I know firsthand how confusing and complicated the CPA exam process can be. There are a number of different steps involved in passing and becoming a CPA that you have to do right; otherwise, your application will get rejected.
This could set you back a few months, or worse, you will end up paying a bunch of extra fees.
Each state has slightly different steps, but they are all the same for the most part. You should be able to get approved within 5-6 weeks of submitting your application and ready to schedule your first exam.
Let’s look at the steps to get your CPA exam application approved in the shortest amount of time possible so you can start studying and passing CPA exam sections without feeling anxious.
Key Takeaways
- Make Sure You Are Eligible
- Send in All Official Transcripts to Your State Board
- Submit CPA Exam Application and Fees
- Obtain Your Authorization to Test (ATT)
- Obtain Your Notice to Schedule (NTS)
- Schedule Your Exam With Prometric
- Pass the Exam
Applying for the CPA Exam, Step-by-Step
1. Make Sure You Are Eligible
The first step in the CPA exam application process in the United States is to determine if you are eligible to take it. This is the first big misstep that many CPA Candidates make. They start filling out their application before they are even qualified to sit for the exam. They sent in their app and heard back months later that it got rejected. It’s important to determine your eligibility ahead of time. This could save you months of time and an application fee.
Each state sets different education requirements to sit for the exam, but most require at least a bachelor’s degree in business or accounting with certain coursework and credit hour requirements. Contact your state board to see what the requirements are in your state to see if your education qualifies.
After you crosschecked your educational history with the list of requirements, you are ready to start your application process.
CPA Application Tip: Applications can be submitted at any time during the year, regardless of testing windows or blackout months.
2. Send in All Official Transcripts to Your State Board
Before you worry about filling out the actual application, you should send in all your college transcripts to your state board of accountancy. When I say all your transcripts, I mean ALL of them. You should send in every transcript from every school you attended. This includes junior colleges, community colleges, and universities that you only attended for a semester. ALL of them.
It’s good to order your transcripts from the colleges as soon as you graduate or fulfill the state requirements and send them to your state board. Once the state board receives them, they will keep them on file and wait for your application.
A lot of people do this backward: applying for the CPA exam first and waiting to send in their transcripts. Then, the board has to wait to review the application until the transcripts are received. It’s way easier to mail the transcripts in first, even if you aren’t planning on applying for the CPA exam for a while.
3. Submit CPA Exam Application and Fees
Once your transcripts are successfully ordered and submitted to your state board, you can go ahead and fill out the actual exam application. This is usually a short form that asks a bunch of personal and education questions.
After you have this filled out, send it in with the application fees. Each state has a slightly different app fee, but most are around $150. After you send it in, wait for a few weeks to get your ATT.
CPA Application Tip: You can only apply and register to take the exam in one state at a time.
4. Obtain Your Authorization to Test (ATT)
Once the board has approved your application, they will issue your authorization to test (ATT). This document allows you to sign up for a CPA exam section in your state. It’s usually only good for 90 days, so you’ll have to decide which section you want to take first before it expires. Once the 90 days are up, your $150 application fee will be lost, and you will have to pay it again. 🙁
After you choose which section you want to take first, you will need to log into your National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) account and pay the exam section fees. Each state charges slightly different exam fees, but the sections run $344 for many states.
Before you go crazy signing up for all the exam parts at once, you need to know one main thing: DON’T! You have 6 months from receiving your NTS (step 5) to schedule your exam dates. If the time limit is exceeded, your exam fees will be lost, and you will have to pay them again.
After you pay your fees, wait 3-6 weeks to get your NTS.
5. Obtain Your Notice to Schedule (NTS)
It takes about 4 weeks after applying for the CPA exam to receive your notice to schedule in the mail. This is the legal document that allows you to sit for and take the CPA exam in your state. Yup, it’s a big deal.
Keep in mind that everything is now centralized through your CPA Portal. You no longer need to use CPA Central for applications and the NASBA CPA Candidate Account to access your NTS, Score Notices, etc. Your homepage on the CPA Portal will display all Notice to Schedules and Score Notices. However, candidates from CA, IL, MD, and TX will still need to get their scores from their state board’s website.
CPA Application Tip: Pay only for the sections you want to take now.
6. Schedule Your Exam With Prometric
Once you have your NTS in hand, you can log onto the Prometric and schedule your exam date. You’ll need the exam section ID from your NTS and the location of the testing center where you want to take the exam.
If you don’t know what testing centers are closest to you, you can search for one on their system. It’s pretty easy.
One thing worth mentioning is that all testing centers are slightly different in size. Thus, smaller ones will get full faster. If you want a specific date, you should schedule it early or there might not be any open slots that day. Also, don’t schedule it too early because there are pretty steep rescheduling fees if you can’t make the date you signed up for.
A good rule of thumb is to schedule your exam about a month out. This is close enough to know your schedule and far enough out to get the date you want.
CPA Tip: You can schedule your exam at any Prometric testing center, even if it isn’t in your state.
7. Pass the Exam
It’s important to not be surprised on your exam day by stupid things like getting lost on the way to the testing center or not knowing what room to go to in the Prometric building. I suggest going to the Prometric testing center the day before your exam so you can get the lay of the land and a feel for where everything is. This way, you won’t be surprised on exam day.
On exam day, show up about an hour early and MAKE SURE to bring your NTS and two valid forms of ID. Keep in mind that your name on your IDs must match your name on your NTS exactly. They will not let you take your exam without all three of these documents. The last thing you want to do is get turned away this late in the game. Don’t leave the house without your stuff.
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Don’t wait until you start your application or have your NTS in hand to start studying. Studying is the most important part of passing the CPA exam on your first try. The quicker you start studying, the faster you can ace the exam and get on with your life.
Don’t wait for an exam date. Start studying now!
FAQ
To apply for the CPA exam, you must have a bachelor’s degree with a certain number of accounting and business-related credits, which varies by state. Additionally, some states may have specific work experience requirements.
Selecting the appropriate state board depends on where you plan to practice as a CPA and where you meet the educational and experience requirements. It’s important to review each state’s specific criteria and choose the one that aligns with your qualifications and career goals.
Typically, you’ll need to provide your official college transcripts, proof of work experience (if required by your state), and any additional forms or fees specified by your chosen state board. It’s crucial to check your state board’s website for a comprehensive list of required documents.
The processing time for a CPA exam application can vary by state, but it generally takes between four to six weeks. This timeline can be affected by the completeness of your application and the efficiency of your state board’s processing system.
If your application is denied, review the reasons provided by your state board carefully. You may need to address specific deficiencies, such as completing additional coursework or providing more detailed documentation. Once you’ve addressed these issues, you can resubmit your application. If you need further assistance, contacting your state board directly for guidance is recommended.
