Along with the day you take the exam, the CPA Exam score release day is the most critical day in your CPA career. On the day of the NASBA score release, you will learn the results of your hard effort. You also receive an idea of how long the travel will take. But when is the score release CPA date?
I’ll provide you the CPA Exam release dates as well as further information about this important exam event. Even if you haven’t yet taken a CPA Exam section, you should keep these dates in mind as you plan your CPA Exam study schedule. Then you’ll know when you’ll get your results once you’ve sat.
CPA Exam Testing Windows
Historically, the CPA Exam was offered four times every year:
- Q1: January 1 – March 10
- Q2: April 1 – June 10
- Q3: July 1 – September 10
- Q4: October 1 – December 10
However, the NASBA declared that from July 1, 2020, the CPA Exam will be available year-round. As a result, the usual CPA Exam windows are no longer available.
CPA Continuous Testing 2023
There is something even more fascinating about continuous testing than being able to take the CPA Exam (basically) whenever you want.
So, here’s the revolutionary part: you no longer have to wait significant lengths of time to retake a failed CPA Exam unit. Now all you have to do is wait for your score to be released by NASBA or your CPA state board. Once you’ve received your score and determined that you need to retake the section, you’ll be able to reschedule the CPA Exam without delay.
You could only sit for one section per window in the prior window structure. For example, if you had a lot of trouble with income taxes and couldn’t pass REG, you could only take it four times a year (the notion of taking REG four times – awful. I’m getting off track).
The NASBA, AICPA, and Prometric Testing Center announced today that CPA Candidates will be allowed to use Continuous Testing for the CPA Exam beginning July 1, 2020. This is fantastic news for the many CPA candidates who have long requested continuous testing. Furthermore, this update addresses the recent testing gap caused by the COVID-19 virus. This shift from testing windows to continuous testing shows the beneficial outcomes of State Boards of Accountancy, NASBA, AICPA, and Prometric working together to help CPA candidates complete their journeys to become CPAs.
“Under the new Continuous Testing approach, applicants will be able to take the Exam year-round, without restriction, other than waiting to receive scores from past tries of the same section or when there is a major change to the Exam,” according to NASBA. Continuous Testing will replace the current CPA Exam Testing Window paradigm, which allows candidates to test only within specific time periods each calendar quarter.”
The shift to continuous testing was approved by all 55 U.S. Boards of Accountancy because it “…positions candidates to retake portions while material is fresh in their minds and may minimize the time required to complete the four-section Exam.” NASBA will continue to serve as a resource to state boards of accountancy in assisting with the change in state legislation.
Keep an eye out! There have been numerous updates recently about testing, and we are committed to keeping you informed. If you have particular questions about continuous testing, we recommend contacting NASBA directly.
As a result, under continuous testing, you may take each CPA Exam part 15 times or more per year, depending on the CPA exam score release dates (really, study — do not try to make this example a reality).
So, in 2023, continuous testing will be a material advancement that, for some, will be a game changer.
NASBA Score Release Dates for 2023 (past dates left for historical purposes only)
When are the CPA Exam scores released? According to the AICPA, CPA Exam scores for 2023 will be issued on the following dates:
Testing Window: July 1-September 10 (Q3 2023)
Testing Window: October 1-December 10 (Q4 2023)
Testing Window: January 1 – March 10 (Q1 2023)
Testing Window: April 1 – June 10 (Q2 2023)
The target score release date for each testing window is shown in the tables below. NASBA will release exam results to state boards of accountancy on these release dates. A typical board of accountancy may require at least one day after the intended release date to process and distribute the scores they receive.
Important CPA Exam Score Release Information
The AICPA wants you to be aware of the following information regarding your CPA score release dates:
- All dates and times are given in Eastern Standard Time (EST). Furthermore, both domestic and overseas applicants receive their scores on the same timeframe. International candidates, on the other hand, may face a one-day wait due to additional processing and validation.
- Prometric provides exam data files to the AICPA within 24 hours of completing your exam section for the vast majority of students.
- The results from any exam data files received by the AICPA from Prometric after the AICPA cutoff dates will be released in subsequent scheduled target score release days.
- When you take the BEC, you may receive your score roughly one week after the intended release date. This delay is due to the additional processing that written communication activities often necessitate.
When are CPA Exam Scores Released?
You should be aware that these dates are not always fixed. While the AICPA announces the CPA exam score release dates as soon as practicable, these dates may be adjusted on occasion throughout the year.
This is also the target score release date. You can never be certain when you will receive your score. You can, however, boost your chances of receiving your exam score by one of these days. You just must avoid taking the exam on a deadline (i.e. Day 20, Day 45).
