American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA)
The premier credential for accounting professionals in the US
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA)
Globally Recognised · Self-Paced
Governing Body: AICPA & CIMA | NASBA
Official Exam Info: aicpa-cima.com/cpa-exam
State Requirements: nasba.org — State Boards Directory
Everything you need to know
Why should you pursue CPA?
•
The only credential legally required to sign audit
reports in the United States — a non-negotiable for US public accounting
practice.
•
Recognised and actively sought by Big Four firms, the
Fortune 500, government agencies, and US-headquartered multinationals globally.
•
Mastery of US GAAP is a differentiator for anyone
working with US-listed companies, SEC filings, or US investors — regardless of
country of work.
•
CPAs earn significantly more than non-licensed
accountants: average CPA salary is $92,795/year in the US vs. $61,480 for
non-licensed accountants.
•
2026 update: AICPA and NASBA have approved a new
Bachelor's + 2-year experience pathway as an alternative to the traditional 150
credit-hour requirement, making it more accessible.
Who is eligible for CPA?
Education Requirements (to sit the exam vs. to become
licensed differ by state):
|
Requirement |
Traditional
Path |
New 2026
Path (selected states) |
|
To SIT the
exam |
120 credit
hours (bachelor's degree equivalent) |
Same |
|
To become
LICENSED |
150 credit
hours (bachelor's + 30 extra credits) |
Bachelor's
degree (120 credits) with accounting concentration + 2 years experience |
|
Specific
coursework |
24+ hours in
accounting; 24+ in business (varies by state) |
Accounting
concentration required |
|
Graduate
degree alternative |
Master's in
Accounting/Business satisfies 150 hours |
Master's + 1
year experience |
|
Work
experience |
1–2 years
under a licensed CPA supervisor |
2 years
under a licensed CPA supervisor |
|
Ethics exam |
Required in
most states (AICPA or state-specific) |
Required in
most states |
International candidates: Can sit the CPA exam through
NASBA's International CPA Examination Program. Testing available in 15
countries outside the US. Indian degrees typically provide 90–120 credits; most
Indian candidates need a bridge programme or master's degree to reach 150 credits.
Source: AICPA/NASBA Uniform Accountancy Act | Becker
CPA State Requirements | CPA Eligible State Directory
What careers can you pursue after completing CPA?
|
Career
Path |
Roles |
Notes |
|
Public
Accounting |
Auditor, Tax
Advisor, CPA Partner, Advisory Specialist |
Big Four +
mid-tier firms; mandatory CPA for signing audits |
|
Corporate
Accounting |
CFO,
Controller, VP Finance, Internal Audit Head |
Fortune 500
and all US corporates |
|
Forensic /
Fraud |
Forensic
Accountant, CFE, Financial Investigator |
FBI, IRS,
litigation support |
|
Tax Advisory |
International
Tax Manager, Transfer Pricing Specialist |
Global
corporations; Big Four tax |
|
Government /
Regulatory |
IRS Revenue
Agent, SEC Examiner, GAO Auditor |
US federal
and state government |
|
Information
Systems |
IT Audit,
Cybersecurity Finance, SOX Compliance |
Tech
companies, financial institutions |
|
Non-Profit /
Education |
CFO/Controller
for non-profits; Accounting Professor |
Universities,
charities, foundations |
|
Consulting |
Transaction
Advisory, Valuation, Risk Advisory |
Big Four
advisory; boutique firms |
What is the CPA exam structure and subject breakdown?
The CPA Exam (2024–present) consists of 4 sections: 3 Core
sections (mandatory) + 1 Discipline section (your choice).
Core Sections (All Candidates Must Pass):
|
Section |
Full
Name |
Duration |
Format |
Key
Topics |
|
AUD |
Auditing and
Attestation |
4 hours |
MCQ +
Task-Based Simulations |
GAAS, audit
procedures, internal controls, ethics |
|
FAR |
Financial
Accounting and Reporting |
4 hours |
MCQ +
Task-Based Simulations |
US GAAP,
IFRS overview, governmental accounting, non-profit |
|
REG |
Taxation and
Regulation |
4 hours |
MCQ +
Task-Based Simulations |
Federal tax
(individual + corporate), business law, ethics |
Discipline Sections (Choose ONE):
|
Section |
Full
Name |
Duration |
Key
Topics |
Best For |
|
BAR |
Business
Analysis and Reporting |
4 hours |
Advanced
financial reporting, data analytics, financial statement analysis |
Financial
reporting roles; corporate finance |
|
ISC |
Information
Systems and Controls |
4 hours |
IT audit,
cybersecurity, data management, SOX |
IT audit,
fintech, data-driven roles |
|
TCP |
Tax
Compliance and Planning |
4 hours |
Advanced
individual and corporate tax, tax research |
Tax
specialisation; tax advisory careers |
Passing score: Minimum 75 on each section (0–99 scale).
