I Pass the CPA Exam!

CPA Application Process in 11 Steps (It’s Not as Hard as You Think)

The CPA application process doesn’t have to be intimidating. With proper planning and an understanding of the steps involved, you can sit for the CPA Exam sooner. Becoming a Certified Public Accountant is already difficult and expensive as is, so to avoid further costs and time loss, check off each one of these steps!

What follows is a detailed overview of the Uniform CPA examination application process, and what to do after your application is approved.

Please note that each state has a slightly different process, but using the roadmap below, you should be moving on toward studying for your exam within 4-6 weeks.

Luckily, nearly all the CPA Exam jurisdictions now have online CPA applications so that you can skip printing paperwork.

Now, let’s go through the CPA process and get you on your way to becoming a CPA!

1. Understand The CPA Process and Players

The CPA Exam application process is not hard, but you do have to understand the players. The Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination, or CPA Exam for short, is jointly administered by several partners who each play a distinct role in the CPA registration process.

55 Jurisdictions

You may already know that the United States has 55 Boards of Accountancy, one in each state and territory. The boards carry out the accounting laws and regulations established in each state or territory. Additionally, they set the specific requirements to get your CPA license in that jurisdiction.

The Boards of Accountancy are the actual bodies who issue the CPA license. We often refer to them as “state boards.”

AICPA

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or AICPA, is the largest membership organization for professional CPAs. The AICPA determines the content that the CPA Exam will cover, writes the questions, and develops the scoring methods.

NASBA

NASBA, or the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, serves the 55 jurisdictions. The organization works to establish common accounting practices and helps to process a candidate’s CPA application form. Additionally, while NASBA does not score the exam, it receives scores from many state boards and publishes and analyzes them.

Prometric

You will take your CPA Exam at a Prometric testing center. Prometric has an international network of sites that administer professional exams for a range of fields, including accounting. Prometric has locations all over the United States and in over 160 countries. Therefore, it’s likely that a site is near you—visit Prometric CPA to find out.

2. Determine if You’re Eligible to Take the CPA Exam

Each Board of Accountancy has slightly different CPA exam requirements. So, you need to pick the jurisdiction where you will apply for CPA Exam sections based on a few different factors that I’ll review.

However, you need to know:

  • At a minimum, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree to take the exam.
  • Many states will require you to have completed specific accounting classes.

Many candidates do not meet the minimum requirements when they apply and lose money as a result. Therefore, you’ll need to ensure you very carefully review the CPA requirements of the state in which you’d like to sit.

Typically, once you determine you’re qualified to sit for the exam, you’ll fall in one of two scenarios:

First scenario

You know where you want to register for CPA licensure because (1) you have been living or working there or (2) you plan to live or work there in the near future.

Second scenario

You don’t know which state or jurisdiction to apply. In this case, you’ll want to discover the popular states for international candidates, non-accounting majors, and mature students.

3. Select a Credential Evaluation Agency

Note: this step is only applicable to international candidates. 

You are considered an international candidate if you have taken at least one course at a non-U.S. university. Therefore, your status as an international candidate depends on where you took your courses instead of your nationality.

For example, if you are a German national studying in the U.S., you are considered a “U.S./domestic” candidate. But if you are a U.S. citizen who spent a semester in Singapore, the credits gained from this exchange program need to be evaluated by the evaluation agency.

Once you have chosen a state or jurisdiction, check out the list of approved credential evaluation agencies. The boards of accountancy require a third-party agency to “translate” your transcript into something equivalent to the US system.

You can pick an agency based on:

  • Acceptance by the board (most important!)
  • Pricing
  • Speed

Service (e.g., online status updates provided, inquiry turnaround time)

If it is difficult for you to obtain the original transcript required for the evaluation, you may want to pick an agency that is willing to accept a photocopy and verify the authenticity on your behalf. This service costs considerably more, but it can save you a lot of time and hassle.

Find out which evaluation agencies provide this extra service; I’ve listed several agencies in my full-length article that discusses Foreign Credential Evaluations for CPA.

You should also note that the NASBA Advisory Evaluation Service (NIES) gives academic evaluation services for students who received their education outside of the United States. Before you sit for the exam, a NASBA CPA evaluation may be necessary to ensure that your coursework meets the standards.

