CPA Exam 2026 - Dates (OUT), Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus, Scope, Result
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) conducts the CPA exam 2026. As per the new CPA evolution, the structure of CPA exam 2026 has undergone a change. The CPA exam has three core section and one discipline section to be chosen from three available section. The CPA exam 2026 is conducted throughout the window in four cycles. CPA in India is being offered since 2021.
This Story also Contains
- CPA Exam 2026 Dates
- CPA Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026
- CPA Exam Application Form 2026
- CPA Exam Syllabus 2026
- CPA Exam Pattern 2026
- CPA Exam Result 2026
A degree in CPA would complement someone who has passed CA course or appeared for the CFA exams or CMA exams. In this article, get all the details of CPA exam 2026 including dates, eligibility criteria, registration and more.
CPA Exam 2026 Dates
The CPA exam is conducted five times a year for the discipline section and continuously throughout the year for core sections. Candidates have to appear for three core sections and one discipline section. The dates are given below.
CPA Exam 2026 Schedule
| Quarter | Discipline Section Exam Dates | Discipline Section Score Dates |
|---|---|---|
1 | January 1 to 31, 2026 | March 13, 2026 |
2 | April 1 to 30, 2026 | June 16, 2026 |
3 | July 1 – July 31, 2026 | September 11, 2026 |
4 | October 1 – October 31, 2026 | December 15, 2026 |
CPA Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026
Below are the CPA exam 2026 eligibility criteria. Indian students aspiring to appear for the US CPA exam must have at least 120 credits in their academic studies. Each year of graduation results in 30 credits to the candidate. Given below are the eligibility criteria of CPA exam 2026.
A bachelor's degree
To appear for US CPA tests, an aspirant requires 120 credits.
To acquire a US CPA license the candidate should have at least 150 credits.
One year of university education in India is equivalent to 30 credits in the United States.
CPA Exam Application Form 2026
The CPA exam 2026 application form is open throughout the year. Candidates can appear in one or all the sections of the CPA exam. The CPA exam 2026 registration process is completely online. Candidates are required to get their eligibility determined by NASBA and then pay the application fee to complete the CPA application form 2026.
How to Apply for CPA Exam 2026
Visit the official website- dashboard.nasba.org
Create an account using a valid email id for registration.
Select the option CPA
Upload the necessary documents for evaluation by NASBA
Complete other details in the application form for evaluation and determining eligibility
Confirmation email from NASBA after approximately 6 weeks determining the candidate's eligibility
Login to the CPA portal pay the CPA exam fee to complete the application
Documents Required for CPA Exam Application Form 2026
Passport or govt. issued ID card
Marksheet of each year/semester of the graduation/post graduation
Degree Certificate
Complete set of official English translations for marksheets and certificates that are not in English.
Also Read:
CPA Exam Syllabus 2026
The CPA exam syllabus consists of three core subjects and one discipline subject. The CPA core sections include subjects namely Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) and Taxation and Regulation (REG). Candidates also has to choose one discipline section from three available options namely Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR), Information Systems and Controls (ISC) and Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP).
CPA is a 4-hour long exam divided into four sections. The candidates must complete all the sections within the 18-month testing window. They may select any section in any order during one open testing window. The candidates can take any number of tests during the same window. However there is one catch. It is that the candidates can not take one section twice within the same testing window. And if they fail, in one part of the exam, they would not be eligible to re-attempt that specific exam until the next testing window opens for them. Below we have listed these sections and the potential areas for questions:
CPA Exam 2026 Syllabus Details
| Paper | Subject | Topics | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
Core Section Papers | Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR) | Financial Reporting | 30-40% |
Select Balance Sheet Accounts | 30-40% | ||
Select Transactions | 25-35% | ||
Auditing & Attestation (AUD) | Ethics, Professional Responsibilities and General Principles | 15-25% | |
Assessing Risk and Developing a Planned Response | 20-30% | ||
Performing Further Procedures and Obtaining Evidence | 30-40% | ||
Forming Conclusions & Reporting | 15-25% | ||
Taxation and Regulation (REG) | Ethics, Professional Responsibilities and Federal Tax Procedures | 15-25% | |
Business Law | 15-25% | ||
Federal Taxation of Property Transactions | 5-15% | ||
Federal Taxation of Individuals | 22-32% | ||
Federal Taxation of Entities | 23-33% | ||
Discipline Section Papers | Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR) | Business Analysis | 40-50% |
Technical Accounting and Reporting | 35%-45% | ||
State and Local Governments | 10-20% | ||
Information Systems and Controls (ISC) | Information Systems and Data Management | 35%-45% | |
Security, Confidentiality and Privacy | 35%-45% | ||
Considerations for System and Organization Controls (SOC) Engagements | 15-25% | ||
Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP) | Tax Compliance and Planning for Individuals and Personal Financial Planning | 30-40% | |
Entity Tax Compliance | 30-40% | ||
Entity Tax Planning | 10-20% | ||
Property Transactions (disposition of assets) | 10-20% |
CPA Exam Pattern 2026
The CPA Exam 2026 Pattern consists of multiple choice questions in each section and also task based simulations, each with different weight. The details are given below.