Allow yourself two days for the greatest results. Take the exam, for example, on Day 18 or earlier, or on Day 43 or earlier.
Score Release Schedule for CPA Exam
As the tables show, in the past, the score release dates for a testing window occurred many times during that quarter. The AICPA typically schedules the first release date for a testing window in the first week of the second month of that quarter. Then, every two weeks after the original release, the successive score release dates take place. This strategy typically results in 5 score release dates each testing window.
However, when significant modifications to the exam occur, such as those impacting the 2017 and 2018 CPA Exam editions, the AICPA may restrict the number of score release days. This extra time is used by the AICPA to statistically validate candidate performance and to create standards.
How Long To Get CPA Exam Results
I understand how difficult it may be to keep an eye on @NASBA’s Twitter feed while waiting (and waiting) for the official score release notification. You can, however, prepare for the discharges and handle your stress more effectively.
Because the AICPA delivers CPA Exam results in batches, there are two elements that influence how long you must wait for your score. The number of score release dates scheduled for that quarter, as well as the time you take the exam during the testing window, are two of these determinants.
If you take the exam within the first two months of the quarter, you will have to wait longer to receive your score if the AICPA schedules fewer score release days.
In general, if you sit closer to the end of the window, you’ll get your findings faster. Let’s look ahead to Q1 2023 to see how long it will take for CPA Exam candidates to receive their results.
CPA Exam Score Release Process
The AICPA receives exam data files from Prometric, the testing centers that deliver the CPA Exam, as shown in the tables. The AICPA then forwards the results to NASBA. Finally, the NASBA sends the results to the state boards of accountancy. The score data is delivered by NASBA on days that correspond to the testing windows.
Factors for the Score Release
As you may be aware, all four components of the CPA Exam are computerized. So, why are you having to wait so long for the results of your exams?
You will have to wait at least a few weeks for your CPA Exam score because the AICPA goes through many quality assurance assessments to assure scoring correctness. The AICPA places a high value on the CPA Exam scoring process in terms of importance, diligence, and correctness.
In addition, the AICPA has processes in place to validate the accuracy of a score in exceptional circumstances. When it comes to BEC written communications (WCs), your responses are graded by a computer grading software. However, in other situations, the responses will be scored by a network of all CPA human graders.
If your BEC score is close to a passing level, the human graders will regrade your WC responses automatically. If your response requires more than one grader, the final grade is the average of the scores provided by the human graders.
Furthermore, the exam grading system is not a simple computation. Humans must keep track of the conversion to a scaled grade of 0-99. As a result, it’s understandable that this process might take some time.
How Do You Find My CPA Exam Scores?
Of course, the most crucial question on CPA Exam result release day is, “How can I verify my CPA score?” Your CPA Exam results could come from one of two places.
To begin, your state board of accountancy may use the NASBA’s online score retrieval tool. If this is the case, you can obtain your CPA Exam result by visiting the NASBA website on the CPA Exam score release day (aka the NASBA Candidate Portal).
Because not all state boards of accountancy use this service, you should check with your state board of accountancy to see if they do. You should also consult your state board of accountancy for answers to any additional score release questions you may have.
Second, your state board may be in charge of the score release process. In that scenario, they will provide you your exam results. Your state board may release the results on their website and then notify you via email if you are able to discover your score there. Alternatively, your state board may mail your results to you in the form of a tangible letter.
Some major state boards of accountancy, such as the California State Boards of Accountancy (CBA) or the Maryland State Boards of Accountancy, post scores in their candidates’ accounts for their online CPA Exam systems. Furthermore, the NASBA Candidate Portal is not used by the IL Board of Accountancy for score releases.
Again, check with your state board of accountancy as soon as possible so you know where to go for your CPA Exam results on CPA Exam score release day.
CPA Performance Report & Score Notice
If you pass the CPA Exam, you will receive a score notice that includes your score, credit status, and the date your credit for any passed section will expire. If you fail the CPA Exam, you will receive a performance report. This report will show your performance across all content areas as well as by Item Type. Within 72 hours of obtaining your result, you will access your score notice and performance summary in the NASBA Candidate Portal.
If you received less than a 75 on the exam and a CPA Performance Report was created, you will be compared to applicants who had recently passed the exam. According to the AICPA, a candidate who passes with a score between 75 and 80 is considered to have just passed. Furthermore, you will be provided with separate high-level information regarding your performance on MCQs, written communications (BEC only), and TBSs.
Passing Score for CPA
75 is the passing score for all CPA Exam components. This figure represents a scaled score. As a result, it does not represent the percentage of questions correctly answered. Your CPA Exam score might vary from 0 and 99. Furthermore, the AICPA does not curve exam results.
