If at First You Do Not Succeed…

I had been a California registered tax preparer (CRTP) for seven years and I had just passed the Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP) exam. Then the law was repealed and the RTRP designation became worthless.

This spurred me on to take the Special Enrollment Exam (SEE). I took exam number two on business taxes and flat-out failed it…twice! I gave up and
decided to keep on preparing taxes as a CRTP. But then my supervisor passed his tests and became an enrolled agent (EA), and a coworker did the same thing. This coworker was a Korean immigrant and English was a second language for him. When he passed all three tests, I became motivated to try again. I thought, “Well, why not?”

This time around, I used the GLEIM study method and took test number two first and this time passed it! Then I decided to take test number one next instead of the test on individual taxes and I also passed (although I was doubtful a few times!).

When I finally passed all three tests, I remember my feeling of relief that I did not have to study anymore!

In 2006, I became an instructor trainer with the Latino Tax Professionals (LTP) Association. Before joining the LTP, I worked as a trainer for AT&T and opened the company’s first bilingual call center in El Paso, Texas. Being fluent in Spanish and Portuguese has allowed me to serve clients throughout North and South America. I am currently associated with Lopez Tax Service, Inc.