CPA Eligibility in India - Education Qualifications, Exam Details
CPA Eligibility in India - American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) conducts Certified Public Accountants exam (CPA). The CPA course eligibility states that to be eligible to appear for the CPA exam, the desired education and experience is required, preferably with accounting certifications. CPA eligibility for Indian students is to have passed graduation in commerce and accounting. Aspirants with CA/ CMA/ CS degrees are eligible to appear for CPA in India.
- CPA Eligibility Criteria in India
- Eligibility Criteria for US CPA
- CPA Exam Structure
A CPA-certified professional is a globally recognized designation and in India, Chartered Accountant (CA) designation is equivalent to CPA. Accountants have a primary role to ensure the company’s growth by strategizing and analysing the opportunities. CPA is one of the highest qualifications attained in the field of accountancy. CPAs are hired in various industries and organisations across the world. Read the article below to know the US CPA eligibility in India, fee structure, CPA course duration, exam pattern, and more.
CPA Eligibility Criteria in India
Every state in India has its own CPA exam eligibility criteria, but some standard CPA qualification criteria are:
Graduation in commerce and accounting (B.Com, BBA, MBA in Finance, M.Com)
CA/ CMA/ Intermediate passed/ CS passed
Post graduate professional certification in accounting and finance
- To earn the CPA license, the candidate must complete 150 hours of the CPA course semester.
To pursue a CPA certification programme, the candidate must have a Graduation degree or equivalent.
Many states require candidates to have 1-2 years of experience under a CPA.
- Valid international passport
In India, there are 55 states which are members of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). Candidates who possess a bachelor’s degree from NAAC- A grade university in commerce and first division are eligible to take the regular CPA exam.
To appear in the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam, Indian students should be members of either ICAI, ICMAI, or ICSI. Other than being a member of one of these organizations, Indian students can possess an MBA or M.Com degree.
Eligibility Criteria for US CPA
The basic US CPA exam eligibility is 120 accounting credits in the academics to sit for the CPA exam. In India, the CPA eligibility requirements are equivalent to a 16-year education, for example, B.Com+M.Com, B.Com+CA, B.Com+MBA, or any post-graduation with graduation. In addition to this, 150 credits are required for obtaining a CPA licence from the state.
Exam Pattern of CPA Exam
Aspirants who are eligible for CPA in India should know the CPA exam pattern. CPA is divided into four sections to assess the skills and knowledge of candidates. A candidate must finish all sections within the 18-month testing window with 75 score or higher to pass the CPA exam. Aspirants can take up any section at a time in any order during one open testing window. The four divisions of the CPA exam are as follows with each part allotted with 4 hours to complete-
AUD – Auditing and Attestation
FAR – Financial Accounting and Reporting
REG – Regulation
BEC – Business Environment Concepts
CPA Exam Structure
There are three parts in the CPA exam, categorized as testlets – MCQ, task-based and written communication.
Weightage to each section in CPA exam
Section | AUD | BEC | FAR | REG |
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) | 50% | 50% | 50% | 50% |
Task-Based Simulations (TBSs) | 50% | 35% | 50% | 50% |
Written Communication Tasks | - | 15% | - | - |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, the CPA exam is only offered in English.
You must pass all four sections of the CPA Exam within 18 months. The calculation of when the 18-month timeframe begins varies by jurisdiction. Check with your specific Board of Accountancy for details.
You must first decide on the jurisdiction to which you will apply. After selecting your jurisdiction, you can obtain application materials and submit your completed applications as directed.
The CPA exam consists of four, four-hour sections. You’ll take one section at a time. Each of the four sections is made up of five smaller sections known as “testlets,” which feature multiple-choice questions, task-based simulations, and in the case of the BEC section, written communication tasks.
Indian B.Com graduates are eligible to take the CPA exam as each year of university education in India is equivalent to 30 semester credits of US Education, totalling to 90 credits at the end of 3 years. If B.Com is completed in 1st division from a NAAC 'A' university, it would be treated as 4 years of US education, which is 120 credits for B.Com alone. Additionally, a 2-year Masters degree is equivalent to 60 education credits and professional qualifications like CA/CS/CWA are recognized by few States as 2 years of US education.
Graduation in commerce and accounting (B.Com, BBA, MBA in Finance, M.Com) which is equivalent to 120 credits required to sit for CPA exam is the CPA eligibility in India and some states also accept CA/ CMA/ Intermediate passed/ CS pass candidates. Candidates must also have a valid international passport.
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