From CPA application to the actual exam, the process is complicated and stressful. One of the many tasks is scheduling your CPA exam at the so-called “prometric center”.
What is it, and how does it work?
This is a 5-minute video that summarizes what you need to know about the Prometric for the purpose of the CPA exam:
Below is the text version with some additional information.
Prometric is a company that specializes in administrating computerized examinations in exam sites throughout the USA. The Uniform CPA Exam is just one of the many standardized tests administered by Prometric – it also hosts the CMA certification exam, as well as other tests for doctors, lawyers and all sorts of professionals.
Did you know that you are not restricted to the exam site in your state? You can take it anywhere – Hawaii if you wanna get a nice sun tan afterwards! But seriously, there are circumstances that you may want to take in a different state, and it is great that Prometric and the CPA examiners give you this flexibility.
I believe you get the instruction together with the NTS (Notice To Schedule). Anyway, it is pretty simple:
Anytime you feel comfortable to fix a date for the exam, but within 6 months of your NTS issuance. (Exception: if you register in Texas, you only have 3 months)
If you are lagging behind, or don’t want to pressure yourself to a fixed deadline to finish your study, you can schedule the exam later. Here are two important considerations:
Yes, you can reschedule the test online as long as you have the exam section ID ready. You can change the date within the testing window up to 24 hours before the exam:
For $30, you can book 30 minutes for a real-life experience at the center. Nothing will be graded. You can also take the opportunity to find out the best way to travel to the site. Click here for details.
Here is a list of top 10 course providers and their pros and cons.
You can also read my Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the CPA exam process, or sign up one of the free mini-courses below. Please pick the one most suitable for your needs:
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For US candidates (Those with US degrees, or graduate/live/work in the US) |
For Intl Candidates (Those who study abroad, or graduate/live/work outside of the US) |
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!