CPA Exam 2026 Structure
| Paper | Course | Duration | No. of MCQs | Weight | No. of Task Based Simulations | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Paper-1 | Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR) | 4 Hours | 50 | 50% | 7 | 50% |
Paper-2 | Auditing & Attestation (AUD) | 4 Hours | 78 | 50% | 7 | 50% |
Paper-3 | Taxation and Regulation (REG) | 4 Hours | 72 | 50% | 8 | 50% |
Paper-4 | Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR) | 4 Hours | 50 | 50% | 7 | 50% |
Paper-5 | Information Systems and Controls (ISC) | 4 Hours | 82 | 60% | 6 | 40% |
Paper -6 | Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP) | 4 Hours | 68 | 50% | 7 | 50% |
Skill Levels to be Assessed in Each Section
| Section | Evaluation | Analysis | Application | Remembering and Understanding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AUD | 5–15% | 15–25% | 30–40% | 30–40% |
FAR | - | 35–45% | 45–55% | 5–15% |
REG | - | 25–35% | 35–45% | 25–35% |
| BAR | - | 30–40% | 45–55% | 10–20% |
| ISC | - | 10–20% | 20–30% | 55–65% |
| TCP | - | 25-35% | 55–65% | 5–15% |
CPA Exam 2026 Fees
The CPA exam fees India is as follows.
- International Evaluation Fee: The international evaluation fee is $ 225
- Application Fee: Depending upon the state, the application fee is around
- Examination Fee: $193.45 (approx.) for each section
- Registration Fee: One section at a time-
- Ethics Fees: Candidates are also required to pass an ethics exam after clearing the uniform CPA exam. The ethics exam costs between
- CPA Licensing Fees: Candidates who pass the uniform CPA exam and the ethics exam are eligible to receive a license, which costs between
- Continuing Professional Education (CPE) for CPA Exam: Many states require public accountants to complete 40 hours of continuing education each year in order to keep up with industry standards and changes. As a result, the approximate cost of this CPE could range from
Also Read: Top 10 Certification Programs to get High-Paying jobs
CPA Exam Centres In India
CPA exam is being offered in India since 2021. Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Trivandrum are among the the CPA exam centres in India. Candidates no longer need to visit the Middle East or USA to attempt the CPA exam.
CPA Exam Result 2026
The CPA exams are conducted throughout the year. Hence, the CPA exam result 2026 date depends on when the candidate appears for the exam. The AICPA usually announces the score release dates for the first half of a subsequent year in the December month of the previous year. The score release date for the second half of the year is announced by June of that year. The CPA exam result score is released after AICPA sends the scores to NASBA.
Scope and Opportunities of CPA Exam 2026
Candidates who clear the CPA exam stand to benefit from the certification in the following ways.
Increased opportunity in the short and long term
International credential recognised across the globe
Future Job Stability
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can attempt the CPA exam as many times as you require. But keep in mind that, you can only complete each section once per testing time frame.
A score of 75 is mandatory to pass the exam. Each component of the CPA Exam is graded on a scale of 0 to 99. You will need a minimum of 75 is required to pass a section.
In India, CPA professionals with 1-4 years of experience get an average median salary of 6 -7 lakh per annum.
As the number of start-ups and multinational corporations (MNCs) in India grows, so does the demand for CPA certified personnel. CPAs are preferred over CAs because they have in-depth knowledge of issues such as US GAAP, IFRS, and US Compliance and Taxation. CA, on the other hand, is exclusively familiar with Indian GAAP.
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) in the United States oversees the CPA test. It is a single-level test with four papers that is recognised both in the United States and internationally. The CA is a three-level exam with 16 papers that is supervised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
Some top recruiters that look professional who complete the Certified Public Accountant Exam are: Deloitte, KPMG, Accenture, PWC, American Express, Philips, Capgemini, Barclays, Tata Power, Genpact, JP Morgan, EY, WNS, and MetLife.
Ideally, candidates must at least give 15-20 hours per week to prepare for the CPA exam.
All four sections of the CPA Examination are MCQs (multiple-choice questions).
BEC is one of the simplest within the 4 categories as it has the best success rate. As the most thorough subject of the CPA Exam, FAR (Financial Accounting and Reporting) is considered the toughest while the AUD and REG are both intermediate.
Browse Finance Colleges by State