American Chartered Accountant Course: Complete US CPA Guide 2026

Certified Public Accountant or CPA, is the license that lets an accountant practice public accounting in the United States. But here is the part most articles skip: this license is not issued nationally. It is issued by whichever state board approves your application, which is why requirements can look slightly different depending on which state you pick.

Four bodies matter here and it helps to know what each one actually does.

• AICPA (American Institute of CPAs) develops and maintains the Uniform CPA Examination
• NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy) manages applications, credential evaluation coordination and the CPA Portal used by many jurisdictions
• State Boards of Accountancy set the specific eligibility, education and experience rules for their state and are the ones who actually issue the license
• Uniform CPA Examination is the exam itself, which is the same core exam used across all states

AICPA is clear on this: becoming a licensed CPA requires meeting education requirements, passing the exam and completing the experience requirement set by the relevant board. Skip any one of these three and you don't get licensed, no matter how well you did on the exam.

No, and the two shouldn't be treated as interchangeable even though people often use them that way in conversation.

The appeal isn't that a CPA license lets you walk into any job anywhere in the US. It doesn't work that way and practice rights depend entirely on the state you're licensed in. What the qualification actually gives you is deep, credible knowledge of US accounting standards, something that matters a lot once you're working with multinational clients or US-headquartered companies.

• International accounting exposure that Indian-only qualifications don't fully cover
• Strong grounding in US GAAP and US financial reporting
• Direct relevance to multinational companies operating in India and abroad
• Opportunities in audit and assurance functions tied to US clients
• Tax and financial reporting roles with a US focus
• Possible professional mobility for those who meet the relevant state's licensing and work requirements
• High relevance to global finance and accounting teams, including GCCs and shared-services hubs

AICPA has also noted that the CPA Exam itself has evolved to reflect the way the profession is actually changing, with more emphasis now on technology, data analytics and specialised advisory work rather than pure compliance.

This is usually the first real question people have, and it's also where a lot of confusion comes from because eligibility isn't one fixed rule. It depends on which state board you apply through.

Educational Credit Requirements

There is no single universal number of credits that applies to every candidate. Some states allow candidates to sit for the exam with fewer academic credits and then require additional credits before licensure, while other states have entirely different structures. NASBA's current guidance is consistent on this: candidates must follow the specific requirements laid out by their chosen state board, not a generic industry number floating around online.

Can B.Com Graduates Apply for US CPA?

A B.Com degree can cover part of the academic credit requirement in many cases, but it isn't automatic. A proper transcript evaluation by an approved agency is the only way to know exactly where you stand.

Can CA, CMA or ACCA Candidates Pursue US CPA?

Yes, generally, and these qualifications can genuinely help toward the credit requirement. But again, don't assume automatic eligibility. Get an official evaluation done before you plan around it.

Is Work Experience Required for the CPA Exam?

Not for sitting the exam itself. Work experience is usually tied to the licensing stage, not the exam stage, so these two things need to be treated separately when you're planning your timeline.

The current CPA Exam has four sections in total: three Core sections that every candidate must take, plus one Discipline section that the candidate chooses. Each section runs for four hours.

• Core 1: AUD, Auditing and Attestation

Covers auditing procedures, attestation engagements, ethics and the professional responsibilities that come with being an auditor.

• Core 2: FAR, Financial Accounting and Reporting

Covers financial reporting standards, how accounting transactions are recorded and the frameworks used to prepare financial statements.

• Core 3: REG, Taxation and Regulation

Covers US taxation, business law and the regulatory responsibilities professionals are expected to know.

Discipline Section: Choose One

Candidates pick one of three Discipline sections based on where their interests or career plans lean.

• BAR: Business Analysis and Reporting
• ISC: Information Systems and Controls
• TCP: Tax Compliance and Planning

Whichever Discipline you pick doesn't create a different type of license. Every candidate ends up with the same CPA license once they've met the applicable requirements, the Discipline choice just reflects a specialisation within the exam itself.

Each of the four sections follows the same basic format: multiple-choice questions and task-based simulations, delivered across five testlets, within a four-hour window. AICPA's current guidance describes this as two MCQ testlets followed by three task-based simulation testlets.

The passing score is 75, on a scale that runs from 0 to 99. It's worth repeating because people misread this constantly: 75 is a scaled score, not 75 percent correct.

For the first two quarters of 2026, AICPA's cumulative pass rates by section were:

There's no single honest number for what the CPA course costs, because total spend depends heavily on which state you apply through and how many attempts you need. What can be broken down instead are the actual cost components that make up the total.

