Becker is simply more complete. When I’m relying on one course to prepare me from start to finish, Becker’s structure, depth, and consistency matter more than Ninja’s convenience.
My take: Ninja works as a supplement; Becker works as a full system.
Ninja vs. Gleim
Ninja is fast and approachable, but it doesn’t go deep enough for first-time CPA candidates. Gleim offers far more content, practice, and explanation — the kind of depth I want when I need to be confident that nothing important is missing.
My take: Ninja helps reinforce; Gleim helps you actually master the material.
Bottom Line
Ninja CPA Review uses a flexible, subscription-based model that works well for CPA candidates who want extra practice and short study sessions without a big upfront cost. Its question bank and adaptive tools are helpful for review, but the course is lighter on structure and instruction than most full CPA prep programs. Because of that, NINJA is usually best used alongside a more comprehensive course that offers deeper explanations, clearer study paths, and stronger overall support.
FAQ
Ninja CPA Review is considered a good option for those seeking a flexible and cost-effective supplement to their primary CPA study materials. It offers a range of resources, including a comprehensive test bank, adaptive learning technology, and interactive sparring sessions. However, it might not provide enough depth and structured learning as a standalone resource for some candidates.
While it is possible to pass the CPA exam using only Ninja CPA Review, most users recommend it as a supplementary tool rather than a primary resource. Ninja’s extensive test bank and practice exams can be highly effective. Still, the program’s limited instructional support and structured learning components mean that combining it with another comprehensive review course might be more beneficial for most candidates.
The Ninja CPA course provider does not publicly disclose its specific pass rates, and they are generally considered to be lower than those of some larger, more established CPA review providers. Users of Ninja often utilize it in conjunction with other courses, which makes it difficult to isolate and verify Ninja’s standalone pass rate. They do claim to help 5 CPA candidates pass the CPA exam per day.
Becker CPA Review is often cited as having one of the highest pass rates in the industry. Becker’s comprehensive materials, frequent updates, rigorous practice exams, and structured learning environment contribute to its reputation for high CPA exam pass rates.
