CPA Exam Registration Process? – A Step-by-Step Guide
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Deciding to pursue a career in Accounting and Finance comes with quite a lot of information digging & assessing the pros and cons of going for an accounting professional degree/certification. If you are looking for a professional certification that is globally recognized, widely accepted, and can be completed in less than two years, look no further than the US Certified Public Accountant certification.
In this article, get all the details that you need to know about the US CPA certification and how you can obtain it with the help of a CPA Institute in Haryana. Let’s get started!
The Certified Public Accountant USA is an internationally recognized certification conferred to individuals in the field of Accountancy by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Individuals who participate and clear the US CPA certification exam administered by the AICPA and the NASBA (National Association of the State Boards of Accountancy) jointly are eligible to get the US CPA certification and apply for the CPA License thereafter.
Being a globally recognized professional credential, US CPAs can get a job in over 180 countries where the US CPA certification is accepted. As such, US CPA professionals are in high demand due to their expertise and skill relevance in the fields of Accounting and Finance. Many of the top MNCs, the Big Fours, and many other top companies and organizations hire licensed CPA professionals to obtain solutions to financial & Accountancy roadblocks.
Now you must be interested to know how to obtain the US CPA certification. Let us tell you how.
The AICPA administers the Uniform CPA exam semiannually in association with NASBA to confer the CPA certification on successful candidates. You can acquire the CPA certification with the help of CPA coaching classes in Gurgaon at a reputed CPA Institute in Haryana. Read ahead and learn more about the CPA training in Gurgaon so that you can decide how to approach the Uniform CPA exam in order to obtain the CPA License upon clearing the US CPA certification.
The US Certified Public Accountant certification can be pursued by individuals looking to start a career or bring about a change in the trajectory of the path of their career. However, it is important to know the eligibility prerequisites for pursuing the US Certified Public Accountant credentials as specified by the AICPA so that you do not face any problems while registering for the US CPA exam. The eligibility requirements for the US CPA certification are as follows.
First of all, you should be well aware of the eligibility requirements for applying for the US CPA exam as specified by the AICPA so that you don’t face any trouble while registering for the exam.
Please note:
Candidates who have completed their bachelor’s degree program with first class from a NAAC ‘A’ accredited college/institution are eligible for 150 credits. Otherwise, candidates are eligible for 120 credit points after completing their graduation course.
Now that you know the US CPA exam eligibility requirements, let us discuss the Uniform CPA exam syllabus, exam pattern, duration, and course fees in a CPA Institute in Haryana so that you know how you will be prepared in CPA training institutes in Gurgaon for the Uniform CPA exam.
When opting for the Certified Public Accountant training at CPA training centers in Gurgaon, you should be well acquainted with the syllabus of the US CPA course, as what you will learn in the CPA training classes in Gurgaon will be useful for answering the Uniform CPA exam. The syllabus of a CPA course in a CPA Institute in Haryana follows the syllabus of the Uniform CPA exam. This section also elucidates the contents of the syllabus, which you will cover in a CPA course at a CPA Institute in Haryana.
Therefore, knowing about the exam syllabus of CPA Coaching courses in Gurgaon beforehand will help you be mentally prepared for what you will study in a CPA Institute in Haryana and help you choose the right CPA coaching institutes in Gurgaon.
The Uniform Certified Public Accountant exam is held several times a year. Candidates wishing to take the exam can avail of any of the testing windows according to their convenience at their nearest Prometric testing center. The available testing windows are
Now let us take a look at the US CPA exam syllabus as you would study in Certified Public Accountant training in Gurgaon.
The US Certified Public Accountant certification exam is a four-part assessment, and the syllabus has been divided accordingly into four sections:
Check the sub-topics and weightage allocation given below to understand where you should emphasize when studying at the CPA Institute in Haryana.
Auditing and Attestation (AUD) | Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) | Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR) | Regulation (REG) |
Area I: Ethics, Professional Responsibilities, & General Principles (15 – 25%) | Area I: Enterprise Risk Management, Internal Controls, and Business Processes (20 – 30%) | Area I: Conceptual Framework, Standard-Setting, & Financial Reporting (25 – 35%) | Area I: Ethics, Professional Responsibilities, & Federal Tax Procedures (10 – 20%) |
Area II: Assessing Risk & Developing a Planned Response (25 – 35%) | Area II: Economics (15 – 25%) | Area II: Select Financial Statement Accounts (30 – 40%) | Area II: Business Law (10 – 20%) |
Area III: Performing Further Procedures & Obtaining Evidence (30 – 40%) | Area III: Financial Management (10 – 20%) | Area III: Select Transactions (20 – 30%) | Area III: Federal Taxation of Property Transactions (12 – 22%) |
Area IV: Forming Conclusions and Reporting (10 – 20%) | Area IV: Information Technology (15 – 25%) | Area IV: State and Local Governments (5 – 15%) | Area IV: Federal Taxation of Individuals (15 – 25%) |
Area V: Operations Management (15 – 25%) | Area V: Federal Taxation of Entities (28 – 38%) |
Now that you have an idea of the US CPA exam syllabus and the weightage let us check the Uniform CPA exam pattern so that you can understand the type of questions asked in the Uniform CPA exam.
