When your registration is accepted you will be issued a Notice to Schedule (NTS). This official document qualifies you to schedule testing with Prometric, the official proctoring service for the CPA. Previously, test takers needed to complete and pass all four sections within 18 months—usually starting from the day a candidate takes their first passed section—to pass the exam. However, in April 2023, NASBA amended this rule, increasing the window to 30 months. After all, the pass rates for each exam section range from about 43% to 60%, according to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA®)—potentially intimidating odds. The CPA exam is difficult and time-consuming, but passing it is the most important step of CPA licensure.
Sign up to receive important news and announcements from the AICPA Exams Team all about the CPA Exam and licensure process. If the test day is rapidly approaching and you do not feel ready, reschedule. A potential fee will be less painful than flunking a section and having to schedule a retake. Refer to our list below if you are considering rescheduling your test. On test day, allow for an extra 30 minutes to complete sign-in and the student survey. Note that whether or not you complete these activities in thirty minutes does not impact the time you have to complete the test.
CPA Ethics Exam Fee
If you are still uncertain, it may be worth calling your state board and inquiring. At this stage, you will need to choose which section(s) of the CPA examination you want to take first. In many jurisdictions, this requirement can be met by completing the AICPA’s professional ethics online course.
- If you are between 30 and 5 days from your exam date, there will be a $35 fee, and if you are 4 days or less from the exam date, then the full course fee must be paid to reschedule.
- CPA candidates must choose one of three disciplines as the fourth section of the CPA exam.
- These prep courses make studying less daunting by helping candidates map out an exam schedule with target dates and breaking the material down into bite-size pieces.
- The exam fee is set by the jurisdictional testing authority (i.e. state board of accountancy) and can fluctuate year to year at their discretion.
- If this is the case with your test, you will likely need to pay a reapplication fee, which will often be discounted significantly from the initial application fee.
- Let’s look together at what you should budget for your total CPA Exam cost, including ways you can save.
And at the end of the day, becoming a CPA is worth it to many professionals. After you pass your first section of the CPA Exam, you will have 30 months to pass your remaining three sections. If you don’t pass them all within that time period, you will lose credit for any you have passed and will have to retake them. To meet the CPA Exam education requirements for your state, you may need to take additional accounting courses. College courses and materials can cost anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.
Ask your state board about discounts
The CPA exam consists of four sections, testing candidates on topics like taxation, financial planning, auditing and accounting technology. The Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination, also known as the Uniform CPA Exam or CPA Exam, is for accountants pursuing CPA licensure. Many employers seeking highly trained accountants require a CPA license, which involves rigorous coursework and skill testing to earn. Earning the CPA credential opens doors to high-paying, advanced accounting careers in numerous industries. The 2024 CPA exam comes with a few changes compared to previous years, so make sure to get familiar with these developments before you sit for the exam.
- Additionally, travel and accommodation expenses may be necessary for those living farfrom testing centers.
- Depending on the state, the July 2023 bar exam saw pass rates ranging from 54% to 92%, according to the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
- Sign up to receive important news and announcements from the AICPA Exams Team all about the CPA Exam and licensure process.
- Pass rates and quality of instructors were also of high importance because they provide candidates with a sense of security when making a decision that will impact their career.
- The CPA Evolution initiative will change the licensure model for future CPA candidates in 2024.
When NASBA receives this official document, your eligibility will be determined and an NTS released to you. The NTS for the IQEX will expire in six months’ time, so schedule accordingly. Alternatively, accounting professionals who are employed in certain countries may opt for the International Qualification Examination cpa exam cost (IQEX). This examination is a result of NASBA and AICPA partnerships arranged with professional accounting associations in a handful of countries. These mutual recognition agreements ensure that the members of these associations meet the same professional standards that the AICPA requires of its members.