4. Send Your CPA Application Your State Board or NASBA

Before you are ready to sit for a section of the CPA Exam, you must first submit an application, some required documents, and pay application fees.

Depending on your jurisdiction, you will either apply for the CPA Exam with your Board of Accountancy (or its designated agent) or NASBA. Basically, the application confirms that you are eligible to sit for the exam. NASBA will review your application and notify you of the results.

US applicants – Jurisdictions that apply directly to State Boards

In some states and territories, CPA candidates must start the CPA application process by applying for the CPA Exam with their Board of Accountancy. If you live in the following regions, contact your board for an application:

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • District of Columbia
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Kentucky
  • Maryland
  • Mississippi
  • Nevada
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • South Dakota
  • Texas
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Wyoming

Fill in the CPA Exam application form online or send a hard copy of the form to the state board. Remember to contact your school and request a transcript to be directly sent to the state board.

US applicants – Jurisdictions that apply directly to NASBA

If you plan to apply for a CPA license in these jurisdictions, you will apply for the CPA Exam directly through NASBA via the CPA Examination Online Application System (aka CPA Central):

  • Alaska
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Guam
  • Hawaii
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Puerto Rico
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin

Also, you’ll need to contact your undergraduate and graduate school(s) and request to have your transcripts directly sent to your state board.

International applicants

If you are quite sure that the evaluation process in step 2 went smoothly, you can send the CPA exam application to the state board first. The agency will directly send the evaluation report to the state board.

If you aren’t sure, wait until you receive the evaluation report. If the result is not favorable, you can take care of the missing credits before your application.

5. Wait for the Result

Be patient while you’re waiting for the results of your application. Depending on your state and the time of the year, state boards can take 1 to 12 weeks to process your application and return your results. Big states like California and Illinois take the longest time.

Once your application is approved, you will receive an email notification from NASBA stating that your NTS is ready. Simply put, an NTS is a “Notice to Schedule,” which means that your Board of Accountancy has notified NASBA that you are eligible to take that section of the CPA Exam.

After receiving the email from NASBA, you can go to the NASBA CPA Candidate website and find, view, and print your NTS. You must print your NTS. And you’ll need to bring it with you to the testing site on your test day.

6. Research CPA Study Materials

One of the most essential steps to apply for the CPA exam sections is studying!

Now’s a good time to check out the CPA review courses and pick one that suits your background, learning style, and budget.

Once you pick a review provider, you should also research the CPA Exam Blueprints. The AICPA publishes this document once or twice a year to outline the minimum level of content knowledge that is required to become a CPA. Therefore, this material is likely to be covered by the CPA Exam. However, don’t spend too much time researching the Blueprints (just get aquatinted with them) because an excellent CPA review course will cover the Blueprints in full.

It’s also important to research the layout of the exam and the type of software used. You’ll want to enroll in a CPA review course that has sample CPA tests because you need to understand how the exam functions. You also need to have a handle on the different tools and resources to which you’ll have access.

Plus, the AICPA has sample tests, MCQs, and simulations for each section on its website. But please note that the AICPA’s resources are incredibly limited — you’ll need a full review course to pass the actual exam.

7. Double-Check Your NTS

Once your application is approved and you receive your NTS, you need to verify it. Very carefully check that the name and other information on your NTS match with at least two sets of IDs.

You can only have one exception: your middle initial can appear instead of your full given middle name. For example, if your NTS reads Stephanie A. Ng but your ID reads Stephanie Ann Ng (or vice versa), you’ll still be good to go.

You need to bring these IDs to the testing center for verification; at least one form of ID needs a recent photo (like a driver’s license or state-issued ID).

What if the name on your NTS doesn’t match your ID? What happens if you’ve changed your name or if your NTS is just wrong? Don’t worry—you can contact NASBA and request a corrected reprint.

8. Schedule the CPA Exam

Once you have your NTS in hand, you’re ready to schedule your exam. Your NTS is typically valid for 6 months, although a few jurisdictions give you 9-12 months.

Still, don’t put this off before you get busy studying and forget! You can go to the Prometric website and schedule your exam any time before your NTS expires. If you don’t have internet access, you can directly call the Prometric Candidate Services Center at 800-580-9648.

