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CPA Exam Schedule: Key Dates and Testing Windows

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The CPA exam is offered year-round through Prometric testing centers, but candidates can only test during four designated quarterly windows. Understanding the exam schedule is essential for planning your study timeline, meeting registration deadlines, and avoiding last-minute stress.

Knowing when you can test, when to register, and when scores release helps you work backward from your target certification date. This guide covers everything you need to succeed with strategic exam scheduling.

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CPA Exam Testing Windows and Frequency

Four Annual Testing Windows

The CPA exam runs during four primary testing windows each year: January-February, April-May, July-August, and October-November. Each window spans several weeks, giving you flexibility to choose your specific test date. You can attempt the exam once per window, meaning up to four times annually if needed.

Section Timing Strategy

Most successful candidates space section attempts strategically rather than testing all four at once. The four-section format allows you to tackle one section per window or multiple sections if adequately prepared. This approach gives you 12 to 13 weeks between attempts, providing ample time for focused study.

Planning Around Your Schedule

Many candidates strategically avoid certain windows based on their work calendar. For example, accountants often skip the April-May window during tax season or avoid October-November near year-end closing. This flexibility is one major advantage of the quarterly structure.

Registration deadlines typically close 2 to 3 weeks before each window begins. You'll need to submit your application to your state board well in advance to ensure approval before this deadline.

Registration Deadlines and Application Timeline

State Board Application Requirements

Before registering for an exam, you must apply to your state's CPA board. Submit your educational credentials, character references, and exam fees through your state's portal. This approval process typically takes 2 to 4 weeks.

Once approved, your state issues a Notice to Schedule, allowing you to register with Prometric for specific dates. Keep this Notice active for 12 months, giving you flexibility in when to actually schedule your exam.

Registration Timeline Strategy

Begin your application 6 to 8 weeks before your target testing date. This allows adequate time for:

  • State board processing (2 to 4 weeks)
  • Receiving your Notice to Schedule (1 to 2 weeks)
  • Registering with Prometric before the deadline (2 to 3 weeks before window)

Missing a registration deadline means waiting for the next testing window, potentially delaying certification by several months.

Section Registration Fees

Each section registration requires a separate fee, typically $200 to $250 per section depending on your state. You can register for multiple sections simultaneously if you're prepared to test in the same or different dates within the same window.

Score Release Timelines and Next Steps

When You'll Get Your Results

CPA exam scores are typically released approximately 2 weeks after you test, though this varies based on testing volume. You'll receive an email notification when scores are available in your AICPA account.

You need a minimum score of 75 to pass each section. Passing scores count toward certification permanently under current AICPA rules. Failed attempts give you diagnostic feedback showing your performance by topic area.

Using Diagnostic Feedback

The diagnostic report breaks down your performance in each tested area, helping you identify weak spots for your retake. This targeted feedback is invaluable for focused study on your next attempt.

Maintaining Exam Momentum

The rapid feedback cycle means testing in February gives you results by late February or early March. This allows you to register for the April-May window immediately if you didn't pass, maintaining study momentum.

Some candidates use the two-week wait to light-review materials for their next section. Your state board needs an additional 1 to 2 weeks to update their records with passing scores, so plan for one full month between testing and official state credential updates.

Strategic Study Planning Using the Exam Schedule

Working Backward From Your Target Date

Create an effective CPA study plan by working backward from your goal completion date. Most candidates allocate 2 to 3 testing windows per section, requiring 6 to 9 months total for all four sections.

Well-prepared candidates may complete the exam faster by attempting multiple sections per window once foundational concepts are mastered. This approach typically takes 4 to 6 months.

Calculating Weekly Study Hours

Your weekly time commitment determines your section timeline:

  • 15 to 20 hours weekly: Space attempts 12 to 13 weeks apart
  • 10 to 15 hours weekly: Allow 16 to 20 weeks between attempts
  • Full-time study: Complete sections every 8 to 10 weeks

Most working professionals study 15 to 25 hours weekly when actively preparing for a section.

Recommended Section Order

Consider this logical progression:

  1. FAR (Financial Accounting and Reporting): Foundational knowledge applicable to other sections
  2. AUD (Auditing and Attestation): Builds on FAR concepts
  3. REG (Regulation): Independent content area
  4. BEC (Business Environment and Concepts): Integrative final section

Your Planning Checklist

Document these items in your calendar:

  • Target testing window for each section
  • Registration deadlines (mark 4 weeks early for reminder)
  • Study start dates
  • Major study milestones
  • Busy periods at work or personal commitments

The quarterly schedule offers flexibility to defer registration if unprepared, so adjust timelines without penalty if needed.

