Your path to CPA licensure

What it takes to sit for the exam, what it costs where you are, the order to take the four sections, and the clock you are racing. This is the map; the study content lives elsewhere.

How is the CPA exam structured?

Since 2024 the CPA exam follows the core plus discipline model: pass all three core sections, AUD, FAR and REG, and one discipline of your choice from BAR, ISC or TCP. Each section runs five testlets, two of multiple-choice questions and three of task-based simulations.

Where do CPA requirements differ by jurisdiction?

Credit hours to sit, credit hours to license, application and evaluation fees, the ethics requirement, the experience requirement and the exam credit window all vary by jurisdiction. The requirements for all 55 are published on this site, each sourced to its state board.

PocketCPA covers all six CPA exam sections with 11,896 cited questions and 1,071 lesson pages. See also CPA requirements by state, the cheapest route to a CPA, and how to check whether study material is current.

What the Uniform CPA Examination tests is defined by the AICPA, and coverage claims here are stated against the AICPA blueprints: AICPA: what is tested on the exam.