CPA Exam Facts: What You Need to Know Before You Start
When you hear CPA exam, the professional certification for accountants in the United States, required to become a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Also known as Uniform CPA Examination, it’s the gatekeeper to high-paying accounting roles in firms, corporations, and government agencies across the U.S. This isn’t just another test. It’s a career turning point for thousands of Indian students and professionals aiming to work abroad—or even in multinational firms back home.
The CPA certification, a credential issued by state boards of accountancy in the U.S. that validates expertise in accounting, auditing, taxation, and business law isn’t handed out easily. You need a bachelor’s degree, usually 150 credit hours (more than most degrees), and you must pass four brutal sections: Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG). Each section is 4 hours long. Most people take 6 to 12 months to finish all four. And yes, the pass rate hovers around 50% per section. It’s not about memorizing. It’s about understanding how financial systems actually work in real business settings.
And here’s what most people don’t tell you: the CPA salary, the average earnings for certified public accountants in the U.S., often starting above $70,000 and rising sharply with experience and specialization isn’t just a number—it’s proof that the effort pays off. CPAs in big cities like New York or San Francisco earn over $100,000 early in their careers. Even in smaller firms, the pay bump over non-certified accountants is 10% to 15%. For Indian graduates with an MBBS or engineering background looking to switch into finance, the CPA opens doors that degrees alone never could.
It’s not just about money. The CPA exam requirements, the educational, experience, and ethical standards set by U.S. state boards to qualify for the certification vary by state, but they all demand real-world experience—usually one to two years under a licensed CPA. That’s why so many Indian candidates end up working in audit firms in India first, then move abroad. The exam doesn’t care where you studied. It cares what you know and how you apply it.
You’ll find posts here about what it takes to pass, how much time to study, which prep courses actually work, and how people with non-accounting backgrounds pulled it off. Some of them started with zero accounting knowledge. Others were working full-time while studying. No magic tricks. No shortcuts. Just facts, strategies, and real stories from people who did it. If you’re serious about the CPA, this is the collection you need to read before you even register for the exam.
- By Nolan Blackburn
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- 10 Jul 2025
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