Why Flashcards Enhance CPA Exam Preparation

Matching the Exam Format

Flashcards address the CPA exam's unique demands for rapid knowledge recall under time pressure. Each section includes 70 to 90 multiple-choice questions requiring quick identification of relevant accounting rules and procedures.

Flashcards train your brain to recognize exam questions and formulate answers efficiently, directly mimicking the testing experience.

Active Recall and Spaced Repetition

Flashcards force active recall, where you retrieve information from memory instead of recognizing it. This creates deeper learning than passive textbook reading. The spaced repetition feature is scientifically proven to improve long-term retention across the months between registration and testing.

CPA-Specific Content Areas

Flashcards work exceptionally well for memorizing:

  • Journal entries and account classifications
  • FASB standards and accounting rules
  • Tax regulations and procedures
  • Audit procedures and evidence requirements
  • Key formulas and calculations

Managing Vast Content

The CPA exam requires mastery of enormous material across four diverse sections. Flashcards break this into manageable daily review sessions. Digital flashcard apps allow you to track performance, focus on weak areas, and study on mobile devices during commute time.

Since quarterly testing windows mean studying for several months between registration and exam day, spaced repetition through flashcards maintains knowledge throughout this extended preparation period.

Start Studying for the CPA Exam

Master CPA exam content efficiently with spaced repetition flashcards. Create customized decks for FAR, AUD, REG, and BEC, and study strategically aligned with your testing windows.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many times a year can I take the CPA Exam?

The CPA exam is offered four times annually during designated testing windows: January-February, April-May, July-August, and October-November. You can potentially test up to four times per year, with one attempt per window.

Your Notice to Schedule typically remains active for 12 months from state board approval, allowing you flexibility across multiple windows. However, most candidates space section attempts strategically because each section requires 40 to 80 hours of focused study.

Testing all four sections in one year would mean attempting different sections in each quarterly window, which is feasible for full-time candidates but challenging for working professionals. Remember that you must pass all four sections within an 18-month rolling window to earn your CPA certification. If you pass FAR in January, you must complete the remaining three sections by June of the following year.

What are the specific CPA testing dates for 2025 and 2026?

The CPA exam uses testing windows rather than fixed dates. For 2025 and 2026, the primary windows are January-February, April-May, July-August, and October-November of each year.

Within each window, Prometric offers testing on most business days. You can schedule your specific test date once registered with Prometric. Registration deadlines typically close 2 to 3 weeks before each window begins. For the January-February window, register by mid-January.

Exact available dates vary by testing center and availability. Check Prometric's website after registering for your desired window to see specific options. The AICPA website provides official window information and any schedule changes. Most testing centers offer multiple sessions daily, making it easy to find a convenient time.

How many hours per week should I study for the CPA Exam?

The AICPA recommends 2,500 to 4,000 total study hours for all four sections, averaging 120 to 150 hours per section. This translates to different weekly commitments depending on your timeline.

If preparing over 12 months, allocate 12 to 20 hours weekly while focusing on one section at a time over 12 to 13 weeks. Most working professionals dedicate 15 to 25 hours weekly when actively preparing for a section. Some candidates study 10 to 15 hours weekly but extend their timeline to 16 to 20 weeks per section.

Full-time candidates preparing intensively might dedicate 30 to 40 hours weekly. Quality of study matters more than quantity, so efficient review using practice exams, targeted flashcards, and focused study of weak areas outperforms passive textbook reading. Your actual hours depend on your accounting background, prior exam attempts, and learning efficiency.

How far in advance do I need to schedule my CPA Exam?

Begin the scheduling process 6 to 8 weeks before your target testing date. First, submit your application to your state CPA board and allow 2 to 4 weeks for processing and approval.

Once approved and you receive your Notice to Schedule, register with Prometric for a specific testing date. Registration must occur 2 to 3 weeks before the testing window begins, though exact deadlines vary by state.

From a study planning perspective, decide your target testing date 3 to 6 months in advance so you can structure your study plan accordingly. This allows time to adjust if you're not adequately prepared when your registration deadline approaches. Many candidates register as early as possible within the allowed timeframe to secure their preferred testing date and time, especially at busy Prometric centers.

What happens if I miss the CPA Exam registration deadline?

If you miss your state's registration deadline for a particular testing window, you cannot test during that window. You'll need to wait for the next testing window, typically 2 to 3 months later, and register by its deadline instead.

This delay can extend your overall certification timeline by several months. Missing a deadline doesn't affect your Notice to Schedule validity, which typically lasts 12 months, so you can register for future windows as long as your authorization remains active.

To avoid this situation, mark registration deadlines in your calendar at least one month in advance and set reminders. Most state CPA boards provide deadline information on their websites, and Prometric also lists key dates. If you're concerned about readiness approaching a deadline, you can delay registration to a future window without penalty.