The CPA Exam passing score is determined by the AICPA Board of Examiners (BOE). To do so, they take into account a variety of elements, including standard-setting research findings, historical patterns, and exam topic revisions. They also get feedback from NASBA, consultant psychometricians, academics, and certified CPAs.
The AICPA then compares your CPA Exam performance to these pre-established benchmarks. Furthermore, they hold all candidates to the same criteria.
Your score for AUD, FAR, and REG is a weighted combination of scaled scores from multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and task-based simulations (TBSs). Your total score for BEC includes the scaled score for written communications (WCs).
Here’s how much each CPA Exam question affects your score:
CPA Exam Question Scoring Weight
CPA Exam Score Expiration
When is your CPA Exam score going to expire?
The credit you obtain for passing a part of the CPA Exam is valid for 18 months. After passing the first component of the exam, you have 18 months to complete the remaining three sections. If you do not complete the remaining three portions within this time frame, you will lose credit for the section you completed first.
The beginning of your 18-month period will then be reset to the day you passed your second section. If you do not pass the remaining sections (including the one you lost credit for) within the new 18-month term, you will lose credit for the second section you passed.
This cycle will repeat itself until you have completed all four stages within 18 months.
Waiting and Moving On
You can’t just sit around waiting for your CPA Exam results. Instead, you must continue to study until you run out of sections. Before you obtain the score for the previous section, you should know which section to review next. As a result, you should begin studying for that portion soon after your testing appointment.
Even if you earn a poor grade and must retake a section of the exam, studying for the following section is still a good idea. It allows you to stay in study mode and not lose mental ground. It also allows you to make progress in an upcoming portion even if you have to pause it temporarily.
CPA Exam Score Release Success
To increase your chances of receiving a passing score on the day your CPA Exam results are released, you must study using the best CPA review course for you. Fortunately, I can assist you in determining which course is best for you. I can also help you save a lot of money on your exam prep by offering CPA review discounts!
If you observe a figure less than 75 on CPA Exam score release day, you won’t consider the day a success. However, if you take the necessary procedures in reaction to a CPA Exam failure, it is possible! I have the information you need to properly recover from a negative score release experience, so contact me today for my score-improving guidance!
Congratulations if you get a 75 or higher! You’re right next to the CPA. So, now you should figure out what you’ll need to accomplish after passing the CPA Exam.
What If I Want to Dispute my CPA Exam Score?
The CPA Exam is not without flaws. Despite the AICPA’s extensive psychometric assessments, regular material review, and other quality control methods, there is still a slight possibility of error in giving, executing, and scoring the exam. Because of this narrow margin for error, NASBA, Prometric, and the AICPA give applicants with two options for disputing their CPA Exam scores.
1. Score Review
The first method is to conduct a score review. If a candidate believes that their score does not adequately reflect their exam performance, they can ask the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy to examine their results (NASBA). NASBA will send a candidate request to the AICPA, which will then manually review the candidates’ written communication and computational responses, as well as their overall score. However, keep in mind that the scoring procedure includes a variety of quality control criteria. As a result, any score modifications are extremely unusual.
If you’re searching for extra points, we don’t advocate requesting a score review. If you received a 74 on your FAR exam, for example, a score revision is unlikely to result in any additional points. Instead, you will pay fees, fill out paperwork, and wait for results that may or may not be satisfactory.
2. Appeals
The Appeal process is the second way to contest a CPA Exam score. This technique allows applicants to go over their answers to improperly answered test questions or simulations. Candidates can decide whether to contest the validity of one or more items on the CPA Exam by evaluating the wrong responses and the questions themselves. If the candidate chooses to contest an issue, they should be prepared to explain their answer as eloquently and extensively as possible.
Viewing sessions may only take place in properly designated secure places and in the presence of a representative of the Board of Accountancy to safeguard the secrecy of the CPA test. Fees, instructions, and conditions must also be met, as with the score review process. Contact your State Board of Accountancy, or NASBA, to find out if your state or jurisdiction allows appeals, or for a set of instructions and requirements for the score review and appeals processes.
Candidates should be advised that, similar to the score review process, the appeals process does not always result in a score adjustment. Most of the time, simply moving on and preparing for the next section of the exam is the best option. Candidates should not, under any circumstances, wait for the outcomes of the score review or appeal before starting their exams.
The score review and appeal options are optional for the vast majority of UWorld Roger CPA Review students. Our comprehensive CPA Exam preparation courses are designed to help students pass the CPA Exam the first time. Most of our students discover that a failing score merely indicates that they need to work harder and with more discipline, rather than that the AICPA, NASBA, or Prometric made a mistake.