The steps laid out above are the chronological steps one has to follow to apply successfully and register for the US CPA Examination in a jurisdiction of their choice. Let's explore the above steps in detail :
Check US CPA exam eligibility
The first step in the application is to understand and assess whether you are eligible to take the US CPA exam or not.
Every state may set different education requirements to sit for the uniform CPA exam. One usually needs a bachelor's degree in accounting or business and credit hours to be eligible to write the exam.
International students need to clear the CPA exam within three years and fulfill certain requirements like:
- Have a minimum of 150 credits from academics.
- Have a minimum of a year of relevant experience at work
- The candidate will also have to clear the Ethics exam.
International CPA candidates can check their eligibility through the NASBA's International Evaluation Services (NIES). Through academic evaluation services for international candidates, the organization is able to verify the candidate's educational records.
Credits held by the candidate may be from a recognized University, and a minimum of 24 credits must be from accounting or business-related courses.
Sending Documents to the State Board
Before filling out the actual application, an interested candidate must send out their official transcripts to the state board. These transcripts include everything from senior school mark sheets to degree transcripts of all semesters or any additional diploma the candidate may have.
One can ask for all their college transcripts immediately after graduation and send them to the concerned authorities. The state board documents all the transcripts on file for future reference and personal protection once they receive them.
Submitting the CPA Exam Fee
Once the candidates' complete set of transcripts is submitted to your state board, they can fill out the actual CPA exam application.
This is a short form with both education and personal questions. After filling out this form, the candidate will have to send the CPA application fee. The application fee is payable in full along with this form, and different payment methods may be used to pay this fee. The total costs, including evaluation fees paid to NASBA, paper fees, and application fees, adds up to approximately $2,430 or ? 1,81,518
Obtaining the Authorization to Test
After approving the candidate's application, the state board will issue an Authorization to Test or an ATT. This document will allow the candidate to sign up for the US CPA exam section in the candidate's choice of state. Usually, the ATT has a maximum validity of up to 90 days so that the candidate has time to decide which CPA exam section they prefer to take first before it's going to expire.
After choosing the US CPA exam section, you have to log into your NASBA account and pay the CPA exam section fee. Most states charge the US CPA exam fee of $180 to $250 per section. After paying your CPA exam fee, you have to wait for 3 to 4 weeks to get a Notice to Schedule (NTS).
Scheduling the US CPA Examination
After applying for the US CPA exam, it takes a candidate almost 3 to 6 weeks to receive their NTS or Notice to Schedule. NTS is the legal document that allows a candidate to sit for the uniform CPA exam. A candidate can use this document to log into the Prometric website to schedule the CPA exam date.
A candidate may log into the Prometric testing center website and schedule the exam date. Besides, the candidate needs to have the exam section ID from the NTS and the testing location center where one wishes to take the exam. Suppose a candidate doesn't know about the closest Prometric center to them, then they can search on the said portal, making it easy to locate the center. A candidate may take the CPA exam in India now.
Prometric CPA Exam locations in India: US CPA Exam Centers are present in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Trivandrum. Candidates may choose any of the locations to take their four examinations.
The Final Day
Candidates must bring two valid ID proofs and a copy of their NTS on the examination day. The candidate's name on the NTS and ID proof must match the letter. Otherwise, examination officials may reserve the right to withhold the examination from the examination.
The examination is one of the most competitive exams there is in accounting. Passing the test requires candidates to be well-versed with the syllabus, well-practiced, and mentally well-prepared.
The CPA exam has an average passing rate of 51% and the candidates have to score a minimum of 75 on each paper.
To be able to clear the exam is a matter of great prestige. The CPA examination is a very lucrative professional examination for candidates. Many firms globally hire candidates who hold the certification. Some firms that hire CPA holders are the 'big four,' like Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, and Ernst & Young. Some reputable firms like Genpact, Cognizant, Phillips, and Accenture also hire CPA holders.
