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About the CPA Exam

All accounting students should aspire to become CPAs.  The CPA is the highest and most well-known recognition in the profession.  Many accounting jobs either require a CPA or list the CPA as a preferred qualification.  Thus, CPAs are more employable than accountants without certification and have greater earning potential than non-CPAs. Attaining the CPA signals that you have been through a rigorous process and are dedicated to being a professional.  It opens doors not just in accounting, but beyond.  To become a CPA, in addition to meeting education and experience requirements, you must pass the rigorous CPA exam.

All candidates must pass the three “core” parts, and then choose and pass one “discipline exam” as well. The core exams that all candidates must pass are:

  • Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR or Financial). This section covers skills and knowledge of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) for business enterprises, not-for-profit organizations, and governmental entities.
  • Taxation and Regulation (REG). This section covers the skills and knowledge of federal taxation, ethics, professional responsibilities, legal responsibilities, and business law.
  • Auditing and Attestation (AUD or Auditing). This section covers the knowledge of auditing procedures, GAAS (Generally Accepted Auditing Standards), and other standards related to attest engagements.

In addition to the core exams, all candidates must pass ONE of the following disciplinary exams:

  • Business Analysis and Reporting (BAR). Covers advanced financial reporting topics.
  • Information Systems and Controls (ISC). Covers advanced information technology topics.
  • Tax Compliance and Planning (TCP). Covers advanced tax topics with a particular focus on personal financial planning.

Boise State offers a variety of Masters of Science in Accountancy (MSA) and degrees that line up with each of the disciplinary exam tracks, and which also enable students to become licensed more quickly. It is probably best to pick a disciplinary exam that jives with your career plans, but that is not required.

Other helpful information about the exam includes:

  • The CPA Exam is offered only in computer-based format. You take it at a local testing center.
  • You take one part of the exam at a time.
  • Exam parts, including the disciplinary exam, can be taken in any order.
  • Exam format includes multiple-choice questions and simulations.
  • The CPA Exam is offered 5-6 days each week (depending on the jurisdiction).
  • You must pass all four sections of the CPA Exam within a rolling testing window. The window is 30 months in most states, including Idaho, but is between 18-36 months in all states. Once the testing window has passed, you lose credit for any exams taken prior to the testing window period.

For more information on the CPA exam, search online for “CPA Evolution” or visit the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) or National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) websites. You should also visit your state’s Board of Accountancy website.

For more detailed descriptions of the content of each section visitCPA Exam Info and see the Uniform CPA Exam Blueprints. The official handbook, the Candidate Bulletin, is also available for download. Further useful CPA exam info is available at This Way to CPA.

Preparing for the Exam

The CPA exam is academic in nature. It is best to take it as quickly as possible after finishing school—while your coursework is still fresh in your mind. Boise State’s MSA degrees in particular help students prepare for many parts of the exam.

In addition, you should take a review course to prepare for the CPA exam, since the CPA exam review companies can offer many strategies for passing the exam and not all the CPA exam content will have been covered in your accounting courses. There is simply too much of it. Many accounting firms and other employers will pay for your review materials.

Application Process

  1. Determine whether you have met (or will meet) the education requirements to sit for the exam. For Idaho, visit isba.idaho.gov. To view requirements for other states, visit www.nasba.org and select the state you would like to review. You can find more details on state criteria at This Way to CPA: License State Requirements. Rules and application materials differ from state to state.
  2. Apply to the State Board of Accountancy. The application requires submitting forms, transcripts, and fees. For the Idaho State Board of Accountancy, visit isba.idaho.gov (see the “Board Links” menu to the right). For other State Boards, visit www.nasba.org and select the desired state. Read the application requirements carefully.
  3. Once your application is approved, you will receive a Notice to Schedule (NTS). Allow 4-6 weeks from the date you submit your application to the State Board to the date you receive your NTS.
  4. Once you have received an NTS, you may begin to schedule sections of the exam. A list of testing centers available in the 55 jurisdictions (United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia) and a list of CPA Exam testing center policies and procedures are available at www.prometric.com/cpa.

Licensing

Passing the CPA exam is just one part of the process of becoming licensed. Licensing requirements vary by state. In Idaho, to become a licensed CPA, you must:

  • Pass the CPA Exam.
  • Meet Idaho’s education and experience requirements through one of the pathways established in Idaho law. For example, a candidate may be come licensed with a master’s degree and one year of qualifying accounting experience, or with an undergraduate Accounting degree and two years of qualifying experience. For complete details, see: Idaho State Board of Accountancy