CPA Exam pass rates by year
Last reviewed
These are the AICPA's published CPA Exam pass rates for every section, every year from 2006 to 2026. FAR, the core section with the lowest rate in 2026, has ranged from 39.59% in 2024 to 49.98% in 2020 over the full years on record, and stands at 43.54% for 2026 through Q3.
The short answer
- AUD: 50.03% for 2026 through Q3. Lowest full year 44.01% (2006), highest 52.84% (2020).
- FAR: 43.54% for 2026 through Q3. Lowest full year 39.59% (2024), highest 49.98% (2020).
- REG: 66.32% for 2026 through Q3. Lowest full year 42.33% (2006), highest 63.12% (2025).
- BAR: 43.88% for 2026 through Q3, against 38.08% in 2024 and 41.94% in 2025.
- ISC: 68.56% for 2026 through Q3, against 58.00% in 2024 and 67.79% in 2025.
- TCP: 79.75% for 2026 through Q3, against 73.91% in 2024 and 77.65% in 2025.
- BEC, the fourth section until the exam changed in 2024: from 43.81% (2006) to 65.56% (2020).
Since 2024: three cores and three disciplines
Every candidate sits AUD, FAR and REG, plus one of BAR, ISC or TCP.
| Year | AUD | FAR | REG | BAR | ISC | TCP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (through Q3) | 50.03% | 43.54% | 66.32% | 43.88% | 68.56% | 79.75% |
| 2025 | 48.21% | 42.12% | 63.12% | 41.94% | 67.79% | 77.65% |
| 2024 | 45.79% | 39.59% | 62.61% | 38.08% | 58.00% | 73.91% |
Quarter by quarter since 2024
| Quarter | AUD | FAR | REG | BAR | ISC | TCP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 52.23% | 44.49% | 65.37% | 44.35% | 70.22% | 80.08% |
| Q2 2026 | 49.38% | 42.47% | 66.87% | 45.62% | 67.98% | 79.75% |
| Q1 2026 | 47.80% | 43.46% | 66.65% | 41.30% | 66.79% | 79.28% |
| Q4 2025 | 48.78% | 40.20% | 60.73% | 39.71% | 66.75% | 76.72% |
| Q3 2025 | 50.03% | 43.07% | 66.05% | 39.46% | 66.91% | 76.68% |
| Q2 2025 | 49.05% | 43.52% | 63.58% | 47.26% | 71.96% | 80.63% |
| Q1 2025 | 44.30% | 41.67% | 62.03% | 37.64% | 61.23% | 74.94% |
| Q4 2024 | 43.54% | 36.80% | 60.52% | 33.68% | 56.40% | 72.16% |
| Q3 2024 | 47.80% | 39.82% | 62.97% | 40.11% | 61.88% | 72.91% |
| Q2 2024 | 46.58% | 40.58% | 63.45% | 40.26% | 57.93% | 75.67% |
| Q1 2024 | 44.63% | 41.92% | 63.43% | 42.94% | 50.93% | 82.36% |
2006 to 2023: the four-section exam
Before 2024 every candidate sat all four of AUD, BEC, FAR and REG.