Knowing about the US CPA exam format will help you understand how you should prepare for the exam, given the type of questions that come in the exam. Moreover, the top CPA Institute in Haryana also teaches as per the exam pattern for more efficiency. In the US CPA exam, there are three types of questions/tasks based on which questions are given:
You should also check the CPA exam structure below, including the weightage allocation and the number of questions of each exam type within each section of the exam, to understand the weightage given to each section of the Uniform CPA exam.
Sections | AUD | BEC | FAR | REG |
Time Allotted | 4 hours | 4 hours | 4 hours | 4 hours |
Number of Questions | 80 questions | 69 questions | 98 questions | 84 questions |
Multiple choice questions (MCQs) | 72 questions of 50% weightage | 60 questions of 50% weightage | 90 questions of 50% weightage | 76 questions of 50% weightage |
Task-based Simulations | 8 questions of 50% weightage | 4 questions of 35% weightage and 3 written communications tasks of 35% weightage | 8 questions of 50% weightage | 8 questions of 50% weightage |
Passing Criteria:
The Uniform CPA exam is graded on a scale of 0-99, in which candidates need to secure 75 marks in order to pass the Uniform CPA exam and be eligible for the CPA license. With the help of comprehensive, all-inclusive Certified Public Accountant training in Gurgaon from a CPA Institute in Haryana, you can easily clear the Uniform CPA exam in just one attempt.
The maximum time duration allowed by the AICPA for candidates to clear the Uniform CPA exam after registration is 18 months, which is one and a half years. However, with the help of CPA coaching classes in Gurgaon from the best CPA Institute in Haryana, you can finish studying for the Uniform CPA exam in just 12 months!
When you decide to go for the US Certified Public Accountant certification, you should know about the examination fees and other fees that have to be paid in order to take the US CPA exam. The CPA exam fees consist of the Registration fee, Examination fee, and other related fees, which have been discussed below for your reference.
Candidates have to pay an exam registration fee which roughly amounts to INR 20,000. When registering for the US CPA exam, you can choose to club two or more papers together, depending on which the registration fee varies, and in such a situation, you are eligible for some discounts on the Registration Fee. When you opt for clubbing exams together, you are required to notify the AICPA accordingly, based on which an NTS (Notice to Schedule) is issued. The NTS is valid for a maximum of six months, within which the candidates have to complete the exams, failing which the NTS will be of no value.
However, if you decide to take one exam at a time, you have to pay the Registration Fee for each section of the exam.
The options available to pay the Registration Fee are given as follows:
There is another fee that you have to pay – the application Fee. The Application Fee has to be paid depending upon the state of the US you are applying for. Generally, the Application Fee in India ranges from approx. Rs. 3,600 to Rs. 14,500.
The candidates need to pay $1000 as an examination fee for the Uniform CPA exam. This fee is roughly INR 82,000.
As international candidates taking the exam outside of the USA, you would need to pay an additional fee for the international location to NASBA. This fee amounts to $250, which, again, is equivalent to INR 20,000.
After passing the US CPA exam, candidates are eligible to apply for the CPA License. The AICPA charges a separate fee for the CPA License, which has been summarized below for your reference.
The US CPA Licensing Fee is to be paid every year to maintain the US CPA License. The US CPA Licensing Fee is approximately $50-$500, depending on the state of practice.
Now that we have summarized everything about the US Certified Professional Accountant (US CPA) certification, you can decide on how you want to approach the Uniform CPA exam by enrolling in a CPA Institute in Haryana. Moreover, you can contact us and talk to our counsellors if you want to know the course fees for US CPA.
If you are interested in management accounting and finance, you should go for CMA. If you are more inclined towards auditing and regulation with an affinity towards taxation, CPA is the right choice for you.
Yes, it is possible to do CPA after BCom. You should check the CPA exam eligibility criteria before applying for the CPA exam.
Overall, there is only one level for the Uniform CPA exam consisting of the four papers on which the exam is conducted.
On average, the salary of a CPA in the USA is around USD 120,000 per annum, which can go up to USD 160,000 per annum with experience in the relevant fields.
No, you cannot apply for CPA right after the 12th, as the minimum educational qualification required to apply for CPA is a bachelor’s degree.
It is not worth doing CA after CPA as CA is recognized only in India; therefore, CA professionals can practice only in India. It provides no growth or higher reach in terms of career after CPA as CPA itself is one of the highest demanding, highest competence certifications in Accountancy.
The CPA USA certification provides you with a ladder towards a successful career as an Accountant with excellent career and salary benefits with steady growth in your career.
To optimize your preparation for the Uniform CPA exam, you can enroll in the best CPA Institute in Haryana, which will help you get the right guidance to crack the Uniform CPA exam in just 12 months! Join the best CPA Institute in Haryana, NorthStar Academy, for a well-rounded Uniform CPA exam preparation.
You can get expert guidance and thorough support to prepare for the Uniform CPA exam at NSA. Get the most out of the streamlined US CPA course for students aspiring to make successful careers in Accounting and Finance. Benefit from expert guidance from mentors at NSA, such as M. Irfat Sir, to clear the US CPA certification exam and become a licensed professional.
NSA also provides thoroughly researched, well-written, detailed study material such as Becker International in their comprehensive CPA certification course so that you can find all the resources in one place. You can also avail yourself of online classes on Android & iOS platforms so that you can start your preparation anywhere you want!
So don’t wait & contact NSA today and get your ticket to becoming a successful US CPA professional today! Call us at +918147470707.