Certified Public Accountant (US CPA) Exam — Complete Guide

The U.S. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential, awarded by State Boards of Accountancy and developed jointly by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), is the world's most prestigious accounting and financial reporting license.

With the rollout of the CPA Evolution model, the exam offers specialized career pathways in Data Analytics, Information Systems, and Advanced Taxation.

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1. US CPA Exam — At a Glance (Verified 2026)

Parameter	Official Verified Details
Certifying Body	AICPA & NASBA (State Boards of Accountancy)
Exam Architecture	3 Mandatory Core Sections + 1 Selected Discipline Section (Total 4 Sections)
Testing Duration	4 Hours per section (Total 16 Hours)
Passing Score	75 / 99 Points per section (Scaled Score)
Exam Delivery	Prometric Computer-Based Testing Centers Globally (including 8+ cities in India)
Question Types	50% Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) + 50% Task-Based Simulations (TBS)
Credit Validity	30-Month Rolling Window (from the date the first section is passed)
Total Approximate Cost	$3,000 – $3,500 USD (~₹2.5 to ₹3.0 Lakhs INR total for international candidates)

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2. The CPA Evolution Structure: Core + Discipline Blueprint

Candidates must pass all 3 Core sections and select exactly 1 Discipline section matching their career specialization:

Section Type	Code & Name	Exam Focus & Core Syllabi
Core 1 (Mandatory)	FAR (Financial Accounting & Reporting)	US GAAP vs IFRS; Revenue recognition (ASC 606); Leases (ASC 842); Consolidations; State & Local Government Accounting.
Core 2 (Mandatory)	AUD (Auditing & Attestation)	AICPA / PCAOB Auditing Standards; Risk assessment & internal controls; Audit sampling; Reports on audited financial statements; SOC 1 & SOC 2 reports.
Core 3 (Mandatory)	REG (Taxation & Regulation)	US Federal Taxation for Individuals, C-Corps, S-Corps, Partnerships; Business Law (Contracts, UCC, Agency); Professional ethics & Circular 230.
Discipline 1 (Choice A)	BAR (Business Analysis & Reporting)	Advanced technical accounting; Derivatives; Revenue recognition for software; Data analytics & financial planning; SEC reporting.
Discipline 2 (Choice B)	ISC (Information Systems & Controls)	IT governance & risk assessment; SOC engagements (SOC 1/2/3); Cybersecurity frameworks (NIST, COBIT); Data management and SQL querying.
Discipline 3 (Choice C)	TCP (Tax Compliance & Planning)	Advanced individual & corporate tax planning; Wealth management; Entity property transactions; International tax compliance.

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3. Section Format & Testlet Breakdown

Each 4-hour section consists of 5 operational testlets:

• Testlet 1: MCQs (approx. 27–36 questions)
• Testlet 2: MCQs (approx. 27–36 questions)
• (Optional 15-Minute Scheduled Break — Exam clock pauses)
• Testlet 3: Task-Based Simulations (2 TBSs)
• Testlet 4: Task-Based Simulations (3 TBSs)
• Testlet 5: Task-Based Simulations (2–3 TBSs)

What are Task-Based Simulations (TBS)? Real-world case studies requiring you to reconcile journal entries, research the authoritative AICPA/FASB Professional Literature, review financial exhibits (emails, invoices, bank statements), and fill out tax forms.

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4. International Eligibility: The 120/150 Credit Rule

For candidates outside the United States (India, UAE, Middle East):

Requirement Stage	Credit Hours Needed	Educational Equivalencies (India)
To Sit for the Exam	120 Credits	• 4-Year B.Tech / B.E. (120 credits) • 3-Year B.Com (90 credits) + M.Com / MBA (60 credits = 150 total) • 3-Year B.Com + CA / CMA Inter (First Class)
To Obtain License	150 Credits	Full Master's Degree or CA/CPA bridge programs + 1–2 years verified accounting experience under an active US CPA.

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5. Complete Step-by-Step Registration Workflow

1. Academic Evaluation (NIES): Submit transcripts to NASBA International Evaluation Services (NIES) for US equivalency verification ($225).
2. Select State Board: Apply through candidate-friendly state boards (e.g., Guam, Washington, Alaska, Montana).
3. Receive Notice to Schedule (NTS): Once NASBA approves your eligibility, you receive an NTS valid for 6 months to book exams at Prometric.
4. Prometric Booking: Book your exam dates at Indian Prometric centers (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad).

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6. Salary & Career Opportunities for US CPAs

Sector / Role	India (INR)	United States (USD)	Middle East (AED)
Big 4 Audit / Tax Senior Associate	₹8.5 LPA – ₹14.0 LPA	$82,000 – $105,000	AED 180,000 – AED 240,000
Corporate Controller / FP&A Lead	₹16.0 LPA – ₹26.0 LPA	$125,000 – $165,000	AED 300,000 – AED 420,000
Director of Finance / Partner	₹30.0 LPA – ₹60.0+ LPA	$180,000 – $280,000+	AED 480,000 – AED 700,000+

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Source: AICPA & NASBA Official Portals: aicpa-cima.com & nasba.org