CPA Exam Requirements - 3 Things to Know Before You Go

Needing to take the CPA exam? There are some things you should be aware of before you even start studying. One, you usually need a minimum of a BA degree and some hours working in accounting before you can take the exam. Second, you need to find out your states minimum requirements for taking the test. It varies state to state, and it will be your responsibility to make sure you meet those requirements. Once you know that you meet all of them and are ready to take the exam, there is still some work to do before you do. Listed below are five things you should know:

1) You can't just take this thing anytime you want. The CPA exam is usually offered several times throughout the week and you should be able to find a time that fits your schedule; and you can sit for any or all portions during a given testing period, but you can't take any portion more than once in the same testing period.

2) The exam is not always the same. In fact, recent changes have been made to add in some increased focus in the areas of information technology and general business knowledge, as well as a increase in the amount of focus on the audit portion.

3) So what is on this exam? In order to meet CPA exam requirements and become fully certified as a CPA, you will need to pass all portions of the exam, demonstrating competence in auditing and attestation, business environment and concepts, financial accounting and reporting, and regulation.

A computer based CPA exam format consists of two basic types of questions. This first are objective questions, multiple choice options that appear in groupings throughout the test and comprise about 80% of the test. You will be asked simulation based questions about certain situations based on experiences you may face in an entry level position. These questions make up about 20% of the exam.

For certification, the minimum score is 75%. When preparing and taking the practice tests, this important number should be used as a target.

To be as prepared as possible to meet the CPA requirements and to ensure the best outcome, keep these five things in mind.

Using great CPA exam questions can make all the difference when trying to pass the CPA exam.

Jon Harwokey, software engineer, knows that with most exams, having the right type of study material is a great first step in passing on the first try.