CPA Exam Cost in 2020

How much does it cost to take the CPA Exam?

CPA Exam cost varies by state board and your unique situation. You might spend $3,300 to $4,500 or more. It includes application, registration, and examination fees; study materials; plus possible fees to retake or reschedule sections; additional fees for international applicants; potentially a background check; and lifestyle costs.

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CPA Exam fees vary by state, including when and how you pay them. While some state boards use different terms to refer to the various CPA Exam fees, they generally fall within these major categories.

Other CPA Exam costs may include a background check, travel, foreign transcript evaluation, re-scheduling and re-examination fees if you retake parts, etc. Let’s look closer at each of these fees.

CPA Exam application fee

Your state board of accountancy charges a CPA Exam application fee when you apply to determine your overall eligibility to sit for the CPA Exam. This initial application fee varies by state, ranging from $10 in West Virginia to $377 in New York. The average is around $130, and most states charge between $100 and $200. This is a non-refundable, one-time fee that you will pay directly to the state board.

Background check

Some states may require a background check, which you will have to pay for. Find out whether your state board requires this in our guide to CPA Requirements. NASBA looked at background checks years ago and found costs to the candidate that ranged from $1 – $49. This is something you’ll want to confirm directly with your state board.

CPA Exam registration fee

Most of the state boards charge a registration fee when you schedule an exam. This fee ranges from $20 – $150 and is commonly around $75.

Additional fees for Guam and international locations

If you will be taking the CPA Exam in Guam or an international location such as one of the nine testing sites in Europe, you will need to pay an additional fee when you register. The additional fee you must pay for each CPA Exam section you plan to take internationally is $356.55 per section. This is regardless of which state board of accountancy has declared you eligible for the examination. You will pay this through the NASBA candidate portal.

Foreign credential evaluations

Part of the CPA Exam qualification process for international candidates is getting your transcripts evaluated by a foreign credential evaluation agency. There are many to choose from, including World Education Services (WES) or International Education Research Foundation (IERF). The price of this service can range from $100 – $300 depending on the provider and how they package their offerings.

Travel and accommodations

If you will be traveling to take the CPA Exam, make sure to budget for things like airplane tickets, bus tickets, taxis, hotel rooms, and meals. Transportation alone could cost several hundred dollars.

CPA Exam cost: study and preparation

Fees are one thing, but you will find the bigger CPA Exam cost is your investment in preparing for the CPA Exam. There’s a reason nearly half of the people who take it fail! Doing everything in your power to pass the first time is one of the best ways to keep your CPA Exam costs down in the long run. Recognizing that now and investing upfront is a smart way to go.

1. Save by scheduling two or more CPA Exam sections at a time

You can avoid paying multiple registration fees by sitting for more exam sections in a shorter period of time. You can schedule all four parts of the CPA Exam at one time and receive just one NTS, for example. You would therefore only have to pay the application and examination fees. Remember, however, that while scheduling several sections at once may be great for your finances, it may not be so great for your sanity. You’ll have to pay the registration and examination fees again if you’ve been overly ambitious and need to retake a section.

If taking all four exams in six months is not feasible for you—and it’s not for many people—you can still save money. Even scheduling two or three exams at a time cuts the registration fees in half.

2. Ask for a discount on your CPA review course

Your CPA Exam review course is a big component of your total CPA Exam cost. But those who have passed the exam will tell you it’s not optional. Look for ways you can tap into discounts and special sales.

3. Ask your state board about discounts

You’ll likely be talking to your state board to confirm eligibility, so why not ask about any discounts or opportunities to save, too? They might offer scholarships or other ways to help qualified CPA candidates financially.

4. Consider reimbursement opportunities

Years ago, NASBA took steps to be added to the Veterans Affairs list of approved organizations, meaning veterans can be reimbursed up to $2,000 for their costs of CPA certification. In addition, military spouses of active duty service members are covered under the Department of Defense’s Military Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) program for up to $4,000 in financial assistance toward their education and testing. It pays to ask around if you think you might be eligible for reimbursements.

5. Don’t be tempted to use old materials

It might be tempting, but don’t use old materials from your friends. The CPA Exam content changes often, making old materials a waste of time and money. You’ll likely end up studying information that won’t appear on the exam and totally miss information that WILL appear on the exam. If you buy old CPA Exam review materials, you could find yourself needing to buy a new review course, which may also mean paying more fees to retake the exam.

6. Don’t buy from questionable sellers

Buying second-hand review materials on sites like eBay and Craigslist is risky—it may be outdated or pirated content. You also won’t receive access to accounting experts or customer service representatives when buying from a questionable seller. You may find yourself out of pocket for even more when you realize you do need to buy a proper CPA Exam review course after all.

7. Confirm you will have unlimited access as long as you need

Some review providers charge you more to access study materials after a certain time. Others may offer unlimited access at certain product levels. Gleim offers Access Until You Pass® on its Premium CPA Review course. If you buy from a seller who doesn’t offer a guarantee, you won’t receive free content updates. This means you could be stuck paying for access if you don’t pass as quickly as you planned.

8. Buy all four sections of your CPA review at once

If you have researched carefully and are confident in the CPA review course you have chosen, you can save money by buying all four sections at once instead of each section separately. You’ll have to pay out a bit more upfront, but with courses like Gleim CPA Review, you can actually save a couple hundred dollars by opting for the complete CPA review system. When you buy the Gleim Premium CPA Review System, you will get more materials for your money and you will also receive free shipping in the contiguous 48 states. More money saved!

9. Don’t buy supplemental products

Do your research and choose the CPA Review course that will work best for you so you don’t have to supplement it with materials from another course. If you buy a course with a small test bank and then realize you need more practice, you’ll have to spend more money to ensure you get what you need to pass. (We would know. Too many customers come to Gleim after realizing another review course wasn’t going to be enough.)

10. Pass each section the first time

Put the time and effort necessary into passing each section the first time, so you can avoid additional registration fees. Visualizing success while preparing for the CPA Exam and relying on your CPA study plan to stay motivated can help keep you on track. We’ve got plenty more advice to help you pass the CPA exam. You can always call on our Personal Counselors—they exist solely to help you pass!

11. If you need to reschedule, don’t put it off

Gauge how prepared you feel when you’re around a month out. If you don’t feel like you will be ready by the time you are supposed to sit for an exam section, rescheduling the CPA Exam may be a money-saving move. As long as you reschedule at least a month in advance, you won’t pay a rescheduling fee, nor will you sit for the exam unprepared and fail. If you wait and panic at the last moment, you may be at risk of forfeiting the fees you’ve already paid.

12. Pass all your exams within the 18-month window

After you pass your first section of the CPA Exam, you will have 18 months to pass the remaining three sections. If you don’t take them all within that time period, you will lose credit for any you have passed and will have to retake them. This includes paying fees again. Also, if your CPA Exam journey extends beyond 18 months for any reason, you may also have to pay to extend access to your CPA review course.

The best way to make the 18-month exam deadline is to create a CPA Exam study schedule and stick with it. Avoid paying a review course renewal fee by buying a review system that doesn’t expire until you pass, like the Gleim Premium CPA Review system, which comes with a true Access Until You Pass® Guarantee.

13. Ask your employer to cover your CPA Exam costs

Many employers are keen to see their accountants gain CPA certification. Talk to a few folks like your supervisor and the human resources department to see if you can expense your CPA Exam costs. (Be sure to inquire about any bonuses and salary bumps that might come with the CPA license, too!)

Your employer may pay for your certification, including covering the cost of a CPA review course. Ask them about using Gleim! Even if they do not cover the cost, buying an effective CPA review course is a smart investment.