Preparing for the U.S. Uniform CPA Examination involves much more than studying for four tests.
You first need to understand whether you are eligible, which jurisdiction to apply through, how the Exam is structured, which Discipline to choose, how to prepare, when to schedule, what happens on Exam Day, and what comes after your scores arrive.
MYCPAEXAM brings those steps together in one place so you can understand the process before making your next move.
Not every CPA candidate needs the same information first.
Choose the stage that most closely matches where you are in the process.
If you are still learning how the CPA Exam works, begin with the CPA Exam Format.
You can see how the Exam is structured, understand its question types, and then explore all six section options before deciding how your preparation should begin.
CPA Exam requirements are not identical across every jurisdiction.
Start with the CPA Exam Requirements, then review requirements by state and jurisdiction before submitting an application.
If you already understand your eligibility and exam path, move into the CPA Exam Study Center.
You can build a study plan, work on MCQ and simulation strategy, and use practice tests more deliberately.
Your next step may involve checking your score, understanding a failed attempt, tracking section credit, or preparing for another section.
The CPA Exam Scores area brings those resources together.
The Uniform CPA Examination follows a Core + Discipline model.
Every candidate must pass three Core sections:
AUD focuses on auditing, attestation, professional responsibilities, risk assessment, evidence, and reporting.
FAR focuses on financial accounting and reporting knowledge expected of newly licensed CPAs.
REG addresses federal taxation, business law, ethics, professional responsibilities, and related regulatory concepts.
Candidates must then choose one Discipline:
BAR extends into areas such as business analysis, technical accounting, reporting, and related higher-order applications.
ISC focuses on information systems, data, cybersecurity, controls, and technology-related assurance concepts.
TCP develops more advanced tax compliance and planning knowledge beyond the REG Core.
3 Core Sections + 1 Discipline = 4 CPA Exam Sections
Choosing BAR, ISC, or TCP does not create a different CPA license. The Discipline changes the fourth section you take, not the license you ultimately pursue.
The CPA Exam process becomes easier to manage when you see it as a sequence.
Determine the education and jurisdiction rules that apply before assuming you are eligible.
Start with CPA Exam Requirements, Education Requirements, and the State and Jurisdiction Guide.
↓
The CPA Exam itself is uniform, but eligibility and licensing rules can vary.
Use the Choose a Jurisdiction Guide to understand the factors that deserve attention.
↓
Once you know where you intend to apply, review the application process, required documents, timing, and related steps.
↓
For candidates whose process involves an NTS, understand what it is, the information it contains, and why its validity period matters.
↓
Choose an exam order, create a study plan, practice MCQs and TBSs, and use practice tests to identify where more work is needed.
↓
Review testing dates and book your appointment when you are ready.
↓
Know what to expect before you arrive at the testing center.
↓
Learn what a score means, when scores are released, and what happens if you need another attempt.
↓
Passing the CPA Exam is a major milestone, but it is not necessarily the final step toward becoming licensed.
A strong study plan should reflect the current Exam rather than outdated assumptions about what used to be tested.
The official CPA Exam Blueprints identify the content, skill levels, task expectations, item types, and weighting used for each section.
Use the Blueprints to understand what the Exam expects before deciding how to divide your study time.
There is no single exam order that must work for every candidate.
Your existing knowledge, Discipline choice, schedule, credit period, and study capacity can all affect the sequence that makes sense for you.
CPA Exam preparation involves knowing content, but candidates also need practice applying that knowledge in the formats used on the Exam.
MCQs test knowledge and application across every CPA Exam section.
Practicing them can help you recognize weak areas, improve pacing, and learn why an answer is correct—not simply whether you selected it.
TBSs require candidates to work with information and apply knowledge within more involved scenarios.
They deserve their own preparation strategy rather than being treated as longer multiple-choice questions.
Learn About Task-Based Simulations
Practice tests can help bring timing, content, question formats, and exam endurance together before test day.
Some parts of the CPA Exam remain stable for long periods.
Others change.
Blueprint updates, tax-law testing, testing schedules, score-release timing, administration policies, and technology can affect candidates differently depending on when they plan to test.
Instead of relying on an old article or assuming last year's process still applies, use the current update resources before making important decisions.
Follow significant CPA Exam updates and understand what actually changed.
Review current testing information before building your schedule around a particular date.
Know when your score is expected before planning a retake or your next section.
Candidates educated outside the United States may need to consider additional steps before applying.
The exam remains the U.S. Uniform CPA Examination, but education evaluation, jurisdiction selection, documentation, and testing logistics can require additional planning.
Review the broader pathway for candidates pursuing the U.S. CPA credential from outside the United States.
If your education was completed outside the United States, determine whether your jurisdiction requires your academic credentials to be evaluated.
Each CPA Exam section requires a reported score of 75 or higher to pass.
A 75 should not be interpreted simply as “75 percent correct.” CPA Exam scoring uses scaled scores and weighted performance across the question types used in the section.
If you are waiting for a score, reviewing a result, or planning another attempt, use the score resources designed for that stage.
Not passing a section does not end the process.
The next step is understanding the result, adjusting the preparation strategy, and approaching the retake deliberately.
Passing all four CPA Exam sections is one major requirement on the path toward CPA licensure.
Depending on the jurisdiction, candidates may still need to complete education, experience, ethics, application, or other requirements before a CPA license is issued.
MYCPAEXAM keeps the distinction clear:
Passing the CPA Exam and becoming a licensed CPA are related milestones, but they are not the same event.
Candidates take three required Core sections—AUD, FAR, and REG—and choose one Discipline section from BAR, ISC, or TCP.
That means each candidate passes four sections in total.
For a complete breakdown, visit the CPA Exam Sections page.
A reported score of 75 or higher is required to pass each section.
The reported score is not simply the percentage of questions answered correctly.
Read How CPA Exam Scoring Works for more detail.
No.
The Uniform CPA Exam is the same examination, but education, eligibility, credit timing, and licensure requirements can vary by jurisdiction.
Review CPA Exam Requirements by State and Jurisdiction and confirm consequential requirements with the appropriate Board of Accountancy.
The available Disciplines are BAR, ISC, and TCP.
Your choice may depend on your academic background, professional experience, subject strengths, career interests, and preparation strategy.
Use the BAR vs. ISC vs. TCP Guide to compare them.
You can prepare for another attempt after the applicable score and application requirements are satisfied.
A useful retake strategy begins by understanding your performance and adjusting your study approach instead of simply repeating the same preparation.
See the CPA Exam Retake Guide.
No.
Passing all four Exam sections satisfies the examination component, but CPA licensure can include additional education, experience, ethics, application, and jurisdiction-specific requirements.
Continue with CPA Licensure Requirements.
The CPA Exam process contains a lot of information.
You do not need to solve every stage today.
Start with the decision directly in front of you—eligibility, section selection, studying, scheduling, scores, or licensure—and move forward from there.
MYCPAEXAM is built to help you understand that next step without turning the process into a sales pitch for a review course.