All 4 sections must be passed within 30 months (or 36 months in some states).
How much does CPA cost in 2026?
Fees vary by state. The following are approximate national
averages. Always verify with your specific state board at nasba.org
|
Fee Type |
Approximate
Amount (USD) |
Notes |
|
Application
Fee (to state board) |
$50–$300 |
One-time;
varies significantly by state |
|
CPA Exam Fee
(per section) |
$244.80 |
NASBA fee;
same nationally for all 4 sections |
|
Total Exam
Fees (4 sections) |
~$979 |
NASBA
testing fees only |
|
International
Testing Fee (per section) |
Additional
$330–$510 for non-US centres |
For
candidates testing outside USA |
|
State Board
Evaluation (international) |
$150–$300 |
Credential
evaluation for non-US degrees |
|
Ethics Exam
(if required) |
$150–$250 |
AICPA ethics
exam; state-specific amounts vary |
|
CPA Licence
Application |
$50–$200 |
Paid to
state board post-exam |
|
AICPA
Membership (Annual) |
$375–$595 |
Optional but
recommended |
|
Continuing
Education (CPE) |
$500–$2,000/year |
40
hours/year required to maintain licence |
|
Total Cost
Estimate (all-in) |
$3,000–$8,000 |
Including
coaching; varies by state and study materials |
Source: NASBA
CPA Exam Fees | Becker
CPA Fees Breakdown
How long does it take to study for CPA?
|
Scenario |
Recommended
Duration |
Strategy |
|
Full-time
student (final year/post-grad) |
6–9 months |
One section
every 6–8 weeks; sit NTS sections first |
|
Working
professional |
12–18 months |
One section
per quarter; use evenings and weekends |
|
International
candidate (preparation + credential evaluation) |
18–24 months |
Add 3–6
months for evaluation process and credit gap |
|
Per section
study time (recommended) |
350–450
hours total |
FAR needs
most time (~150 hrs); AUD and REG ~100 hrs each |
Critical tip: Pay for and schedule only one or two
sections at a time. NTS (Notice to Schedule) expires; if you miss the window,
you forfeit the exam fee.
What is the CPA passing rate?
|
Section |
2024
Pass Rate (approx.) |
2025
Pass Rate (approx.) |
Notes |
|
AUD
(Auditing) |
~47–52% |
~47–52% |
Conceptual;
most candidates find it manageable |
|
FAR
(Financial Accounting) |
~38–44% |
~40–45% |
Hardest
section; most content-heavy |
|
REG (Tax
& Regulation) |
~57–62% |
~55–60% |
Highest pass
rate; structured content |
|
BAR
(Business Analysis) |
~50–55% |
~50–55% |
Newer
section (2024); stable pass rates |
|
ISC (Info
Systems) |
~60–68% |
~58–65% |
Relatively
high pass rate |
|
TCP (Tax
Compliance) |
~55–62% |
~55–60% |
Strong for
tax specialists |
Source: AICPA CPA Exam Pass Rates | Becker CPA
Pass Rate Data
Which countries have the most CPA students?
•
Approximately 75,000–85,000 candidates sit CPA exams
annually.
•
Testing is now available in 15 countries outside the US
through NASBA's international programme.
•
International exam sites: India, UAE, UK, Germany,
Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Kuwait, Bahrain,
Lebanon, and more.
•
Top international candidate countries: India, South
Korea, Japan, China, Canada.
•
~200,000+ active CPA licence holders in the US; total
including international is significantly higher.
When is the CPA exam schedule for 2026?
The CPA exam is continuously available at Prometric test
centres (not fixed sittings). Candidates test when ready within the validity of
their NTS (Notice to Schedule):
|
Quarter |
Testing
Available |
NTS
Validity |
Notes |
|
Q1 2026 |
January–March |
6 months
from NTS issue |
Book early;
Prometric slots fill quickly |
|
Q2 2026 |
April–June |
6 months
from NTS issue |
Popular
testing season |
|
Q3 2026 |
July–September |
6 months
from NTS issue |
Many
candidates target after academic year |
|
Q4 2026 |
October–December |
6 months
from NTS issue |
Year-end
rush; book well in advance |
Important: The 30-month window to pass all 4 sections
begins when you pass your first section. Plan strategically.
Source: Prometric CPA Exam Scheduling | NASBA Official CPA Exam
Calendar
What are the rules for rescheduling CPA?
•
Rescheduling at Prometric: You can reschedule
your exam appointment at Prometric at no charge up to 30 days before your
appointment. Within 30 days: a fee may apply. Within 24 hours: no refund.
•
NTS Expiry: If your NTS expires before you sit
the exam, you forfeit the exam fees and must re-apply and re-pay. Always sit
before your NTS expiry.
•
Section retake: No waiting period between
attempts. Re-apply to your state board and receive a new NTS to resit a failed
section.
•
30-month clock: Your 30-month window to pass all
sections begins when you pass your first section. If you don't complete all
sections in time, you lose the credit for sections passed most than 30 months
ago.