• Credential evaluation fees
• Application fees charged by the state board
• Examination fees for each of the four sections
• International administration and testing fees for candidates sitting outside the US
• Course or coaching fees if you choose structured preparation
• Licensing fees once you clear the exam
• Ethics examination fees, where the state requires one
• Additional education or bridge course costs, if your transcript evaluation shows a gap

Your choice of state can shift the total cost meaningfully, so it's worth comparing a couple of jurisdictions before committing rather than picking the first one that comes up in a search.

For current fee schedules, check NASBA's state-board fee pages and Prometric's international testing information directly, since these figures are updated periodically.

Be wary of anyone promising a fixed six-month or one-year timeline. It genuinely depends on your starting point and a few other factors.

• Your academic eligibility going in
• How long transcript evaluation takes
• Study hours you can realistically put in each week
• Exam scheduling and seat availability
• Number of attempts needed per section
• Specific state credit requirements
• Work experience requirements for licensure

Core sections are available for testing nearly year-round, while Discipline sections run within specific testing windows, so scheduling those needs a bit more planning.

There's also a completion window to keep in mind, meaning how long your passed sections stay valid while you finish the rest. This is set by the relevant state board. AICPA notes that many states have moved to a 30-month window, but this isn't universal, so it's worth confirming with your specific jurisdiction rather than assuming.

This process is worth laying out clearly because exam eligibility and full licensure are two separate stages, and mixing them up is where a lot of candidates lose time.

• Step 1: Check State or Jurisdiction Eligibility

Confirm which state board fits your academic background before you apply anywhere.

• Step 2: Get Your Educational Credentials Evaluated

Send your transcripts to an approved evaluation agency to confirm your credit standing.

• Step 3: Apply Through the Appropriate State or NASBA ProcessS

ubmit your application through the relevant state board or NASBA's system, depending on the jurisdiction.

• Step 4: Receive Authorization and Schedule Your Exams

Prometric confirms that eligibility approval has to happen before scheduling, and candidates need a Notice to Schedule at the test centre on exam day.

• Step 5: Pass the Three Core and One Discipline Sections

Clear AUD, FAR, REG and your chosen Discipline section within the applicable completion window.

• Step 6: Complete Experience and Education Requirements

Fulfil any remaining work experience or additional education requirements set by your state board.

• Step 7: Apply for CPA Licensure

NASBA's system now lets applicants in participating jurisdictions submit licensure applications directly through its CPA Portal.

Jobs After US CPA

• Audit Associate
• Financial Reporting Analyst
• Assurance Professional
• Tax Professional
• Accounting Advisory Analyst
• Internal Audit Professional
• Financial Controller
• Technical Accounting Professional

Where Can US CPAs Work?

Big Four firms, global accounting networks, multinational corporations, Global Capability Centres and shared-services organisations all hire CPAs, along with corporate finance and accounting teams that need US GAAP expertise on staff.

Skills That Improve Career Outcomes

Strong Excel skills, comfort with data analytics, familiarity with ERP systems, solid US GAAP knowledge, clear communication and general tech fluency all make a real difference in how far a CPA license takes you.

Anyone quoting one fixed salary figure for CPAs is oversimplifying it. Actual pay depends on experience, employer, role, city, technical skill set, any other qualifications you hold and the industry you're in.

Rather than relying on outdated or unverified numbers, it's best to check current job listings, credible salary databases and employer-published reports, and to treat any figure as tied to a specific year and source rather than a permanent benchmark.

Choose US CPA If

You're aiming for global accounting exposure or roles tied to US-based companies and reporting standards.

Choose CA India If

Your goal is Indian statutory practice, taxation work or a career built primarily around the Indian regulatory system.

US CPA May Be Suitable If

• You want global accounting exposure
• You're targeting US-focused accounting or reporting roles
• You want to work with MNCs or global accounting teams
• You already have an accounting or commerce background

Consider Alternatives If

• Your goal is Indian statutory practice
• You specifically want investment management as a career
• You're aiming for management accounting rather than public accounting

The US CPA is a specialised, US-focused accounting credential and not a direct substitute for the Indian CA. Since eligibility and licensing requirements shift from state to state, the smartest first step is getting your education credits evaluated before you enrol anywhere or commit to a timeline.

NorthStar Academy offers structured CPA preparation with faculty guidance, mock exams, study resources, doubt support and career guidance to help candidates move through the process with a clear plan instead of guesswork. Visit our US CPA course page to get started.