| Year | AUD | BEC | FAR | REG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 46.92% | 56.52% | 42.94% | 59.19% |
| 2022 | 47.90% | 59.85% | 43.76% | 59.85% |
| 2021 | 47.98% | 61.94% | 44.54% | 59.88% |
| 2020 | 52.84% | 65.56% | 49.98% | 62.29% |
| 2019 (through Q3) | 52.06% | 60.45% | 48.30% | 56.51% |
| 2018 | 50.97% | 59.35% | 46.22% | 53.16% |
| 2017 | 48.59% | 52.99% | 44.42% | 47.24% |
| 2016 | 45.86% | 55.41% | 45.55% | 48.45% |
| 2015 | 47.28% | 56.48% | 46.75% | 49.43% |
| 2014 | 46.35% | 55.46% | 47.60% | 49.41% |
| 2013 | 45.87% | 55.83% | 48.32% | 48.48% |
| 2012 | 46.89% | 52.83% | 47.97% | 48.15% |
| 2011 | 45.62% | 47.13% | 45.57% | 44.22% |
| 2010 | 47.80% | 47.29% | 47.81% | 50.66% |
| 2009 | 49.79% | 48.34% | 48.45% | 49.81% |
| 2008 | 49.10% | 47.49% | 49.21% | 48.74% |
| 2007 | 47.57% | 46.56% | 48.15% | 47.03% |
| 2006 | 44.01% | 43.81% | 44.54% | 42.33% |
Reading the history
The AICPA says the CPA Exam is scored and scaled so that scores are comparable across test forms and over time, and that a change in pass rates means candidates are better or less well prepared, not that the Exam got harder or easier.
- 2017. The AICPA marked Q2 to Q4 2017 as reflecting a new passing standard after the Exam changed in April 2017, and said comparisons with past years and quarters are of limited value.
- 2019. Through Q3 only. No archived copy of the AICPA page carries 2019 Q4 or the full-year figure, so the cumulative shown is the AICPA figure through Q3.
- 2023. The last year of the four-section exam (BEC retired after 2023). The AICPA published the same 2023 cumulative figures before and after adding Q4.
- 2024. The first year of the Core and Discipline model: AUD, FAR and REG for every candidate, plus one of BAR, ISC or TCP.
Where each year comes from
The current AICPA pass rate page carries 2026 and 2025. Earlier years are read from the AICPA's own pages and PDFs as the Internet Archive preserved them, figures unchanged:
- 2006: AICPA 2006 pass rate PDF, archived copy
- 2007: AICPA 2007 pass rate PDF, archived copy
- 2008: AICPA 2008 pass rate PDF, archived copy
- 2009: AICPA 2009 pass rate PDF, archived copy
- 2010: AICPA 2010 pass rate PDF, archived copy
- 2011: AICPA 2011 pass rate PDF, archived copy
- 2012: AICPA 2012 pass rate PDF, archived copy
- 2013: AICPA 2013 pass rate PDF, archived copy
- 2014: AICPA 2014 pass rate PDF, archived copy
- 2015: AICPA 2015 pass rate PDF, archived copy
- 2016: AICPA 2016 pass rate PDF, archived copy
- 2017: AICPA 2017 pass rate PDF, archived copy
- 2018: AICPA pass rate page, archived copy
- 2019, through Q3: AICPA pass rate page, archived copy
- 2020: AICPA pass rate page, archived copy
- 2021: AICPA pass rate page, archived copy
- 2022: AICPA pass rate page, archived copy
- 2023: AICPA pass rate page, archived copy
- 2024: AICPA pass rate page, archived copy
Pass rates are the AICPA published candidate pass rates for 2026 through Q3, read from AICPA & CIMA on 2026-10-22. The AICPA publishes them quarterly.
Common questions
What were the CPA Exam pass rates in 2025?
For 2025 the AICPA published cumulative pass rates of 48.21% for AUD, 42.12% for FAR, 63.12% for REG, 41.94% for BAR, 67.79% for ISC, 77.65% for TCP.
Are CPA Exam pass rates going up or down?
Against 2025, the 2026 rates through Q3 are: AUD up 1.82 points (48.21% to 50.03%); FAR up 1.42 points (42.12% to 43.54%); REG up 3.20 points (63.12% to 66.32%); BAR up 1.94 points (41.94% to 43.88%); ISC up 0.77 points (67.79% to 68.56%); TCP up 2.10 points (77.65% to 79.75%). The AICPA says a change in pass rates reflects how well prepared candidates are, not a harder or easier exam.
What is the highest FAR pass rate on record?
Among full years since 2006, FAR's highest AICPA pass rate was 49.98% in 2020 and its lowest was 39.59% in 2024.