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CPA Certification and the CPA Exam

Learn what you need to do to earn your CPA certification

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By the Numbers

By the Numbers

CPA Certification & CPA Exam

Sections of the CPA exam: 4

Time period in which all 4 sections must be taken and passed: 18 months

Total test time: 14 hours

Time per section: Auditing and Attestation* – 4.5 hours, Financial Accounting and Reporting – 4 hours, Regulation – 3 hours, Business Environment and Concepts – 2.5 hours

Credit hours of accounting courses required to take the exam: 150

Score needed to pass CPA exam: 75 (on a 0-99 scale)

Salary range of an entry-level CPA: $31,500 - $62,250

Salary range of a senior-level CPA: $43,250 - $78,500

Hours of continuing education required to keep CPA certification: 120 hours every 3 years, with a 20-hour minimum per year for CPAs in public practice

*The attestation portion refers to the collecting and communicating of audit, legal and other information.
Sources: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, National Association of State Boards of Accountancy


CPA Exam Test Prep

While many MAcc programs help students prepare for the CPA exam, there are a number of test prep programs—with both conventional and online classes—that can also help you get ready for the big test.


Preparing for the CPA Exam

According to professional staffing and consulting firm Robert Half International (RHI), “The certified public accountant (CPA) designation remains the most in-demand accreditation for a variety of positions. As expected of such a valuable credential, becoming CPA certified is hardly a piece of cake. It first requires 150 credit hours of accounting courses, which generally involves an accounting bachelor degree plus some graduate course work, often either via an MAcc or an MBA with an accounting focus. Once you have completed this prerequisite, you will be eligible to take the CPA exam.

The test is comprised of four sections, taken over the course of two days, though testers can choose not to take all of the sections at once. You don't, in fact, have to pass every section at the same time—candidates have up to 18 months to pass the entire exam. Each section itself is comprised of "testlets" (groups of multiple-choice questions) and simulations (mini-case studies), and the exam is now always taken on a computer at specifically designated testing centers. The CPA exam is administered in January, February, April, May, July, August, October, and November. Find MAcc programs to help prepare for the exam.

What CPAs Do

CPAs often go into public accounting, though many CPAs are also management accountants, forensic accountants, government accountants and personal financial advisors. While there are a number of accounting jobs that do not require CPA certification, it is indisputable that being CPA certified will only bolster your career.

RHI reports, after all, that having CPA certification can often boost a base salary by up to 10%. CPAs are highly respected within the business world and frequently go on to have their own companies or become CFOs or even CEOs of major corporations, racking up substantial salaries way into (and over) six digits.