Ace Your CPA Exam with These Tips & Resources

To take the CPA exam, your application must meet certain eligibility criteria. Depending on where you live and where you intend to practice, eligibility requirements differ. The U.S. and its territories are broken into 55 jurisdictions, each with its own board of accountancy that determines eligibility requirements and awards certifications.

There is also a difference between what’s required to take and pass the exam to earn CPA certification, and what is required for licensure. Exam requirements tend to be less stringent, and might include:

• Age: Some jurisdictions require a minimum age of 18, some require 21, and some don’t have an age minimum.
• Education: Applying to take the exam usually involves proving you’ve reached certain education benchmarks related to credit hours and subject matter.
• Ethics: Most jurisdictions tie licensure to some tangible proof of trustworthiness, and many do the same for their exams, such as mandating the completion of a particular ethics exam within a certain timeframe.

Licensure requirements include:

• Experience: Along with an approved degree, many jurisdictions require field experience in a relevant role.
• Residence and Citizenship: While not a requirement in every case, most jurisdictions have an expectation regarding where you live and work; the most strict require citizenship (or similar work authorization in the U.S.), plus proof of residency in the jurisdiction.

It’s best to research the requirements for your state/jurisdiction to determine exam and licensure eligibility.

The Uniform CPA Examination, developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is the “bar exam” for this profession nationwide. No matter your jurisdiction, the exam itself is the same, but note that some jurisdictions may have additional exam requirements.

A new CPA exam structure was introduced in January 2024 and includes three core exams with multiple choice questions and task-based simulations. You are also required to pass one of three discipline exams that test knowledge required for a specific area.

Like a lot of tests (including many of the university of high school standardized tests you’ve taken in the past), the CPA exam has set completion times for each of the four sections.

You will have four hours for each of the four exams, and can choose to take them at different times vs back to back. If you elect to take sections separately, you are required to complete the remaining sections within a certain timeframe. Check with your jurisdiction, but the recommended timeline is now 30 months, longer than the previously required 18 months. Many jurisdictions are updating their requirements to match this extension.

Yes. As mentioned above, the CPA Evolution Initiative included structural changes to the exam, now with three mandatory sections (referred to as “the three cores”), and a fourth section chosen according to the applicant’s intended specialization.

CPA certification is a core requirement for CPA licensure, so passing the exam to qualify for certification is a critical step. It’s not the only requirement to apply for licensure, and it’s best to review the CPA license requirements in your jurisdiction.

Frequently the first name mentioned in lists of leading CPA exam review courses, you’ll find Becker recommended on major financial sites and in reviews. Users often praise Becker for its extensive library of multiple-choice questions, lectures, and study materials. It loses points, however, for a higher-than-average cost and lackluster explanations of practice quiz answers.

UWorld is the result of a merger between two different test prep providers. Founded by Roger Philipp, CPA, CGMA, UWorld made a name for itself with its entertaining instructional style. UWorld later acquired Wiley Efficient Learning, rebranding the new company as UWorld Accounting.

Both companies were widely praised by users, noting Wiley was a less expensive, yet expansive source of practice questions and UWorld was a better lecture format. Now that they’re under the same umbrella, CPA hopefuls can benefit from both without making a separate purchase.

If you have to choose between “too much” and “not enough,” exam prep is one place where the former is preferable. That’s how Gleim customers describe the test prep materials that helped them pass the CPA exam. The Gleim model features adaptive technology, a realistic exam environment, and live support.

Ninja began as a test prep supplement in 2010 and has since expanded its study materials and now offers a complete CPA review course. The company’s proprietary study framework includes a planner, study methods and a scheduler to help prospective test takers. The company encourages test candidates to choose the Ninja-only path for their test prep or the supplemental option for use with other testing materials.

Most agree Surgent shines with its exam simulations, specifically for the AUD test portion. Surgent is repeatedly noted for its one-to-one representation of what test takers can expect to see on the exam.

All of this starts with your exam application. This process is largely the same across the whole country, with one exception: 37 jurisdictions allow you to apply through NASBA’s CPA Examination Online Application System. The remaining 18 require you to file your application through your local Board of Accountancy. In either case, NASBA can help you sort out the how and where.

Fees vary by jurisdiction, but average anywhere from $1,300 to $2,000 for the entire process (including completing the CPA exam in its entirety). Standard fees include initial eligibility application, registration fees for each section, and exam fees for each section. Some jurisdictions may add extra fees due to additional steps, including costs for required ethics exams and state-specific licensing fees.

Finally, you may incur some further costs in the event of rescheduling, section retakes, or for applying from a location outside the U.S.

After you’ve submitted your application and paid any fees required prior to taking the exam, you’ll be waiting for a verdict on your eligibility. Once approved, you’ll receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS) form, indicating you are open to contact Prometric to schedule online or by phone.

When you schedule your exam and how far out you schedule the exam date are important considerations. Scheduling in advance is strongly advised, but don’t take a section test before you’re ready.

Keep in mind that your NTS doesn’t last forever. For most jurisdictions, an NTS is only good for six months. Take scheduling seriously, because rushing or dragging your feet can both interfere with your progress toward licensure.

You’ll take your exam at an authorized Prometric test center that can be outside of your chosen jurisdiction, as long as it’s proctor approved.

Remember to bring your NTS and your identification to your examination. Forgetting either or bringing one with an incorrect name will prevent you from taking the exam that day. We recommend double-checking that your name is listed correctly before test day.

Here are some other things to know, do, bring, or watch out for as you head to the testing center:

• Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment to avoid incurring additional fees.
• Bring approved earplugs if desired.
• Dress accordingly, as you will be scanned via metal detector and closely inspected similar to airport security.
• Be ready to have your picture taken.

Prometric will provide pencils and paper, so don’t worry about bringing your own. There is a list of prohibited items, so travel light and plan on storing just about everything you bring in the lockers provided.

Lastly, you’ll be allowed to take breaks after each subsection of the exam. The first one is offered to you as a freebie (it doesn’t count against your test time), though any others you take won’t pause the clock. Breaks are only allowed between the subsection “testlets,” and they’re all optional.

Prometric sends the anonymized tests to the AICPA for scoring, and AICPA sends the scored tests to NASBA to match scores to the correct candidate. The NASBA sends everything to the appropriate Board of Accountancy for approval, then sends the final result to you. It usually takes a few days before you know how you did on the exam.

If you do not pass, you’ll receive feedback to guide you as you review the section’s material and prepare to retake that portion of the exam. This is intended to make it easier for you to identify the topics you need to work on and study more effectively to increase your chances of passing.

Once you complete a section, if there are any remaining (or you need to retake a section to pass), you’ll receive a new NTS no sooner than 72 hours after you’ve received your score. As soon as the new NTS is in hand, you can schedule your next exam date. You can retake a section as many times as you need within waiting period times.

On a related note, you can have more than one active NTS at the same time, but you can only have a single active NTS for a given section of the exam. Once an NTS has been used and a score issued, that NTS is no longer valid.