How to apply for the CPA exam
Knowing how to apply for the CPA exam saves weeks: there are four stages, three organizations and about six weeks before you can sit down in a test center. The slow part is the transcript evaluation, and it is slower than anyone plans for.
How to apply for the CPA exam: the four stages
Your state board decides whether you are eligible; check its rules first on our CPA requirements by state page. NASBA collects the exam fees and issues your Notice to Schedule. Prometric runs the test center. Confusing the three is the most common reason applications stall.
Submit the application, pay the fee, and have official transcripts sent directly from every institution you attended. Transcripts sent by you rather than the registrar are routinely rejected.
The Authorization to Test confirms you are eligible and names the sections you may register for. It typically arrives one to two weeks after your application is approved.
Choose your sections, pay the exam fees, and NASBA issues the Notice to Schedule. It is valid for six months in most jurisdictions — calendar the expiry the day it arrives.
Pick your center, date and time. Popular metro centers fill six to eight weeks out, and morning slots go first.
Documents checklist
| Item | Who sends it | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Official transcripts | Your registrar, directly | Student copies are rejected |
| Foreign credential evaluation | Board-approved agency | Four to eight weeks, around $200 |
| Application form | You | Name must match your ID exactly |
| Photo identification | You | Must be unexpired and match your NTS |
| Application fee | You | Non-refundable if you are found ineligible |
What goes wrong
If your NTS says Katherine and your driver's license says Kate, Prometric will turn you away at the door. Fix it before you book, not after.
Six months goes quickly. If it expires you forfeit the fees for any unsat section and reapply from scratch.
Fees are paid up front and the clock runs on all of them. Register for one section at a time unless you are certain.
Apply where you intend to be licensed. Switching jurisdictions mid-process means a new application and new fees.
Common questions
Can I apply through more than one state?
You can, but there is rarely a reason to. You pay two application fees, manage two sets of transcripts, and still need a license in the state where you actually work. Apply where you intend to be licensed.
How long does the whole application take?
About six weeks from submitting to holding a Notice to Schedule, and the transcript evaluation is the slow part. Foreign credential evaluations add another four to eight weeks on top.
What if my name has changed?
Your NTS, your ID and your board record must all match. Update the board first and carry documentation of the change to the test center — a mismatch can get you turned away from the test.
How much does it cost to apply for the CPA exam?
Your state board sets its own application fee, and NASBA charges $268.59 per section from July 4, 2026. Our CPA exam cost guide itemizes every fee.