Become a CPA
Start your path to future success with the CPA Exam! Meet the education requirements, schedule your exam sections, and get ready to pass.
Education
To apply for the CPA Exam, candidates must meet these requirements:
- Completed at least 24 semester credits in accounting subjects, including accounting and auditing, business law, economics, finance, tax, or technology subjects sanctioned by the State Board of Accountancy.
- Have at least 120 credit hours. However, candidates will be required to complete 150 credit hours before being eligible to apply for a CPA license in Pennsylvania.
Candidates have 30 months to pass all four parts of the exam from when the first section is passed. NASBA offers services for transcript evaluations, including pre-evaluations and international evaluations.
Apply
Visit https://okta.nasba.org/ to create a user account. You must first submit an Evaluation Application (Fee: $90.00) to be deemed eligible. You may then apply for one exam section per application (Fee: $344.80/application).
Eligible candidates will receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS) for each approved exam section. Your NTS will be valid for a limited amount of time, and you must take the exam section listed on the NTS within this time frame or you will lose those fees paid.
All parts applied for must be taken within six months of the application date. The typical application processing time is six to eight weeks.
Note: Applicants must submit a character reference form and a Social Security number certification form along with the application. If required documentation is not received within 45 days of the submission date of the application, the application will be marked as incomplete.
Study
The current CPA Exam model requires 3 Core sections + 1 Discipline section of the test taker's choice.
- Core: Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
- Core: Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
- Core: Taxation and Regulation (REG)
The new discipline sections reflect three pillars of the CPA profession:
- Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR)
- Information Systems and Controls (ISC)
- Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)
For more information about the current sections, transition policy, score release timeline, and CPA Exam blueprints visit https://www.evolutionofcpa.org.
PICPA members receive exclusive discounts on CPA Exam review programs!
Schedule & Sit
After receiving a Notice to Schedule (NTS), set up a testing appointment as soon as possible. Tests must be scheduled at least five days in advance, and walk-ins are not allowed.
To schedule to sit for the CPA Exam, visit www.prometric.com/cpa or call (800) 580-9648.
Names to Know:
NASBA
The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) administers the Uniform CPA Examination. It collects information about candidates, distributes advisory scores, and maintains a database of candidate records.
AICPA
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is a nonprofit that represents CPAs in the United States. The AICPA develops the Uniform CPA Examination with significant input and assistance from NASBA and state boards of accountancy.
SBOA
The State Board of Accountancy (SBOA) issues Pennsylvania CPA licenses once all examination and work requirements have been met.
CPA Exam Scholarships
There are multiple opportunities to help cover the costs that come with preparing for and passing the CPA Exam.
