Becoming a Certified Public Accountant can support career paths in public accounting, corporate finance, auditing, taxation and financial leadership. However, earning the credential involves more than passing an examination.
Prospective CPAs must satisfy the requirements established by the board of accountancy in the jurisdiction where they plan to become licensed. These requirements can include education, professional experience, ethics and successful completion of the Uniform CPA Examination.
Understanding how the CPA Exam is structured (and how examination eligibility differs from licensure) is an important first step in planning your path.
What Is the CPA Exam?
The Uniform CPA Examination is a standardized professional examination used by U.S. boards of accountancy as part of the CPA licensing process. It is developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and administered in cooperation with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) and individual state boards.
The current exam follows the CPA Evolution Core-Plus-Discipline model, which took effect in January 2024. Candidates must pass four sections:
- Three required Core sections
- One Discipline section selected by the candidate
Each section is four hours long, making the complete examination a 16-hour assessment. Candidates may take the four sections in any order.
What Are the Four CPA Exam Sections?
Every candidate must pass the three Core sections and one of three available Discipline sections.
Required Core Sections
Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
AUD evaluates knowledge and skills related to auditing, attestation engagements, ethics, professional responsibilities and related accounting services.
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
FAR addresses financial accounting and reporting standards used by public and private companies, nonprofit organizations and other entities.
Taxation and Regulation (REG)
REG covers federal taxation, business law, ethics and professional responsibilities related to tax practice.
Discipline Sections
Candidates must also select and pass one of the following Discipline sections.
Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR)
BAR focuses on topics such as financial statement analysis, technical accounting, data analysis, financial planning and accounting for state and local governments.
Information Systems and Controls (ISC)
ISC addresses information systems, IT auditing, data management, security, privacy and system and organization controls engagements.
Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP)
TCP covers advanced individual and entity taxation, tax compliance, tax planning and property transactions.
Choosing a Discipline does not create a separate type of CPA license or restrict the area in which a CPA may practice. Candidates who pass any of the three Discipline sections pursue the same CPA license.
CPA Exam Eligibility vs. CPA Licensure Requirements
CPA Exam eligibility and CPA licensure are related, but they are not the same.
Exam eligibility determines when an individual may apply for and take the CPA Exam.
Licensure requirements determine what an individual must complete before receiving a CPA license.
Both are established by individual jurisdictions. Requirements may address:
- Degree level
- Total semester hours
- Specific accounting and business courses
- Professional experience
- Ethics examinations or coursework
- Residency, age or identification requirements
- The period allowed for passing all four CPA Exam sections
Some jurisdictions allow candidates to sit for the CPA Exam after completing 120 semester hours, even when additional education or experience is required for licensure. Candidates should therefore avoid assuming that qualifying for the exam means they have satisfied every licensing requirement.
Is 150 Credit Hours Still Required to Become a CPA?
The 150-semester-hour pathway has traditionally been a common route to CPA licensure, typically combining a bachelor’s degree with additional undergraduate or graduate study. However, it should no longer be described as a universal requirement across every jurisdiction.
In 2025, NASBA and the AICPA updated the Uniform Accountancy Act, a model law that states may adopt or modify. The updated model recognizes three potential licensure pathways:
- A graduate accounting degree, qualifying experience and passage of the CPA Exam
- A bachelor’s accounting degree, 150 total semester hours, qualifying experience and passage of the exam
- A bachelor’s accounting degree, 120 semester hours, additional qualifying experience and passage of the exam
Individual states and jurisdictions must formally adopt pathways before candidates can use them. Available options, required coursework and experience standards therefore continue to vary.
Before enrolling in a degree program or registering for the exam, candidates should consult:
- The board of accountancy for the jurisdiction in which they intend to become licensed
- NASBA’s jurisdiction-specific CPA Exam information
- Current licensing laws and regulations
- An academic advisor who can explain how completed coursework may apply
Because licensing rules can change, official board guidance should always take precedence over generalized information.
How Is the CPA Exam Scored?
Candidates must earn a score of at least 75 on each of the four sections.
A score of 75 does not necessarily mean that a candidate answered 75% of the questions correctly. CPA Exam scores are reported on a scale from 0 to 99 and are calculated using scaled results from multiple-choice questions and task-based simulations.
