About the CPA Exam

The CPA exam, or the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Exam, is given to those who want to become Certified Public Accountants. This exam is given only in the United States, and is administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Acccountants.

Time Frame

Requirements

In order to be given the CPA exam, you must be approved by a U.S. State Board of Accountancy. Most hopefuls approved have a bachelors degree with some sort of emphasis in accounting, and at least 1 extra year of study. Many states also require five years of full time study.

Topics Covered

The different topics covered in the CPA exam comprise Auditing and Attestation, Financial Accounting and Reporting, Regulation, which includes information about ethics and law, and Business Environment and Concepts, covering the conceptual aspects of economics and business.

Scoring

Each score is on a numeric scale, from 0 to 99, but does not reflect any sort of percentage you got correct. Instead, a numeral 75 designates a passing score, while anything lower is failing.

Method

Since 2004, the exam is taken entirely on the computer. 70 percent of the test is made up of multiple choice questions, while the remaining 30 percent of questions consist of simulated scenarios.

References

• CPA FAQ

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