Technically, you can schedule your exam appointment at the Prometric site up to 5 days before your test date. However, I do not advise that—you’ll feel rushed. Instead, try scheduling your exam at least 30-45 days in advance to secure good dates. This way, you’re more likely to secure the test date, time, and location that’s best for you.

You’ll take your exam at an authorized Prometric test center in the United States or at a designated international location. You don’t necessarily have to take the exam in the jurisdiction where you will apply for a license.

Once you have successfully made an appointment with Prometric, you will receive an email confirmation.

CPA Exam Testing Accommodations

Some CPA candidates need specific accommodations, such as ADA-related accommodations, to take the CPA Exam. If you need accommodations, you should first be approved by your Board of Accountancy. Once approved, your board will send that approval outlining the accommodations you need to NASBA. This information will be reflected on your NTS, and Prometric will be notified.

This is critical: If you have been approved to take the CPA Exam with accommodations, do not try to schedule your Prometric appointment online. Instead, you should directly call Prometric. The appropriate phone numbers for UN and international locations are listed in NASBA’s CPA Candidate Bulletin. (Keep in mind that some international locations are unable to meet specific accommodations requests.)

Continuous Testing Has Been Eliminated

If you’ve come across old information about taking the CPA Exam, you might notice some references to “continuous testing.” Ignore that old information. In 2020, the AICPA and NASBA switched to “continuous testing,” which meant that you could take the exam year-round. However, since the 2024 CPA Exam changes were implemented, the CPA 2024 Exam schedule includes several blackout dates during which candidates can’t sit for the CPA Exam.

2024 CPA Exam Blackout Dates

After the CPA Exam changes in 2024, there will be a few blackout dates during which you cannot take the exam. The following are the dates that are available to sit for the CPA Exam (and remember that in 2024, the CPA Exam will follow a Core+Discipline Model):

Dates for the 2024 CPA Exam: Core sections

  • Q1: January 10-March 26, 2024
  • Q2: April 1-June 25, 2024
  • Q3: July 1-September 25, 2024
  • Q4: October 1-December 26, 2024

Dates for the CPA Exam in 2024: Discipline sections

  • Q1: January 10-February 6, 2024
  • Q2: April 20-May 19, 2024
  • Q3: July 1-31, 2024
  • Q4: October 1-31, 2024

9. Create Your Study Plan

An excellent study plan keeps track of your progress and makes sure that you don’t fall behind.

I’m not going to lie—the CPA Exam is not easy and covers a lot of important material.

You must study. And the only way to make sure that you cover all of the content before your big exam day is to get a study planner. Without these tools, our human tendencies cause us to focus on what’s comfortable, and that’s usually the material you already know.

CPA study materials include platforms that help you create personalized study plans to make sure you have all of the skills you need to pass the exam.

10. Triple-Check

Before your exam day, triple-check your IDs. They must be valid, and the name on your ID must match the record on your NTS. And remember, one of your IDs must have a recent photo (like a driver’s license or a state-issued ID card).

If you can, you should also check out the testing center before the exam day to estimate the travel time, understand traffic conditions, and locate good parking spots.

And remember—some large metropolitan areas have several Prometric sites. Confirm that you’re going to the test center where you are scheduled to take your exam. If you show up at the wrong location, you will have to leave and travel to the right one.

11. Sleep Early the Night Before

Remind yourself that you are ready. Confidence is key! Set out the materials to bring to the Prometric site (your IDs and NTS), get a good night’s sleep, and wake up ready for the exam!

This is so important that it calls for caps lock: DO NOT FORGET TO BRING YOUR NTS WITH YOU! 🙂

Questions about the CPA Exam Application Process?

You can drop me a note on Facebook.
 But the very best way to get information about the CPA Exam is to sign up for my free CPA e-course that completely covers the CPA process.

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About the Author Stephanie Ng

I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley), and I also passed all 4 sections of the CPA Exam on my first try. Additionally, I have led webinars, such as for the Institute of Management Accountants, authored featured articles on websites like Going Concern and AccountingWeb, and I'm also the CFO for the charity New Sight. Finally, I have created other accounting certification websites to help mentor non-CPA candidates. I have already mentored thousands of CPA, CMA, CIA, EA, and CFA candidates, and I can help you too!

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