Source: NASBA NTS and Scheduling Policy
What scholarship options are available for CPA?
•
AICPA Foundation Scholarship: Awards up to
$5,000 to accounting students. Requires AICPA student member status. Source: aicpa-cima.com/scholarships
•
State CPA Society Scholarships: Most US state
CPA societies offer annual scholarships ($1,000–$5,000) to accounting students.
Check your state society website.
•
NASBA CPA Exam Scholarship: NASBA periodically
offers exam fee assistance to qualifying candidates. Check nasba.org
•
University Scholarships: Many US universities
with strong accounting programmes offer CPA exam fee support to graduating
seniors. Ask your academic advisor.
•
Employer Sponsorship: Big Four and major
accounting firms routinely fund CPA exam fees and study materials for new hires
in exchange for continued employment.
Which coaching and prep providers are recommended for CPA?
|
Provider |
Format |
Approx.
Cost (USD) |
Pass
Rate Claim |
Website |
|
Becker CPA
Review |
Online +
adaptive learning |
$2,499–$3,399
(all 4) |
~94% pass
rate for students |
becker.com |
|
Roger CPA
Review (UWorld) |
Video-intensive
online |
$1,599–$2,999
(all 4) |
High
engagement style |
accounting.uworld.com |
|
Wiley
CPAexcel |
Online;
strong question bank |
$1,999–$2,499
(all 4) |
Flexible
pacing |
efficientlearning.com |
|
Surgent CPA
Review |
AI-adaptive;
time-efficient |
$1,499–$2,499
(all 4) |
Claims 88
days average pass |
surgentcpa.com |
|
Gleim CPA
Review |
Comprehensive;
great mocks |
$999–$1,699
(all 4) |
Strong
analytics feedback |
gleim.com |
|
Miles
Education (India) |
India-focused;
online + class |
INR
80,000–150,000 |
Strong India
placement |
mileseducation.com |
|
Simandhar
Education (India) |
Online +
classroom (India) |
INR
70,000–120,000 |
India-specific
guidance |
simandhar.com |
What books are recommended for CPA beyond the official curriculum?
•
Intermediate Accounting — Kieso, Weygandt, Warfield:
The definitive FAR preparation text; used in virtually every US accounting
programme.
•
Federal Taxation — Pratt & Kulsrud: Comprehensive
REG tax preparation; detailed individual and corporate tax coverage.
•
Auditing & Assurance Services — Messier, Glover,
Prawitt: Strong AUD preparation; covers risk-based audit methodology in
depth.
•
FASB Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) —
Official FASB: Free online access at asc.fasb.org. Primary reference for all US
GAAP.
•
The CPA Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try —
Stephanie Ng: Practical study strategies and exam logistics from a
successful candidate.
•
Financial Accounting Theory — William Scott: Excellent
background for understanding the conceptual framework underlying US GAAP and
IFRS.
Which companies hire CPA candidates?
|
Category |
Top
Firms / Organisations |
|
Big Four
(Require/Strongly Prefer CPA) |
Deloitte,
PwC, Ernst & Young, KPMG |
|
Second Tier |
BDO USA,
Grant Thornton, RSM US, CBIZ, CohnReznick |
|
Fortune 500
Corporates |
Apple,
Amazon, Google, Microsoft, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Berkshire Hathaway |
|
Government /
Regulatory |
IRS, SEC,
FDIC, FBI Financial Crimes, GAO, PCAOB |
|
Financial
Services |
Bank of
America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, Fidelity, Vanguard, BlackRock |
|
Healthcare /
Non-Profit |
Mayo Clinic,
Kaiser Permanente, American Red Cross, large university finance offices |
|
Tech
Companies |
Oracle
(NetSuite ERP), SAP, Intuit (TurboTax advisory), Salesforce Finance |
What salary can you expect after CPA, by country?
|
Country |
Entry
Level |
Mid-Level |
Senior /
Partner |
|
USA |
$55,000–75,000 |
$85,000–140,000 |
$150,000–400,000+ |
|
India (with
CPA) |
INR 8–15 LPA |
INR 18–40
LPA |
INR 50–120
LPA |
|
UAE |
AED
120,000–200,000 |
AED
250,000–450,000 |
AED
500,000–1M+ |
|
Canada |
CAD
60,000–85,000 |
CAD
100,000–170,000 |
CAD
200,000–450,000+ |
|
UK |
GBP
40,000–60,000 |
GBP
70,000–120,000 |
GBP
140,000–350,000+ |
|
Singapore |
SGD
70,000–100,000 |
SGD
120,000–200,000 |
SGD
250,000–500,000+ |
|
Australia |
AUD
70,000–95,000 |
AUD
110,000–170,000 |
AUD
200,000–420,000+ |
Sources: Becker CPA Salary Data | Glassdoor USA CPA
Salaries | AICPA Compensation Survey
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