How Hard Is the CPA Exam? (2024)

FAQs

How Hard Is the CPA Exam? ›

Very. The overall CPA Exam pass rates hover slightly below 50%. This makes passing the CPA Exam a difficult, but achievable, goal. You'll need to study wisely, set a strategy for managing your time, and call on your support network, but with the right plan and good study materials, you will conquer it.

There are several factors that make the CPA exam one of the most challenging credentialing examinations. Most test takers have identified the vast amount of information covered on the exam to be the primary reason for its difficulty, which in turn requires a substantial amount of study and preparation.

The CPA Exam has a pass rate of around 50%. So, though millions of candidates have passed the CPA Exam, many first faced failure along the way. Remember, not passing the CPA Exam doesn't mean you can't do this. The CPA Exam is a test of endurance, not intelligence.

The CPA exam is widely regarded as the most challenging professional examination for a few reasons. Its length, number of topics, and technical details covered typically rank it harder than the BAR and MCAT.

The days that you take each of the four parts of the CPA Exam will be your most stressful days in the whole exam process. But there are exam stress management techniques you can employ to minimize your stress on exam day.

The CPA Exam is also a rigorous process. Candidates have an 18-month window to study and sit for the four-part exam once they have been approved as a candidate. The first-time pass rate for all sections is less than the Bar Exam.

To pass a CPA Exam section, you must score a minimum of 75. Have you ever wondered how the AICPA calculates your CPA Exam section scores? Scores are reported on a scale that ranges from 0 to 99.

There is no limit as to the number of times you may repeat a failed section. You may take any unpassed section of the CPA Exam year-round. Your only restriction is waiting to receive your score from a previous attempt of the same section.

Regardless of whether you did well in your accounting and finance classes in school, it's very difficult to pass the CPA exam without studying. You will be tested on a lot of different topics and must memorize a lot of those concepts – concepts that you have not looked at since you were in school.

Which is harder MBA or CPA? ›

An MBA can be harder depending on the program, but usually entails completing coursework in areas such as marketing, management, and financial analysis. Moreover, it takes approximately 1,000 hours to become a CPA, while an MBA usually takes two years to complete.

Accountants need to be proficient in basic arithmetic, algebra, and statistics to analyze financial data, prepare reports, and ensure accuracy in their work. They may also use mathematical principles to perform tasks such as budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.

All tests are open-book. You have three opportunities to take the exam within one year from date of purchase.

Depending on the Discipline you choose, you can expect your CPA Exam study time to be between 320 and 420 hours, or between 80 and 120 hours per section. But with a smart study strategy and the right materials, you can keep from getting overwhelmed while making sure you're ready to walk into the exam with confidence.

CPAs enjoy higher earning potential, a wide range of career opportunities, and a level of professional recognition and job security that is hard to find in many other fields. Overall, becoming a CPA opens the door to an incredibly stable, lucrative, and secure career path.

Endless opportunities

As an accountant, especially a CPA, professionals have the opportunity to work in finance functions in businesses of all sizes and across sectors, in the government, in academia or at a firm like PwC. And the types of jobs available to CPAs offer just as many possibilities.

The Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam

The CPA Exam uses a scoring system from 0 to 99, and candidates need a minimum score of 75 to pass each of its four sections. Among the four sections, FAR holds a notorious reputation as the toughest, consistently boasting the lowest pass rates.

The CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exam is related to and based on financial discipline, it is the hardest and most competitive exam ever. This degree is even eligible and qualified for the toughest degree in the Guinness World Record.

CPA is harder because it's an "extra" certification and is not needed to work as an accountant. All you need is a degree. To work as a nurse you need a degree and to pass the NCLEX which is a licensure exam. It is a MINIMUM COMPETENCY exam.