Candidates must also pass all four sections within the examination-credit period established by their jurisdiction. Credit periods are not identical across the country, so candidates should verify the rule that applies to the jurisdiction through which they are applying.
How to Choose a CPA Discipline
Candidates are not required to select a Discipline that matches the area in which they eventually plan to practice. Instead, the decision may be based on several factors:
- Previous accounting coursework
- Current professional experience
- Familiarity with the material
- Career interests
- Performance in related accounting subjects
- The time and study resources available
For example, someone with experience in taxation may feel most comfortable with TCP, while a candidate interested in financial analysis and reporting may consider BAR. Candidates with technology, cybersecurity or IT-audit experience may be drawn to ISC.
The AICPA’s current CPA Exam Blueprints provide the most reliable description of the content, skills and weighting associated with each section. Because the blueprints may be updated, candidates should use the version that applies to their anticipated testing date.
How to Prepare for the CPA Exam
CPA Exam preparation should begin with the candidate’s jurisdiction requirements and the official exam resources.
1. Confirm Your Jurisdiction’s Requirements
Determine where you plan to apply and review that jurisdiction’s rules for both examination eligibility and licensure. Pay particular attention to required accounting courses, total semester hours and experience standards.
2. Review the Current CPA Exam Blueprints
The AICPA publishes blueprints outlining the content areas, skill levels, score weighting and task types assessed in each section. These should guide a candidate’s preparation plan.
3. Select a Discipline Strategically
Compare the BAR, ISC and TCP blueprints with your academic background, professional experience and strengths. Remember that the Discipline selected does not appear as a restriction on the resulting CPA license.
4. Develop a Realistic Study Schedule
The exam includes four separate four-hour sections. Candidates may benefit from preparing for one section at a time and building study periods around work and personal responsibilities.
5. Use Dedicated CPA Review Materials
A graduate accounting program and a commercial CPA review course serve different purposes. Graduate education can help candidates strengthen accounting knowledge, business judgment and leadership skills, while dedicated review materials are designed around the exam’s current format and tested content.
Candidates should review the CPA Exam Blueprints and NASBA Candidate Guide when evaluating preparation resources.
Can an MBA in Accounting Support the CPA Path?
An MBA in Accounting may help professionals expand their knowledge of accounting while developing broader capabilities in management, strategy, finance and organizational decision-making. Graduate coursework may also help some students accumulate additional semester hours or satisfy particular subject-area requirements.
However, completing an MBA does not automatically make a graduate eligible to sit for the CPA Exam or receive a CPA license. Whether individual courses or credits satisfy a requirement depends on the rules of the applicable board of accountancy and the candidate’s previous education.
Concordia University Chicago’s online MBA with an Accounting Specialization incorporates advanced business and accounting study for professionals seeking to build knowledge in these areas. Prospective students interested in CPA licensure should compare the curriculum with their jurisdiction’s current requirements before enrolling.
Students should not rely on a university program alone to determine their eligibility. Final decisions regarding accepted coursework and CPA licensure are made by the appropriate licensing authority.
Career Opportunities in Accounting
CPA licensure may be valuable for certain public accounting, auditing and financial reporting responsibilities, but it is not required for every accounting career. Depending on their education, experience and credentials, accounting professionals may pursue roles involving:
- Public accounting
- Corporate accounting
- Auditing and assurance
- Taxation
- Financial analysis
- Risk management
- Compliance
- Management accounting
- Financial leadership
Explore career options with an MBA in Accounting to learn how graduate business and accounting knowledge may apply across different professional settings.
Take the Next Step in Your Accounting Education
Understanding the CPA Exam involves more than learning the names of its four sections. Candidates must also consider jurisdiction-specific education, experience, ethics and licensing requirements.
For professionals who want to strengthen their accounting expertise while developing broader business leadership skills, CUC’s online MBA with an Accounting Specialization may provide a relevant next step. Before applying, prospective students should independently confirm how the program’s coursework could apply to their intended CPA jurisdiction.
Review the MBA with an Accounting Specialization or explore CUC’s admission and tuition information to learn more.
CPA examination and licensure requirements are established by individual boards of accountancy and are subject to change. Concordia University Chicago cannot determine or guarantee a student’s eligibility for the CPA Exam or CPA licensure. Prospective students should consult the applicable board of accountancy before making enrollment or licensing decisions.
